Everyday at 11:00 am at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, my assistants and I perform a spice making demonstration. We talk about how to make Garam Masala and Curry spice blends at home, the ingredients needed, and the process. A photographer from Metromix.com was kind enough to document this process.
First, we begin setting up and organizing the spices before our demonstration begins. Cast iron pans are on the fire heating up and we are gathering out audience.
We talk about how each family would have their own recipe of a blend. Some families would great a sweeter mix, others a spicier, and some would great a hotter blend.
We start combining the spices. First we create the garam masala and then the curry. We talk about how both spice recipes use cumin and corriander and the differences between the two.
We talk about fresh spices are important. Here, Rissa is shaving the nutmeg to ensure freshness. We talk about how soft the nut is an how easy it is to shave it versus grate it.
Nicholas takes the preassembled spice blends over to the fire. Once again, we starts with the garam masala. Adding the spices to the hot pan, he begins to dry roast them to help spread out the oils. Our stage begins to smell like toasted spices.
Here, Nicholas is starting to demonstrate the curry.
Adding the final touches by adding the tumeric.
If you haven’t already, please visit our shows at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival at 11 am, 1pm, 3pm, and 5pm. We hope to see you there!
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