Cumin Powder (Roasted Jeera Powder)

Ingredients

• ½ cup cumin seeds (72 grams)

Steps

How to make Cumin Powder

1. Put the cleaned cumin seeds into a heavy-bottomed pan. Set the heat to medium and stir until the seeds are hot to the touch.
2. Turn the heat down to its lowest setting. Roast while stirring continuously to cook the seeds evenly.
3. Take the pan off the heat when the seeds give off a strong earthy, pungent, smoky aroma. Avoid over-roasting: the seeds will burn and become bitter.
4. Let the seeds cool completely before putting them in a grinder. Grind to a fine powder in short bursts of 30 to 50 seconds.
5. Once completely cool, put the powder into an airtight glass jar. For longer storage, use smaller jars in succession to retain most of the aroma.
6. Add the cumin powder as needed to curries, stir-fries, soups, salads and chaats.