Makes 70 g or 1 cup garam masala

9 tablespoons coriander seeds

2 tablespoons black cumin seeds

1 or 2 cloves

½ * piece cinnamon

1 pod cardamom

1 blade mace

¼ teaspoon turmeric powder

½ teaspoon chilli powder

pinch of nutmeg powder

½ teaspoon sesame powder

½ teaspoon poppy seeds

1 teaspoon dry coconut pieces

5 or 6 pepper-corns

Pinch of asafetida

½ bay leaf

½ teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon oil for roasting

Roast all ingredients, except salt, separately in oil. Grind to a fine powder and sieve. Add salt and store in an air-tight container.

½ coconut grated

1 small bunch coriander leaves

6 medium green chillies or to taste

1 marble-size ball tamarind*

1 piece scraped ginger

6 flakes peeled ginger

¾ teaspoon salt or to taste

¼ teaspoon sugar (optional)