Hong Kong spice ban: Ditch store-bought spices, here is how you can make your own sambhar masala at home

Hong Kong and Singapore have banned the use of spices from Indian-origin brands MDH and Everest. Spice mixes like Madras Curry Powder, Sambhar Masala Powder, and Curry Powder have been banned in both the countries.

However fret not, with a few ingredients and a few minutes on your hands, you can easily make sambhar masala at home. Here is a simple recipe!

How to make sambhar masala at home

Sambar is a popular dish from South Indian dish that is popular across the Indian subcontinent. To make sambhar powder, start by roasting 1/2 cup coriander seeds. Next roast 1/4 cup toor dal and 2 tbsp chana dal roast till aromatic and golden.
After this take 1 tbsp Fenugreek seeds, 1 tsp pepper, 1 tsp cumin and asafoetida 1 tsp. Saute well. Finally, add turmeric powder 1 tsp.

For colour, take 1 cup of red chilli with 4 Kashmiri chilli for colour. Roast and keep them aside. You can keep everything in sunlight for 2-3 days before grinding it. Your delicious homemade sambhar powder is now ready!

Why have MDH and Everest spices been banned?

The Centre For Food Safety of The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region announced on April 5 that a routine surveillance has revealed that three spice mixes from MDH group - Madras Curry Powder, Sambhar Masala Powder, and Curry Powder have the presence of ethylene oxide. The chemical poses serious health concerns including an elevated risk of breast cancer.

Also watch: Hong Kong bans MDH, Everest spices a week after Singapore, cites presence of carcinogenic substances