Spices

July 6, 2011 by Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

Once upon a time, spices were worth more than gold.

Great wars were fought over them, trade routes were forged to supply them, and for many years they were exclusive to only the wealthy upper classes in Europe.

How times have changed! Every two years, I replenish all my spices with a visit to the Aum Spice Centre in nearby Croydon (many foodies insist this should be done every six months, but I can’t bear the wastage). The photo above shows most, but not all, of the spices and ingredients I was able to buy for $60.

I bought raw peanuts and urud dal for lemon rice, and white sesame seed for dukka and bagels…

I always use a lot of coriander, both seed and powder, and needed more star anise, turmeric and cinnamon for my new curry powder mix. I also bought a packet of caraway seed to make harissa…

My all-time favourite chillies are these dried Kashmiri ones. I keep trying more exotic varieties, but I always come back to these simple chillies, with their gorgeous redness, moderate heat and sweet flavour. And at $3.50 for 200g, they’re an absolute bargain…photo below is about 20g or 35c worth…

I buy Kashmiri chillies in dried pods, flakes and powder…

On a whim, we picked up some pomegranate powder. It wasn’t expensive, although I’m not sure what to do with it. Any suggestions?

Asian junk food is quite irresistible – Malaysian tapioca chips and locally made bhuja mix – both hot and spicy. The red bits in the bhuja mix are slivers of dried chilli!

I’m well and truly stocked up for the coming year. And as both our sons have recently developed a palate for hot food, I’m anticipating lots of curries and spicy dishes in the near future. Off to check out Mamta’s Kitchen now for inspiration!

. . . . .

Aum Spice Centre
19 The Strand
Croydon NSW 2132
(02) 9744 1177

Posted in Food & Friends | Tagged Aum Spice Centre, bhuja mix, coriander, cumin, Indian spices, Kasmiri chillies, Malaysian curry powder, pomegranate powder, tapioca chips, urud dal | 46 Comments

46 Responses

on July 6, 2011 at 12:08 am sallybr

Celia, I was just thinking about a blog post on spices, yours come at perfect timing!

I just bought a few myself to replenish my pantry, and got a new one that of course I have no use for (yet). Fennel pollen. I heard good things about it, though

I hope you will find a nice use to the pomegranate powder and tell us about it!
- on July 6, 2011 at 2:49 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Sally, fennel pollen! What is it?
  - on July 7, 2011 at 1:37 am sallybr
    
    Here is some info…
    
    I should have gathered a bunch before leaving Los Angeles, wild fennel grew wildly in our neighborhood, but…. of course I didn’t
    
    http://honest-food.net/2010/07/25/playing-with-fennel/
    - on July 7, 2011 at 6:31 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
      
      Sally, that is REALLY interesting, thank you!
on July 6, 2011 at 12:43 am Suelle

You know what I would do with pomegranate powder – get it into a cake somehow! Pomegranate buttercream on vanilla cupcakes? Pomegranate macarons with white chocolate ganache filling?
- on July 6, 2011 at 2:50 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Suelle, it really is intriguing. I did a google search and most of the recipes are savoury. But a cake would be good, I’m sure…
on July 6, 2011 at 12:56 am Platanos, Mangoes and Me!

You really scored big…
- on July 6, 2011 at 2:50 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Norma! This is really my kind of retail therapy! :)
on July 6, 2011 at 5:40 am Kate

What a great haul! Those chillies look fantastic.
I’ve never used pomegranate powder myself, but these two recipes look intriguing:
http://cooking4allseasons.blogspot.com/2008/02/anardana-chicken-roast-and-milestone.html
http://uktv.co.uk/food/recipe/aid/608364
- on July 6, 2011 at 2:50 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Kate, thanks for the links – they were a really interesting read!
on July 6, 2011 at 6:30 am kavey

Hello, lovely! Regarding that six months thing, I follow my mum and keep small amount out in jars and rest in freezer.

