Amchoor powder?
Posted by yabbitgirl on Dec 14, 2008 · Member since Apr 2006 · 14266 posts
OK so I've done it again...went to the Asian market and came home with something totally new. Amchoor powder, which apparently is unripe mango powder. What does it taste like? Sour, bitter, spicy? Anyone know?
What do you use it for? It was only 1 Euro for the package so I brought it home. Silly me.
Hey, NagaJolokia Addict--front and centre!! ;)b
Checked out Spice House for a description.....darn girl look at those prices...think you got a deal.
http://www.thespicehouse.com/spices/amchoor-powder
Sounds interesting....so what did you say her name was???? NagaJolokia Addict?
Mango powder is used in a lot of Indian dishes....
Checked out Spice House for a description.....darn girl look at those prices...think you got a deal.
http://www.thespicehouse.com/spices/amchoor-powder
Sounds interesting....so what did you say her name was???? NagaJolokia Addict?
NJA is a guy, who posts on the chitchat thread. I was hoping he lurked in here too. I guess not. I suppose I could post it on "the wrong board" and get told off. ;)
NJA is a guy, who posts on the chitchat thread. I was hoping he lurked in here too. I guess not. I suppose I could post it on "the wrong board" and get told off. ;)
That is OLD vegweb, Yabbit-- apparently anything (pretty much) goes on this VW... strange, isn't it? Sometimes I find myself saying "this is so off-topic!" or "post on ___ thread"... but alas...
That's funny, I was just explaining amchur powder in my Indian foods cooking class yesterday! It is a lemon type flavoring used in Indian foods. I call for it in a few of my recipes in my cookbook/health book. I love it!! :)
www.radianthealth-innerwealth.com
Scuse the Ignoramus (me), Quintessence, but could you possibly give me an idea or two here on how to use it? I can't seem to get anywhere amchur-ish with the link.
Scuse the Ignoramus (me), Quintessence, but could you possibly give me an idea or two here on how to use it? I can't seem to get anywhere amchur-ish with the link.
;D Sorry I wasn't more clear! It is simply used when a bit of lemon-type flavor is required. It is in my recipes for Indian foods as a counterpoint to spicy and savory spices. However, when I do Indian foods, I use a LOT of spices to achieve a complex, buckle at the knees kind of effect, so amchur is just one part of that. My cookbook has a lot of Indian recipes in it containing amchur:
www.radianthealth-innerwealth.com
and I also have a blog with recipes (sorry I can't recall offhand if any contain amchur...): www.quintesstestkitchen.blogspot.com
Hope that helps at least a little!! ;)b
Bindi masala is a good place to start with your amchur. People don't like okra b/c it can get slimy, but what they don't know is that acid cuts the sliminess. And amchur is acidic (duh)! I have even made it with frozen okra, and it's lovely, really.
Here's a jumping-off point.
http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/12/19/stories/2005121901450300.htm
Baigan Masaledar about 2/3 down the page. Very simular to the recipe in my Classic Indian Cooking book...which I don't think I can copy a recipe on here from.
Bindi masala is a good place to start with your amchur. People don't like okra b/c it can get slimy, but what they don't know is that acid cuts the sliminess. And amchur is acidic (duh)! I have even made it with frozen okra, and it's lovely, really.
Here's a jumping-off point.
Will frozen okra do? Cuz that's all I can get here. :'(
Yeah, totally. Have done that plenty in the winter. Yummmmmmmmmm, bindi masala!
Gazunteit.
Did I spell that right? It's a joke, cuz "amchoor" sounds kinda like "achoo"...
Gazunteit.
Did I spell that right? It's a joke, cuz "amchoor" sounds kinda like "achoo"...
Gezundheit.
Literally, "Healthiness!"
OK so I've done it again...went to the Asian market and came home with something totally new. Amchoor powder, which apparently is unripe mango powder. What does it taste like? Sour, bitter, spicy? Anyone know?
What do you use it for? It was only 1 Euro for the package so I brought it home. Silly me.
Hey, NagaJolokia Addict--front and centre!! ;)b
Ok....here it goes.
Amchur powder is as you wrote, powder of unripe mangoes.
It is always used as a souring agent in curries, sauces and pickles.
The other day, I made mango pickle using Amchur powder along with other ingredients to make Naga Chutney pickle.
I did not want to use Vinegar. It is much more healthier to use Amchur in place of vinegar.
You can use with sugar/jaggery to make sweet reliesh. Try it out.
As all the others have written b4 me, stuffed curries like Okra, Baigan also taste better with amchur.
I some times use in preparing Baigan Bhartha also.
NJA
Excellent! I could have just stuck my finger in the powder to taste it but so many bottled curries etc. say "do not eat uncooked" that i didn't know if it might make me feel sick.
Now to Google methi and kalonji seed...
(I do this..cruise the Asian grocery and come home with whatever looks interesting, whether I know from it or not. Usually I don't but at least with Indian spices, I can read the labels cuz they're in English, not Chinese).
Excellent! I could have just stuck my finger in the powder to taste it but so many bottled curries etc. say "do not eat uncooked" that i didn't know if it might make me feel sick.
Now to Google methi and kalonji seed...
(I do this..cruise the Asian grocery and come home with whatever looks interesting, whether I know from it or not. Usually I don't but at least with Indian spices, I can read the labels cuz they're in English, not Chinese).
Methi is Fenugreek seeds. Kalonji is Onion seeds. So simple no?
Yeah, I know what they are, but not what to do with them. I do this...buy stuff and THEN find a way to use it.
Suggestions??
kalaunji and Fenugreek seeds are two items from five of a group which we use to give culture to any curry or a dish.
we call it as Vaghar or Tadka.
Stand alone there are uses for Fenugreek seeds to cure Diabetes and increase production of Milk in Lactating Mothers.
Fenugreek increases the size of breasts. In India, young puberscent girl's moms give fenugreek to their daughters to increase the breast size.
There are many more usages of Fenugreek.
NJA
Yeah, I know what they are, but not what to do with them. I do this...buy stuff and THEN find a way to use it.
Suggestions??
I haven't used methi (no rehab jokes please), but I do have kalonji seeds. I initially made the mistake of including them as an ingredient in curries, but they were always a little off. I found out recently (from a Himalayan chef) that they are best as a stand alone addition to things like naan. So, there they sit in my cupboard until I get a tandoori oven!
They may, however, also be good with basmati rice. They are really strong though, so start with small amounts!
:)
They may, however, also be good with basmati rice. They are really strong though, so start with small amounts!
:)
Are you joking?
Basmati rice and Methi do not go together.
Methi is good as an ingredient (major) if you make a sweet called Methipaak using wheat flour and rarified butter (a taboo here0 and sugar along with dried ginger powder and other herbs.
You can use Methi for making Methi rice but you must use plain Indian rice called Ponni or Sona Masoori.
If you want the recipe, I will give you..
http://www.hemant-trivedis-cookery-corner.com/Ricedishes/vendhaiyum.html
This is Fenugreek rice. A word of advice. Please reduce amount of Fenugreek by half from the recipe.
NJA
Pages