{
  "$schema": "https://recipes.dhanjas.com/schema/recipe.schema.json",
  "format": 3,
  "slug": "maggi-masala",
  "category": "powder",
  "title": "Maggi Masala Powder",
  "subtitle": "A unified spice blend for Maggi noodles and more — tuned so overlapping spices don't double up.",
  "badges": [
    "Jain Vegetarian",
    "Toddler-adapted"
  ],
  "labels": [
    "Spice Blend"
  ],
  "meta": [
    "Yield: ~8 oz jar",
    "Prep: 5 min",
    "~16–18 uses"
  ],
  "protein": "One batch seasons ~16–18 dishes — keeps 3–4 months at room temp",
  "nightPrep": null,
  "ingredientGroups": [
    {
      "label": "Clean base — no overlap",
      "items": [
        {"id": "coriander", "name": "Coriander powder", "short": "coriander powder", "amount": "¾ cup"},
        {"id": "jeera", "name": "Roasted jeera (cumin) powder", "short": "roasted jeera", "amount": "3 tsp"},
        {"id": "chili", "name": "Red chili powder", "short": "chili powder", "amount": "2 tbsp"},
        {"id": "turmeric", "name": "Turmeric (haldi)", "short": "turmeric", "amount": "1 tbsp"}
      ]
    },
    {
      "label": "Blended masalas & reduced standalones",
      "items": [
        {"id": "chaat", "name": "Chaat masala", "short": "chaat masala", "amount": "2 tbsp"},
        {"id": "garam", "name": "Garam masala", "short": "garam masala", "amount": "1½ tbsp"},
        {"id": "ginger", "name": "Dry ginger powder (soonth)", "short": "ginger powder", "amount": "¾ tsp"},
        {"id": "aamchur", "name": "Aamchur (mango powder)", "short": "aamchur", "amount": "1½ tsp"},
        {"id": "pepper", "name": "Black pepper powder", "short": "black pepper", "amount": "¾ tsp"}
      ]
    },
    {
      "label": "Body & balance",
      "items": [
        {"id": "cornflour", "name": "Corn flour (cornstarch)", "short": "corn flour", "amount": "1½ tbsp"},
        {"id": "sugar", "name": "Sugar", "short": "sugar", "amount": "1½ tsp"},
        {"id": "hing", "name": "Hing", "short": "hing", "amount": "½ tsp"},
        {"id": "salt", "name": "Salt", "short": "salt", "amount": "1½ tsp"}
      ]
    }
  ],
  "method": [
    {
      "type": "step",
      "title": "Measure everything into one bowl",
      "items": [
        "Use a large dry bowl — everything goes in together",
        "Measure {@coriander} first — it's your visual anchor, everything else is much smaller relative to it",
        "Add {@jeera}, {@chili}, {@turmeric}",
        "Add {@chaat} and {@garam}",
        "Add {@ginger}, {@aamchur}, {@pepper} — kept small because the chaat and garam masala already carry pepper, cumin, ginger and salt",
        "Add {@cornflour}, {@sugar}, {@hing}, {@salt} — aamchur stands in for citric acid, hing adds Jain depth"
      ]
    },
    {
      "type": "step",
      "title": "Mix, then taste dry",
      "items": [
        "Whisk or stir with a dry spoon for at least 1 minute",
        "No streaks of turmeric yellow or chili red should be visible when done",
        "Final color should be a warm reddish-brown — not orange, not dark brown",
        "Take a tiny pinch — rub between fingers and taste dry before jarring",
        "You should get: sour hit first, then warmth, then mild heat, savory salt undertone",
        "If something feels off, see the taste tuning tip below before transferring to the jar"
      ]
    },
    {
      "type": "step",
      "title": "Jar, label and store",
      "items": [
        "Use a completely dry 8 oz glass jar with a tight-sealing lid",
        "Funnel or spoon the blend in — tap to settle, don't pack it down",
        "Never close the lid if anything is warm — moisture causes clumping",
        "Label with: Maggi Masala · date made · v1 — track adjustments batch to batch",
        "Keep in a cool, dark spot away from the stove — 3–4 months at room temperature, up to 6 months refrigerated in a sealed bag",
        "Always scoop with a dry spoon; clumping means moisture got in — break it up and use within 2 weeks"
      ]
    },
    {
      "type": "step",
      "title": "How much to use",
      "items": [
        "Maggi noodles: 1–1½ tsp per adult serving",
        "Stir-fried vegetables or sabji: 1 tsp per 2 servings",
        "Paneer marinade: 1½ tsp per 200g; roasted paneer or peanuts: ¾–1 tsp per batch",
        "Chaat sprinkle or raita seasoning: ½ tsp to taste"
      ]
    },
    {
      "type": "toddler",
      "label": "Toddler note",
      "items": [
        "Use ¼ tsp maximum per toddler serving — chaat masala and chili make this moderately spiced",
        "For her Maggi bowl: cook noodles plain, season her portion separately with ¼ tsp",
        "Stir in small cubed boiled carrot or potato for added nutrition and bulk"
      ]
    },
    {
      "type": "tip",
      "label": "Taste tuning (after first cooked use)",
      "text": "Too spicy: stir in a little more coriander powder to dilute this jar; reduce chili next batch. Not sour enough: add more aamchur — it adds tang without extra salt. Tastes flat: add a touch more hing, the umami anchor here. Bitter aftertaste: usually the turmeric or over-toasted jeera — make sure roasted jeera is store-bought, not home-toasted past golden. Too salty: your chaat masala brand is likely running salty — use less per serving rather than fixing the jar."
    }
  ],
  "tags": [],
  "added": "2026-09-07"
}