Make your next pot of chana masala with this fantastic homemade chana masala spice blend. I use whole spices for fresh, aromatic flavor, and it is ready in under 10 minutes!
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What is chana masala powder?
Chana masala powder is the spice blend that adds a unique, savory flavor to chana masala - rich, fruity, spicy and irresistibly tangy. If you've ever made chana masala at home with garam masala and wondered why it doesn't have that restaurant-style zest, this is the spice blend you need. Chana masala powder has some ingredients in common with garam masala but it includes a few more that give chana masala a distinct aroma and mouthwatering flavor.
You can buy this powdered blend at any Indian grocery store and online, but I prefer making my own for three reasons:
- The store bought version is tasty enough but it has been sitting on the shelf for goodness knows how long and it's been losing flavor every day.
- Making your own spice mixes at home is far healthier and safer: news reports have repeatedly cited contamination with carcinogens and lead in powdered spices, and I, for one, just feel better when I know what's in the food I'm eating.
- Finally, a spice blend made at home can be tweaked to your taste. You can make it a little spicier or tangier or more aromatic by changing up the quantities of the spices.
With this chana masala spice blend, I've done all of the research and hard work so you can enjoy the best chana masala you ever ate, in a restaurant or at home. The key for the purest flavor and aroma is to use whole spices. You are likely familiar with all spices used in this recipe, especially if you already cook Indian food with some regularity.
Making the blend couldn't be simpler: roast the spices on a dry skillet and powder them. A batch will last you up to a year and reward you with enough chana masala powder to make chana masala at least six to seven times. You can also use it to flavor other north Indian bean-based curries like rajma, pindi chole and chole bhature.
Recipe card
Chana masala powder recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup coriander seeds
- 2 tablespoons cumin seeds
- 10 cloves
- 10 green cardamom pods
- 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
- 2 inch cinnamon stick (broken into smaller pieces)
- 8 dried red chili peppers
- 4 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon ajwain (caraway seeds)
- 2 tablespoons kasoori methi (dried fenugreek leaves)
- 2 heaping teaspoons amchur (dried mango powder)
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients except the amchur on a dry skillet.
- Toast over medium-low heat for about eight minutes, until the spices are very aromatic and the coriander seeds are a couple of shades darker.
- Remove all spices to a plate, and stir in the powdered amchur. Let the spices cool to room temperature, then place in a blender or spice grinder.
- Blend into a fine powder.
Nutrition Information
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Chana masala spice blend FAQs
You can buy whole spices at any Indian grocery store or online. I've added affiliate links in the recipe card above.
Amchur is powdered raw mango. It has a rich, tangy flavor and it is key to making an authentic-tasting chana masala blend. If you have dried pomegranate powder, anardana, on hand, you can use that instead.
This recipe, which includes eight dried red chili peppers, gives a moderately spicy chana masala spice blend. For a less spicy version, cut down the quantity of chili peppers to up to four.
Using whole spices is better, but if you already have the ground versions, add them to the whole spices in the skillet after turning off heat and toss them around lightly with a ladle to help them toast in the residual heat. Use six tablespoons of ground coriander and three tablespoons of ground cumin for this recipe.
I use a heaping tablespoon of chana masala powder for one batch of chana masala, made with three cups of cooked chickpeas. You can tweak the amount to your taste by adding a little less or more.
Store the chana masala powder in an airtight container in a cool, dark cupboard or in the fridge. When stored properly, it will remain fresh and aromatic for a year or more.
Maithili says
Yummy so flavorful and better than any store Chana masala powder. I just made the best chana masala ever.
Vaishali Honawar says
Yay!! So happy you loved it Maithili.