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Welcome to SpiceTopia’s Masala Dabba Recipe Collection!
A masala dabba is the ingenious Indian answer to spice organization. You know how you need just a pinch or two more of cumin or a sprinkle of chili powder to make the dish just perfect. In the middle of cooking, opening a jar or package of spice is an annoyance not to mention a messy endeavor.
The Masala Dabba fixes that problem!
Masala dabbas are boxes, often in the shape of a circle or square, that usually hold up to seven spices in katoris. Katoris are small open containers within the larger dabba which allow you to easily access your spices anytime during the cooking process. An inner and outer lid help to keep the spices fresh after cooking time is over.
SpiceTopia’s Masala Dabba’s katoris are filled with:
- Green cardamom
- Mustard Seed
- Coriander
- Mustard Seed
- Methi
- Cumin Seed
- Kashmiri chili powder
- Turmeric
We’ve also tucked in packages of Asafoetida, Cinnamon, and Amchur.
Masala Dabba Recipes
So now that you all these beautiful spices, what to do with them?
We’ve gathered a few of our favorite recipes to get you started on your Indian cooking journey. These recipes are basic ones with techniques that will serve you well as you move on to more complex recipes.
Keep in mind that just like any other type of cuisine, experimenting with flavors is allowed and is what will make each dish uniquely your own.
Curry Powder Recipe
You may have noticed that curry powder is missing from the above list of spices. Curry powder is not a traditional Indian spice. It was actually created to satisfy British and European tastes. The term “curry” in Indian cooking actually refers to the sauce (or gravy) used to flavor meat or vegetables.
Read more about the history of curry powder right here: The Story of Curry Powder
Instead in India, individual spices would be used to create specific flavors for different dishes. This basic curry powder recipe can be made with the spices in your Masala Dabba. As you experiment with Indian spices and recipes, feel free to change this recipe to suit your taste and what you are cooking with.
Chicken Curry Recipe
This recipe is a simple curry recipe to introduce you to our “Indian” Curry Formula.
This curry recipe uses chicken, but would also be delicious made with tofu, potatoes, or even chickpeas. This basic recipe uses a curry powder. Following the above curry powder recipe, you can mix things up and create your very own curry powder!
Tarka Dhal Recipe
Dhal translates into legume or lentil. Tarka is a specific way of adding flavor and spice to a dish.
This lentil recipe is a traditional Indian side dish that pairs well with curries or makes an easy lunch on its own.
It calls for simply cooking lentils before frying up spices to add lots of flavor to the lentils. This method of frying spices is a classic Indian technique called tarka. It’s a way to add lots of flavor to simple dishes like lentils, stir fried veggies, roasted potatoes, and our favorite, popcorn!
All of the spices found in your Masala Dabba (except cardamom) will work in a tarka. Feel free to play around with different combinations of spices. Adjust the amount of chili powder or methi leaves. Add a pinch of amchur for a hit of sour. Use cumin instead of coriander seeds. Once you start making tarkas, we think you won’t stop as they are an easy way to add flavor to just about anything!
Mango Lassi Recipe
The sweet,spicy, and floral notes of Green Cardamom come together with the sweet and spicy notes of mango to create the mango lassi we know and love!
A Mango lassi is a traditional Punjab Indian recipe that you may have enjoyed at an Indian restaurant. And really, it’s just a spiced up smoothie!
With just five ingredients, this is a drink you can easily make just about anytime. Couple of hints to follow for a creamy delicious lassi.
- In India a freshly made yogurt called curd is used to make lassi. This curd yogurt is almost liquid, so use a regular unflavored yogurt instead of Greek yogurt. If you only have Greek yogurt, mix it with buttermilk or milk to make it almost liquid. We often make our lassis with buttermilk instead of yogurt to mimic the tangy loose Indian yogurt.
- You’ll need to remove the cardamom seeds from the pods. Cardamom pods are actually easy to crush and then the seeds will pop out. We suggest using a mortar and pestle to remove the seeds and then to crush the seeds. If you don’t have a mortar and pestle, you can do the same thing with a glass bottle on a cutting board.
- After crushing the cardamom seeds, blend them with the mango to both break down the seeds and the fibers of the mango.
When you’ve made your mango lassi, be sure to serve it ice cold!
Salted Lassi Recipe
Most of us are familiar with the sweet dessert-like mango lassis, but savory lighter versions are just as popular across India.
Often made with sparkling water, a salted lassi can be quite refreshing on a hot day. As with a sweet lassi, be sure to serve your Lassi thoroughly chilled.
You’ll need to grind your cumin seed for this recipe before roasting it. A simple pepper or salt mill will easily grind cumin seeds.
This recipe also calls for Kala Namak which is a Himalayan salt with just a bit of funk and tang. If you do not have Kala Namak, any salt will work.
Raita Recipe
Yes, we know another yogurt recipe! Lentils and yogurt are included in most Indian meals, and raita is a classic Indian side dish.
Can’t take the heat? Raita to the rescue! In India, this yogurt salad is used to cool the palate between spicy bites. The coriander and cumin in this recipe should be toasted before being added. As to whether to grind the spices, that is up to debate! Grind them if you want the spices to blend into the background or crush them if you enjoy little bites with a burst of flavor.
Like Mexican salsas, raitas can be made with many different vegetables, fruits, and herbs. This recipe uses the traditional combination of cucumbers, carrots, mint, and cilantro, but feel free to switch things up!
We love to use diced pineapple instead of cucumber. You can also use zucchini, onions, cabbage, tomatoes, or anything else you have on hand or love!
We hope these recipes have helped you use and enjoy your masala dabba.
Additional recipes and articles you may enjoy:
Learn more about the traditional Indian spice blend: The Story of Garam Masala
Goan Aloo Vindaloo Curry: A Vegan Crockpot Indian Recipe
Indian Watermelon Juice Recipe: A Traditional Masala (or spiced) Juice Recipe