Biryani masala

A middle-of-the-road blend of spices for marinating meat or vegetables for inclusion in a biryani.

Ingredients

• 1 tsp cayenne pepper powder
• 2 tsp whole coriander
• 1/2 tsp powdered turmeric
• 10 whole black peppercorns
• 10 whole cloves
• 1/2 tsp green cardamom seeds, removed from pods
• 1/2 tsp kala jeera (black cumin, not nigella seeds)
• 1 inch Ceylon cinnamon stick

Directions

Grind all listed ingredients together in a spice grinder.

Default quantity given here is sufficient for seasoning 1 1/2 pounds of chicken or 2 pounds of vegetables. This masala is typically combined with other ingredients to form a marinade for meat or vegetables. See, for example Cheater's Hyderabadi chicken biryani.