Have you ever added home made ground spices to your dish instead of that boring pre-ground spice mixtures? Those who have tried it and enjoyed the fresh flavor of the resulting dish will swear by the practice of grinding ones own spices. Trust me! Grinding your spice can make a whole world of difference to your dish. Here are a few simple steps on how to grind your spices:

1.    Buy fresh and high quality whole and dry spices from your market

2.    Take a dry skillet and pour in the spices and toast them under medium flame.

3.    You can toast more than one spice at a time to make your spice mixture. E.g. Indian Garam Masala and Chinese Five Spice Powder.

4.    When toasting your spices keep stirring them or shaking the skillet to make sure that you don’t burn them.

5.    Once you have toasted the spices for 2 or 3 minutes, they will be slightly browned and the aroma of the spices will begin to hit you.

6.    Remove from the flame and allow it to return to room temperature

7.    Pour the cooled whole spices into your clean and dry mortar and pestle or spice mill.

8.  Hold the pestle properly, apply pressure and twist the pestle back and forth into the toasted spices. The spices may climb up the sides of the mortar, knock them down to the bottom and continue grinding till the desired consistency is acheived.

9.   Use the ground spices immediately or store them in an air tight container in a cool and dark  environment without exposure to the sun.

Spice Grinding Tips:-

• If you are adding more than one spice, add those that will take longest to toast first.

• If you have to add ground spices when making a spice mixture, add them just before taking the skillet off the heat.

• When using a mortar and pestle make sure it is clean,dry and doesn’t carry the residual of previously ground spice mixture.
  

• You can also use a coffee grinder, a food processor or a pepper grinder instead of a mortar and pestle

• Once you use your coffee grinder for grinding your spices you can clean it up by adding a small amount of sugar or uncooked rice and then process.

Check for some spice advise on using spices here .

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