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onions, pepper, garlic and ginger in pot
How to Make Tadka
Master the base of many Northern Indian curries known as the “tadka” or “tarka,” and you too will be cooking up authentic, flavorful, and aromatic Indian dishes at home!
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Spice Blend
Cuisine Indian
Servings 1 cup
Calories 1954 kcal

Ingredients
  

Tadka

  • 16 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 4 yellow onions
  • 1 red bell pepper
  • 1 green bell pepper
  • 8 cloves garlic peeled and minced
  • 4 tsp ginger peeled and grated
  • 4 green chili peppers thinly sliced
  • 2 tsp garam masala
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds heaping
  • 1/2 tsp red chili powder
  • 1 tsp salt

Garam Masala

  • 1 tsp coriander seeds
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 4 green cardamom pods
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 12 black peppercorns
  • 12 cloves

Instructions
 

1. Toast and Grind the Garam Masala
  • Break open cardamom pods, discard the shells, and set aside the seeds.
  • Place a dry saucepan on the stovetop at medium heat.
  • Add coriander seeds, cumin seeds, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, cardamom seeds, black peppercorns, and cloves to a dry saucepan.
  • Dry sauté the spices for 1 minute to toast them.
  • Add whole and ground spices to a coffee grinder and grind them into a powder. Set aside.
2. Cut the Vegetables
  • Dice the onions, red pepper, and green pepper. Set aside.
  • Slice green chiles. Set aside.
  • Peel and grate the ginger. Set aside.
  • Peel and mince the garlic. Set aside.
3. Clarify the Butter
  • Place a pot on the stovetop at medium-low heat.
  • Add butter and allow it to melt.
  • When it begins to bubble, turn the stovetop to low heat.
  • Skim the white foam off the top of the pot with a large serving spoon to remove the lactose or milk solids from the fat.
4. Sauté the Vegetables Slowly in Butter
  • Add onions, red pepper, and green pepper to the pot. Increase the stovetop to medium-low heat.
  • Allow the vegetables to bubble in the butter softly. Cook for 10 minutes.
  • Stir occasionally to ensure they do not stick to the bottom of the pot.
5. Add the Ginger and Garlic
  • Add ginger and garlic to the pot. Stir.
  • Cook it for 10 minutes.
6. Add the Spices
  • Add red chili powder, garam masala, and cumin seeds. Stir occasionally.
  • Cook it for 15 minutes.
  • It is ready for use.

Nutrition

Calories: 1954kcalCarbohydrates: 77gProtein: 13gFat: 185gSaturated Fat: 116gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 48gTrans Fat: 7gCholesterol: 482mgSodium: 2415mgPotassium: 1574mgFiber: 19gSugar: 28gVitamin A: 10677IUVitamin C: 291mgCalcium: 336mgIron: 7mg
Keyword approachable, authentic, slow-cooked
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