Skip to main content
Main

Kopan Masala

A spice blend of coriander, cumin, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, pepper, and nutmeg.

From the Recipes Wiki (Fandom) · 8 ingredients
Jump to recipe ↓

Why it works: Cinnamon and nutmeg match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 11,917 recipes. Both carry estragole, which smells anise, licorice. The science ↓

Kopan Masala

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Mix together and grind finely, but not to powder, with a coffee grinder, spice grinder, mortar and pestle, rolling pin, or food processor.

  2. Stir in an air-tight jar.

Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)

45Calories
1 gProtein
2 gFat
8 gCarbs

Counts 6 of 8 ingredients. The other 2 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.

What these numbers assume: 6 portions
IngredientPortion assumedkcal
Nutmeg1 tsp ground (2.2g)12
Cumin1 tsp ground (2.1g)8
Clove1 tsp ground (2g)7
Cardamom1 tsp ground (2g)6
Cinnamon1 tsp ground (2.6g)6
Black Pepper1 tsp ground (2.3g)6
Coriandernot in our table0
Seednot in our table0

One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.

Recipe from the Recipes Wiki (Fandom).

Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.

Explore the science

The flavor team

The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.

  1. Cinnamon + nutmegtop 1% of all pairs
    Smell alikestrong
    Cooked together11,917 recipes

    Shared aroma: estragole (anise, licorice).

  2. Clove + cinnamontop 1% of all pairs
    Smell alikestrong
    Cooked together14,189 recipes

    Shared aroma: ethyl cinnamate (sweet, balsamic).

  3. Coriander + cumintop 1% of all pairs
    Smell alikestrong
    Cooked together3,866 recipes

    Shared aroma: beta-phellandrene (minty, terpene).

  4. Cardamom + cinnamontop 1% of all pairs
    Smell alikestrong
    Cooked together1,299 recipes

    Shared aroma: beta-phellandrene (minty, terpene).

  5. Coriander + cardamomtop 1% of all pairs
    Smell alikestrong
    Cooked together872 recipes

    Shared aroma: beta-phellandrene (minty, terpene).

Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs

What each ingredient does

Coriander seeds
Provides the warm, citrusy aroma that forms the base of the blend.
Cumin seeds
Adds earthy, warm aroma that gives the blend its characteristic depth.
Black cardamom pods
Contributes a smoky, resinous aroma that stands out in the mix.
Cloves
Adds a strong, sweet-pungent aroma that carries through the blend.
Cinnamon sticks
Adds woody, sweet aroma that rounds out the warm spices.
Black peppercorns
Adds sharp, pungent heat and aroma to the blend.

The step that matters

Grinding to a fine but not powdery texture. Grinding breaks open the seeds and releases their volatile aromatic oils. A grind that is too fine exposes more surface to air, so the aroma fades faster. Stopping short of powder keeps the flavor fresher and gives the blend an even texture.

Swap the coriander

How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (cumin, cardamom, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg):

  1. Allspicefits better
  2. Turmericfits better
  3. Gingerfits better
  4. Corianderthe original

Fit is the average pairing score against cumin, cardamom, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.

“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.

You might also like

Tomato SoupTomato Soup526 recipesBrown BreadBrown Bread461 recipesMutton BrothMutton Broth292 recipesYorkshire PuddingYorkshire Pudding264 recipes