Happy cooking!
- on July 6, 2011 at 2:51 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Oh thank you, that’s good to know Mamta freezes hers – I’ve read conflicting advice about that as well!
on July 6, 2011 at 8:01 am InTolerantChef

I love going to spice shops, the air smells sooo good! I love the good old dried chili, it adds a lot of depth in a paste or powder.
That pomegranate powder is something I haven’t seen before- but I guess it’s a bit tart? I use pomegranate molassass and an awesome pomegranate caramelised balsamic a lot in cooking and they are both sweet and tart.
Maybe use it to dust a lamb roast or quails before roasting, or sprinkle over yoghurt, or dips, on top of flat bread before baking, or in a sumac dukka, or, or, or ……. I think I need to go to our Indian grocery store today so I can get me some- I love to experiment with new ingredients!
- on July 6, 2011 at 2:51 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Becca, I hope you get some, and then you can tell me what to do with it! I know you’ll think of something clever.. :)
on July 6, 2011 at 8:44 am teawithhazel

oh..i am in spice heaven..it’s just the weather for a warming curry and your post has inspired me to make one..jane
- on July 6, 2011 at 2:52 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Jane, it really is curry weather, isn’t it? I’ve been cooking them as well recently…
on July 6, 2011 at 8:58 am MamaVix

Funny, I did a spice shop this week too, having run out of everything after making a pot of Harira. Only got the small bags (100g) of coriander, cumin, white pepper, cinnamon, cinnamon sticks, turmeric from one of the local Indian grocers. Then went next door for Korean chilli powder, which unfortunately only comes in half kilo bags. Only $5, and the others were $2 on average. Happy cook.
Pomegranate powder sounds lovely. I’m sure I saw a reference to that recently…will have a look.
- on July 6, 2011 at 2:53 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Vix, it’s such a nice and cheap shopping expedition, but one that promises so much! I’ve never heard of Korean chilli powder, but I have tried the pickles, so I know it’s probably going to be brutally hot!
on July 6, 2011 at 9:47 am Susan

I love using spices. I always seem to use cumin, coriander and tumeric in a lot of my dishes.
- on July 6, 2011 at 2:54 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Susan, welcome back! :) I’m trying to get into the habit of using more spices, I tend to just use the same ones over and over…
on July 6, 2011 at 9:52 am Amanda

What a fantastic pile of loot! I have a shelf full of spices and hate throwing them out unused, too. Like my recipes, I need to find a better and more efficient way to store them in some sort of order.
- on July 6, 2011 at 2:55 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Amanda, I really need to give my spice cupboard an overhaul. I have more packets of Herbie’s Spices than you could poke a stick at. I use a lot of them, but there are some that really are getting on…
on July 6, 2011 at 1:18 pm heidi

Cardamom,cumin, cinnamon,ginger, sesame seeds,caraway and poppy seeds, chilli pepper and saffron are what I keep using up quickly. The rest I keep for longer than I should, but it IS hard to toss them.
- on July 6, 2011 at 2:55 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Heidi, glad I’m not alone! Luckily they really do keep a long time.. :)
on July 6, 2011 at 4:31 pm Claire @ Claire K Creations

I’m the same, I can’t bare to waste something so precious. What a wonderful load of loot you have. I’ve started buying my spices in bulk too. It’s so much better than buying them from the supermarket and paying crazy prices.
I’m making your lemonade scones for morning tea tomorrow. Can’t wait!
- on July 7, 2011 at 6:34 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Claire, you’re so right, the spices from the Indian store are massively fresher than the little packets at the supermarket, because they turn over far more quickly. And cheaper – I can get 200g for the same price as a 25g pack at the grocery store. But it does then mean I have large quantities of spices and I need to find creative ways to use them up! Have a wonderful morning tea tomorrow!
on July 6, 2011 at 4:50 pm Tandy

wow, a spice lover like me! I have never seen pomegranate powder before – I shall look for inspiration for you in my curry book :)
- on July 7, 2011 at 6:35 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Tandy, thank you! I’d love to know if you find anything interesting!
  - on July 9, 2011 at 1:16 am Tandy
    
    there is nothing in my curry book (but while I was looking I found a recipe for plum chutney which I want to try)! I did find a note in Larousse which says it is a condiment. I am thinking you could try it baking something with almonds? Also to spice meatballs. Have fun :)
    - on July 9, 2011 at 6:20 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
      
