How to make Panch Phoron | Bengali Mix Spice

Life never goes as per plan. Or is it actually supposed to? The Talbina post was scheduled so that it would just go up and I wouldn’t have to be bothered about putting up a post. Last Thursday was a day of sorts. I had as usual battled the traffic, muttering under my breath as I rushed to office already late. At 9:45 am, I got a call from D. “Why is he calling me now?” was my impulse. Usually after Fajr and Quran recitations, he sleeps from 8 to almost 10:30. I called him back. He informed that my brother’s father-in-law had passed away and he was in a dilemma how to tell my expecting sister-in-law. He wanted me to come as soon as I could. I quickly settled up all I had on my table and rushed out in 30 minutes. My mind was in a haze.

“Kullu nafsin zaikathulmouth” – Every Soul Shall Taste Death… We say it, but do we feel it? It is a big question. By the time I reached home, her brother had already opened it up to her. She cried, it is a huge void. Our fathers are like the branches of the tree, how does it feel when it gets cut? But then death doesn’t see. And Allah knows what is in store for the soul as well as the people dependent on them for the future. All we can do it to make lot of dua for the deceased’s hereafter – a life we have no clue about except from what we can already read from our holy scripture. May Allah protect us and our families from harm, and make us steadfast… Aameen…. So quickly a week has passed…

Leaving you all with a simple spice mix, which needs no blending… Panch Phoron is the blend of 5 spices, that is extensively used in Bengali cooking. You basically roast the five spices used into this blend, put them into a jar, just rigorously shake them well, and use them into your cooking as desired! The spices used in this blend is what you will find in your pantry at any given point of time. Make a little bottle, and use it in any of your dishes… even a simple dal is elevated by this spice mix. InShaAllah, a recipe using the same will be coming up soon… Till then…

5 from 1 vote

How to make Panch Phoron | Bengali Mix Spice

Course Spice

Cuisine Indian

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 2 minutes minutes

Total Time 7 minutes minutes

Servings 1

Author Rafeeda

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp cumin seeds
• 1 tbsp fennel seeds
• 1 tbsp mustard seeds
• 1 tbsp nigella seeds onion seeds
• 1 tbsp fenugreek seeds

Instructions

• Lightly roast each spice for a minute and put into a jar. Once cooled, close the lid and give it a vigorous shake.
• Use as needed for the recipe.

Notes

Though mostly the spices are used in equal proportion, you can reduce the spices that you aren't really fond of!
Roasting the spices is totally optional, you can mix it all and use it.