What are cracked spices?

Cracked spices are used in making Chutney-conserve Murabba and Pickles

These condiment are stored away for extended time. The powdered spices have two problems:

1. They create an un-seeming muddy look.

2. The flavors dissipate quickly.

The whole spices have their own problem. The flavor dissipation is too slow.

Therefore the spices are pounded with a mortar and pestle to form highly coarse textured powder. The consistency is that of spent coffee grounds.

Spices used as cracked

Anise seed, Green Cardamom seeds, Black Cardamom seeds, Coriander seeds, Fennel Seeds, Cumin Seeds, Shahi Jeera (Black Cumin Seeds), Black Mustard seeds, Black Peppercorn, Cinnamon, Cloves

- The seeds and cloves are shattered by pounding or split and bruised in a grinder. You can use a food processor in pulse mode for about 30 seconds.

- Cinnamon sticks need to be broken up by hand in quarters. The broken pieces can be pounded or processed in food processor in pulse mode. I like the cracked cinnamon to resemble the size of wheat grain

- Three Cinnamon sticks (3" long x ¼" wide) will yield 1½ teaspoon cracked Cinnamon

- Twelve whole cloves will yield 1 teaspoon cracked cloves.

Spices used as Crushed

Red Pepper flakes

Spices used as Grated

Nutmeg

Jaggery should be grated and then packed measured and added. Grating Jaggery makes it easy to dissolve

Spices used as whole

Ajwain, Fenugreek seeds, Nigella seeds

Spices used as powdered

Asafoetida, Dry ginger powder (Saunth), Turmeric Powder, Cayenne pepper ground (Lal Mirchi), Amchoor (Dried tart Mango powder). Amchoor is also called Khatai.

Spice Quality

Always choose better alternative spice for quality

Green Cardamoms render better flavor over Black Cardamoms

Cassia bark renders better flavor over Cinnamon Stick. In United States, commercial cinnamon powder in reality is made with cassia.

Anise renders better flavor over Fennel

Black cumin is preferred over Cumin

For Black Peppercorn, use Tellicherry pepper