      Thanks Tandy!
on July 6, 2011 at 6:16 pm Christine

You’ve been very productive! I don’t I could bear to re-stock after 6 months, either! It all looks lovely – better tell your taste buds there is a party on the way ;)
- on July 7, 2011 at 6:37 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Chris, what usually happens now if the food gets seriously hotter and spicier for a few weeks, and then we all get indigestion and everything gets pulled back a notch.. ;-)
on July 7, 2011 at 6:25 am Choclette

That pomegranate powder looks amazing. I bought some mango powder once and didn’t really know what to do with it either. I guess it would be good for colouring and flavouring rice and might be good as a “red velvet cake” substitute for artificial food colouring or for me and my love of lurid colours and nice red buttercream ;-)
- on July 7, 2011 at 6:37 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Choc, when I get the packet open, I’ll take a photo for you! I’ve found quite a few savoury dishes that use it!
on July 7, 2011 at 10:39 am Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella

I knew you’d have a great spice collection! I’ve heard the pomegranate powder isn’t good to make pomegranate juice-someone I know tried it in the hopes of finding a low cost alternative to Pom Wonderful. Sadly not the case!
- on July 11, 2011 at 1:26 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  It is a wonderful powder though – I’ve just tasted it – a little bit tart and tangy. Will have to find something clever to do with it… :)
on July 7, 2011 at 11:10 pm Tes

Pomegranate powder!? This is very interesting :) Please update us how it work :)
- on July 8, 2011 at 8:22 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Tes, I was hoping you’d have a recipe! It’s apparently a common Indian spice, although I’m not sure from which region.. :)
on July 8, 2011 at 2:22 am Marilyn

My Mother-in-law took me to a spice shop for my birthday. (I love her. :-)

You’ve inspired me. I need to go again to go back and replace a bunch of my spices… and get more Dutch Cocoa.

Nom! Maz.
- on July 8, 2011 at 8:23 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  What a great mother-in-law! :)
on July 8, 2011 at 6:56 am Helen T

I head to some of the Indian supermarkets near here, always amazed how much cheaper it is than trying to buy from the regular supermarkets. Intrigued by the pomegranate powder though!
- on July 8, 2011 at 8:25 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Helen, the spice shop always amazes me with its amazing value. I always think I should form some sort of neighbourhood spice buying co-op, as the bags are almost always way more than I need! I think I almost always end up throwing the dregs out after a couple of years – apart from coriander, cumin, fennel and pepper, I rarely get through the rest!
on July 8, 2011 at 6:58 am Joanna @ Zeb Bakes

I must admit I dived off at a tangent last night reading this – trying to see where one might obtain fennel pollen. I have two plants tucked in a herbaceous border, maybe I’ll try and catch a teaspoonful. I’ve never put caraway in anything but bread, so it would be interesting to make your Harissa formula one ot these days.
- on July 8, 2011 at 8:26 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  I shall look forward to seeing your fennel pollen catching photos! :)
  
  Pete’s not a big caraway fan, so he doesn’t like it in bread, but it’s very nice on the top of a bagel! :)
on July 11, 2011 at 12:21 pm Roz

I buy a lot of spices at an Indian shop and yes they can go stale when you buy large packets but I stash them in rectangular airtight containers and if you do not have any air in top they will stay fresh. Love your work Celia.
- on July 11, 2011 at 1:25 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Oooh, thanks for the tip, Roz! :)