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Bhuna masala in freezer friendly jars
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Bhuna Masala or Everyday Indian Curry Paste

Bhuna Masala is an everyday indian curry paste made with onions and tomatoes. It's the base for most Indian curries. Freezer friendly and super easy!
Course How To
Cuisine Indian
Diet Vegan, Vegetarian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 8 Cups
Calories 149kcal
Author Richa

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons Oil⁠
  • 1 tablespoon Ghee optional⁠
  • 1 tablespoon Jeera or Cumin Seeds⁠
  • 750 grams Red Onions⁠ peeled and cut into four parts
  • 50 grams Garlic⁠ peeled cloves
  • 50 grams Ginger⁠ peeled and roughly chopped
  • 4-5 Green Chillies or Serrano Peppers adjust to taste
  • 1 kg Tomatoes⁠ cut into four parts
  • 1 tablespoon Chilli Powder⁠
  • ½ teaspoon Turmeric Powder⁠
  • 2 tablespoons Coriander Powder⁠
  • 1 teaspoon Cumin Powder⁠
  • 1 teaspoon Garam Masala⁠
  • 1 teaspoon Salt⁠

Instructions

  • To prep the veggies, add onions, ginger, garlic and green chillies to a food processor or mixer grinder, and chop till it resembles a coarse chop. Remove this mixture in a bowl, and add tomatoes and grind them to puree.
  • In a large pan or kadhai, heat oil and ghee and add cumin seeds. Once the seeds start spluttering add onions mixture.
  • Cook stirring occasionally for 15-20 minutes till the onion mixture turns brownish in colour and oil separates from the sides (as shown in the video above).
  • Add tomato puree, salt and all the remaining spices and cook on high heat while stirring continuously for two minutes. Reduce the flame and cook for another 15-20 minutes with the lid on, till the mixture reduces a little, and you can see oil start to appear on top.
  • Use this as a base for curries and stir fries. To store for later, cool completely before transferring into ziplock bags or freezer friendly food safe storage containers.
  • Bhuna Masala stays in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to three months.

Notes

  1. Prepping Veggies: You can alternatively chop the veggies finely instead of using the food processor
  2. Refrigeration: Bhuna Masala can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days
  3. Freezing: Bhuna Masala can be frozen for up to 3 months
  4. Storage: I prefer storing ½ cup bhuna masala in small jars and then freezing them. This way I only have to thaw the required amount every time I want to use it

Nutrition

Calories: 149kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 306mg | Potassium: 547mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1510IU | Vitamin C: 28mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 2mg