Curry Cooking Tips: 1 Dhania & Jeera Powder

What is Dhania Powder?

Dhania is simply another name for Coriander and Dhania powder is made by grinding the seeds of the coriander plant into a powder.

To process your own dhania powder, place a cup of seeds in a heavy based pan and roast on medium heat until you can easily crack open the seeds between your fingers.

It normally takes 2-4 minutes for the seeds to be perfectly roasted and ready to grind.

When cool, the seeds may be ground into a powder by hand with a pestle & mortar, or mechanically with a coffee grinder or even in a food blender.

More about coriander on Wikipedia

What is Jeera Powder?

Jeera is simply another name for Cumin and Jeera powder is made by grinding the seeds of the cumin plant into a powder.

To process your own Jeera powder, place a cup of cumin seeds in a heavy based pan and roast on medium heat, until you can see that the colour has changed and a fragrant aroma comes off the pan. It is important to make sure that the seeds a roasted evenly.

It normally takes about 2-4 minutes for the seeds to be perfectly roasted and ready to grind.

When cool, the seeds may be ground by hand with a pestle & mortar, or mechanically with a coffee grinder or even in a blender.

More about cumin on Wikipedia

Remember to let your roasted dhania & jeera seeds cool properly before grinding. After you have ground the seeds into powder, store in an airtight container.

Using Dhania & Cumin Seeds in a Durban Curry.

Although everybody has their preference, the starting point for the ratio between dhania and jeera powder is about 2 parts dhania powder to 1 part jeera powder.

Hint: If you are only going to be using your dhania/jeera powder to make curries, then you can roast 2 cups of dhania/coriander seeds & 1 cup of jeera / cumin seeds together and then grind them at the same time.