Today's Spice is: Anardana Powder
(powdered dry pomegranate seeds)
I've had this jar of Anardana Powder for a while now. It was either a total impulse purchase or a gift, but either way I didn't know what to do with it, and never used it. Good move, Amey! Even looking around on the internet, I didn't find too many recipes that called for it. Luckily though, all you need is one recipe, and I found a good one: Sweet Potato Kofta in Curry Sauce. 
First up, I made the delicious dumplings, or kofta. I changed the recipe a bit - I used mashed up white beans instead of cheese, and I used half pumpkin - half sweet potato. Most of all, I baked my dumplings instead of deep frying them. (375 F 15 min, flip, cook 15-20 min more). Of course they were totally delicious even without frying them. I especially loved the gentle little hit of jalapeno in the dumplings.
Listen folks, I know that is not an attractive photo. But, please, believe me when I tell you that it was crazy, crazy good. The curry sauce was made with pureed fresh tomatoes, pureed cashews, pureed-onion-ginger-garlic, loads of spices, and almond milk and it was such a glorious combination. Rich, but not overwhelmingly so, and full of flavor. Between the pomegranate powder in the dumplings and the pomegranate concentrate in the curry (which I halved), the sweet-sour-astringency of the pomegranate had a definite presence. It's really a great flavor amplifier, because there was very little salt in this dish, but the meal was very vibrant. We had it over rice with a side of roasted beets and steamed beet greens. What this dish lacks in beauty, it more than makes up for in the taste department!(*also the Chana Masala recipe that Hobby & More posted has Anardana as an optional ingredient, so I'm going to try that next!)
Ha! I see that it came from Kalustyan's which is an awesome ethnic foods market right in my NYC neighborhood. Small world! You'd love it there, the spice section is EPIC. I think the koftas look and sound delightful!
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing wrong with that photo! That whole meal looks crazy delicious& I love all of these spices you've been using that I've never even heard of!
ReplyDeleteIt's not ugly, it's "authentic"! Sounds absolutely delicious.
ReplyDeleteMmmm, magic pomegranate fairy dust! It sounds good to me and I don't think it looks bad either!
ReplyDeleteI literally had a bag of this in my hand today - darn it all! I put it back! :(
ReplyDeleteAnardana powder? New to me!
ReplyDeleteHey, I think that last photo looks super-mouthwatering :)
The problem with you posts is that I will likely end up searching out anardana now! I adore pom molasses so I imagine I will love anardana, too. :)
ReplyDeleteSounds so delicious. What an interesting spice - I wouldn't immediately know what to do with it either!
ReplyDeleteYummo, I want to make those kofta, they look delicious!
ReplyDeleteThis looks beyond amazing! Sweet potatoes are my absolute favourite food and I used to always order koftas at Indian restaurants in my pregan days. Definitely bookmarking this one!
ReplyDeleteWill you just come over and make all of these tasty meals for me?? Seriously. These all look and sound so delicious but I don't have any fairy dust. So I will need you to come over and supply me with some :)
ReplyDeleteyumm.. i love all koftas in curry.. those koftas looks too delcious..!
ReplyDeleteu can use anardana as an ingredient in any indian curry or gravy to add a little extra grainy sourness.. :).. goes best with any chickpea or whole beans/kidney beans, black eyed peas curries, or any meaty curries with substituted meat! let me know how the chana masala turned out!