Curry is one of the most widely used spice blends in the world - and is easy to make yourself.

It might sound like a lot of work, but don't worry, making your own curry is a lot of fun! To create your blend, buy the basic spices you would like to use for your mix, portion them out, grind them, mix them and store in an airtight container to preserve their flavours.

So why would you want to make your own curry mix? Well, quite simply, homemade always tastes best, right? Curry blends come in countless variations in India, all of which have their own unique taste and character. In the supermarket, you often only find one or two blends. To kick your flavours up a notch, create a curry blend tailored to your tastebuds.

Here are two recipes for both spicy and mild curry powders.

Measurements:

• T = tablespoon
• tsp = teaspoon

Spicy Curry Powder

Ingredients

• 2 T turmeric
• 1 T dried chili
• 1 T fenugreek
• 1 T fennel seeds
• 1 T peppercorns
• 1 tsp coriander
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp cloves
• 1 tsp salt

Mild Curry Powder

Ingredients

• 2 T turmeric
• 1.5 T coriander
• 1.5 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp yellow mustard seeds
• 1 tsp allspice grains
• 1 tsp peppercorns
• 1 tsp cardamom
• 1 tsp ceylon cinnamon
• 1 tsp fenugreek
• 3 whole cloves
• 2 dried chili peppers

Preparation

• First, lightly roast the pepper, fennel seeds, cloves, cumin and coriander in a pan over medium heat.
• Then, let the roasted spices cool down and add them to the remaining spices a mortar or a coffee grinder. Grind to taste.
• If necessary, use a sieve to filter out the larger particles.
• Finally, pour into an airtight spice mill or shaker.

We hope these recipes help you to get started. Have fun discovering your favourite blend!