How villagers make Traditional Curry Powder in Sri Lanka
Traditional Curry Powder is a unique and important ingredient in cooking in Sri Lankan villages and it was made fresh weekly. Traditional Curry Powder is actually a paste (called "Pahe Guli" in Sinhala) and it comes in 3 types. The 3 types are stored together in a Coconut Shell (called "Pahe Pol Katta" in Sinhala).
Although we used a blender to make the Curry Powder pastes, traditionally villagers would use a Mortar and Pestle to grind the spices into a paste. To prevent this Curry Powder mix from going bad and to naturally preserve it, coarse Salt was sprinkled on top of the paste when storing in the Coconut Shell.
If you like these type of unique traditional Sri Lankan spices and condiments, you might be interested in trying my Roasted Curry Powder and 2 ways of making Brinjal Moju recipes.
Ingredients
- 100g of Whole Dried Chilies
- 15g of Coriander Seeds
- 10g of Cumin Seeds
- 10g of Fennel Seeds
- Coarse Salt
- 50g of Goraka
- 40g of dried Turmeric
Miris Guliya
- Lightly toast 100g of dried Whole Chilies in a saucepan over low heat.
- Add the Whole Chilies into a bowl.
- Lightly toast 15g of Coriander Seeds in the same saucepan over low heat.
- Add 10g of Cumin Seeds.
- Add 10g of Fennel Seeds.
- Stir frequently until this mixture is lightly toasted.
- Now add the Whole Chilies.
- Lightly toast for 1 more minute.
- Turn off the stove and let this mixture cool down.
- Add the mixture into a blender.
- Add a small amount of Water.
- Add some pieces of dried Turmeric.
- Add some coarse Salt.
- Blend into a paste.
- Take the paste and pack it in tightly.
- Add the paste into the Coconut Shell.
- Sprinkle some coarse Salt on top.
- Cover the opening of the Coconut Shell with another Coconut Shell.
Goraka Guliya
- Add 50g of Goraka into a blender.
- Add some coarse Salt.
- Add a small amount of Water.
- Blend into a paste.
- Take the paste and pack it in tightly.
- Add the paste into the Coconut Shell.
- Sprinkle some coarse Salt on top.
- Cover the opening of the Coconut Shell with another Coconut Shell.
Kaha Guliya
- Add 25g of dried Turmeric into a blender.
- Add some coarse Salt.
- Add a small amount of Water.
- Blend into a paste.
- Take the paste and pack it in tightly.
- Add the paste into the Coconut Shell.
- Sprinkle some coarse Salt on top.
- Cover the opening of the Coconut Shell with another Coconut Shell.