1. Headline
  1. Headline
Advertise | AdChoices

Make your own powdered seasonings

Mark Bittman shares recipes for curry powder, barbecue rub

Advertise | AdChoices

Video: Secrets of spice rubs

Open in new window

TODAY recipes
updated 5/5/2010 9:26:29 AM ET 2010-05-05T13:26:29

As all experienced cooks know, seasonings can make or break a meal. But who knew how easy it could be to prepare powdered seasonings at home? Here, New York Times columnist and “How to Cook Everything” author Mark Bittman spells out how to make your own curry powder, Chinese five-spice powder, sweet barbecue rub and quartre epices.

Recipe: Curry powder (on this page) Recipe: Chinese five-spice powder (on this page) Recipe: Sweet BBQ rub (on this page)

Recipe: Quartre epices (on this page)


People.com
People.com

Recipe: Curry powder

Ingredients
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg pieces
  • Seeds from 5 white cardamom pods
  • 3 cloves
  • One 3-inch cinnamon stick
  • 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
  • 2 tablespoons cumin seeds
  • 1/4 cup coriander seeds
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 dried curry leaves (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon ground fenugreek
Preparation

1. Put all the ingredients except the fenugreek in a medium skillet over medium heat. Cook, shaking the pan occasionally, until lightly browned and fragrant, just a few minutes; for the last minute of cooking, add the fenugreek.

2. Cool, then grind to a fine powder in a spice or coffee grinder. Store in a tightly covered container for up to several months.

Serving Size

Makes: About 1/4 cup. Time: 10 minutes.

search for more recipes in TODAY Food
Print Save to my recipe box Go to my recipe box

Recipe: Chinese five-spice powder

Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon Sichuan peppercorns or black peppercorns
  • 6 star anise
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons whole cloves
  • 2 tablespoons fennel seeds
  • One 3-inch stick cinnamon
Preparation

1. Put all the ingredients in a medium skillet over medium heat. Cook, shaking the pan occasionally, until lightly browned and fragrant, just a few minutes.

2. Cool, then grind to a fine powder in a spice or coffee grinder. Store in a tightly covered opaque container for up to several months.

Serving Size

Makes: About 1/4 cup. Time: 5 minutes.

search for more recipes in TODAY Food
Print Save to my recipe box Go to my recipe box

Recipe: Sweet BBQ rub

Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon cumin seeds (or ground cumin)
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons paprika
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder, or more to taste
Preparation

1. Put the cumin in a spice or coffee grinder and grind to a fine powder.

2. Mix in the remaining ingredients and use immediately or store in a tightly covered container for up to several months.

Serving Size

Makes: About 1/4 cup. Time: 5 minutes.

search for more recipes in TODAY Food
Print Save to my recipe box Go to my recipe box

Recipe: Quartre epices

Ingredients
  • 3 tablespoons peppercorns
  • 2 teaspoons coriander seeds
  • 1 teaspoon allspice berries
  • 2 to 3 cloves
Preparation

1. Put all the ingredients in a medium skillet over medium heat. Cook, shaking the pan occasionally, until lightly browned and fragrant, just a few minutes.

2. Cool, then grind to a fine powder in a spice or coffee grinder. Store in a tightly covered opaque container for up to several months.

Serving Size

Makes: About 1/4 cup. Time: 5 minutes.

search for more recipes in TODAY Food
Print Save to my recipe box Go to my recipe box

© 2013 NBCNews

Discuss:

Advertise | AdChoices

Discussion comments

“ ”

Expand Collapse
,
Reply

More on TODAY.com

Sponsored content
  1. Chef Melissa d'Arabian's LACTAID® Brand story

    Melissa d’Arabian shares how LACTAID® Products helped her entire family fully enjoy dairy.

  2. Trouble digesting dairy due to lactose?
  3. Delicious lactose free breakfast
None
Entertainment
  1. Vogue
    Entertainment

    Katy Perry: Russell Brand dumped her via text

    6/18/2013 8:23:07 PM +00:00 2013-06-18T20:23:07
None
US News
  1. US News

    NSA: Surveillance thwarted NYSE, subway bombings

    National Security Agency surveillance programs helped disrupt plots to bomb the New York Stock Exchange and the New York subway system, an FBI official told Congress on Tuesday.

    6/18/2013 7:59:40 PM +00:00 2013-06-18T19:59:40
None
Pets
  1. Pets

    Homely pooches prepare for World's Ugliest Dog contest

    6/18/2013 9:04:11 PM +00:00 2013-06-18T21:04:11
None
News
  1. Hank Walker / Time Life Pictures / Getty Images file
    News

    Why we’ve been obsessed with Hoffa for 38 years

    6/18/2013 9:09:20 PM +00:00 2013-06-18T21:09:20
None
Entertainment
  1. Getty Images file
    Entertainment

    Etheridge: Jolie mastectomy 'fearful,' not 'brave'

    6/18/2013 12:09:53 PM +00:00 2013-06-18T12:09:53