Massala is a mix of spices that originated from India but since the island of Mauritius is known for its Multicultural aspects, the Massala became an integral part of Mauritian cuisine. Mauritians have found ways to adapt this spice into dishes and curries that create unique flavours that everyone will enjoy, and it is another way to showcase and celebrate the fusion of different countries.
Origin:
Masala is a spice that comes from India and it is a mix of different spices that people blend together to create a new flavour and aromatic seasoning. The concept of blending spice is deeply rooted in Indian Culture, each region has their own Masala. They create it by using their local ingredients and it also depends on their taste and preferences.
Their is a traditional way to prepare the Masala and the first step is selecting the spice that will make up the Masala it can include: Cumin seeds, Mustard seeds, Cinnamon, Cloves, Cardamon, dried chilli and much more, after that they will roast the spice in a pan as the natural oil that these spice contain will enhance the flavour. When this is done the spice will have to completely cool off in order to ground it into powder, once this step is done additional ingredients such as turmeric powder, garlic powder , and other spice can be added to the mix.
You can learn more about some spices that are used in Masala in our articles on “Spices Used In Mauritian Dishes”, and “Cinnamon In Mauritian Cuisine”.
Culinary Applications:
In Mauritian cuisine Masala is used to prepare various curries such as Chicken curry, “Cari Corn” which is a fish curry where tomatoes, garlic, herbs, and the Masala mix will be added together to create this tasty, amazing, and vibrant dish and if you love to eat spicy food then this dish is made for you, even if you cannot eat spicy food you will be able to eat it since Masala came in different level of spicy mix. Making it accessible for everyone to enjoy.
Masala can also be used in other preparations such as to make the filling of “Samoussa pomme de terre ” which is a Mauritian snack which you can see food vendors sell or you can prepare it at home and use it to impress your family and friends.
Other Uses:
The different spices that make up the Masala have different uses in our daily life. It has a medical purpose in Ayurvedic medicine for.e.g the turmeric powder is greatly known for its inflammatory properties.
Long ago many people were using Cinnamon and gloves as a preservative to ensure that their food can stay for a longer period of time since they did not have means to refrigerate their food.
Conclusion:
To conclude, Masala is a spice that can be used in different recipes from curry, marinade to street food. Multiple variations can be made with this extraordinary spice, and if you have any great recipe with Masala then do not hesitate to share it in the comment section, we will love to try the new dish.
