EASY! Amu Thunapaha |Sri Lankan Unroasted Curry Powder

Learn to Make Amu Thunapaha (Sri Lankan Unroasted Curry Powder)! Here is a super easy unroasted curry powder recipe using ground spices. Just measure the ground spices with a tablespoon or teaspoon, as required, and then mix them. It takes less than 10 minutes.

Learn to Make Amu Thunapaha
(Sri Lankan Unroasted Curry Powder)!

Do You Love Sri Lankan Curries? The secret to awesome Sri Lankan curries is in the Sri Lankan curry powders. I highly recommend you make curry powders yourself to get the real flavor of Sri Lankan curries. Once you made them, you can prepare all your favorite Sri Lankan-style curries in no time!

Curry powders are one of the household staples in Sri Lanka. But, as with many other local dishes, there is no standard recipe for making Sri Lankan curry powders. Each family has its own spice blends that are often personalized according to their preferences. Every household in Sri Lanka will claim that theirs is the best.

In this post, I will show you how to make my version of unroasted curry powder using ground spices. After trying a few different versions of recipes, I developed this recipe with those personal experiences. It uses the proportions of ground spices that (I think) give the best flavor to Sri Lankan curries. Just feel free to modify it according to your personal preferences.

You can use homemade ground spices or you can buy ground spices at the grocery store or online. Just measure the ground spices with a tablespoon or teaspoon, as required, and then mix them. It takes less than 10 minutes.

Click Here for More Sri Lankan Recipes!

What is Amu Thunapaha
(Unroasted Curry Powder)?

Amu Thunapaha (අමු තුනපහ) or Unroasted Curry Powder is typically made with unroasted or slightly roasted spices. These can be either whole spices or ground spices.

“Amu” = Raw or Unroasted
‘Thunapaha‘ = Curry Powder
‘Amu Thunapaha‘ = Unroasted (Raw) Curry Powder

You can use unroasted curry powder for making mild curries as well as spicy curries, according to your personal preferences.

More About Sri Lankan Curry Powders

Thunapaha (තුනපහ) or Thuna Paha (තුන පහ) refers to the curry powders (spice mixes) used in everyday cooking.

You can make these spice mixes using whole spices or ground spices.

There are mainly three types of curry powders that are widely used in Sri Lanka. But, you’ll also find some other variations of curry powders across the country.

1. Basic Spice Mix (Thunapaha)
2. Roasted Spice Mix (Badapu Thunapaha)
3. Unroasted Spice Mix (Amu Thunapaha)

More Sri Lankan Curry Powder
Recipes to Try!!

Basic Curry Powder (Thunapaha Made with Whole Spices)

Basic Curry Powder (Thunapaha Made with Ground Spices)

Roasted Curry Powder (Badapu Thunapaha Made with Whole Spices)

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients I used in this recipe and all ingredients are in the powdered form. Apart from the spice powder, I also used white rice flour and dried curry leaf powder which is optional. You can make the spice blend in mild or hot adjusting the amount of chili powder used.

• Coriander
• Cumin
• Fennel
• Chili
• Turmeric
• Fenugreek
• Mustard
• Black pepper
• Cinnamon
• Clove
• Cardamom
• White rice
• Dried curry leaves

Here are the Ingredients
used in Sri Lankan Curry Powders

How to Store

Store the curry powder in airtight containers preferably glass containers. The best place to keep your spices is in a pantry or cabinet, in a cool place. It should also be protected from direct sunlight and moisture. It keeps well in an airtight glass container for about 6 months. The fresher the better. The ground spices will gradually lose their flavor over time.

A Glass Container is Better for Storing Spices!

You can keep your whole spices, ground spices, and curry powders fresh longer by storing them in glass containers. The glass container must have an air-tight lid. The lid should be securely sealed. You can easily find the contents in the glass container as it is transparent. Since glass is not porous, it is a good choice for storing spices. Plastic is porous and allows air to leak into the container.

Sri Lankan Curry Recipes to Try!

Do you love Sri Lankan curries? How about making Sri Lankan chicken or fish curry with this Unroasted Curry Powder you made?

Click Here for More Sri Lankan Recipes!

Amu Thunapaha (Sri Lankan Unroasted Curry Powder) Step-by-Step recipe

Prep Time 10 min

Equipment

A small glass bottle with an air-tight lid

Ingredients

4 tablespoons coriander powder
2 tablespoons cumin powder
1 tablespoon fennel powder
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/4 teaspoon Fenugreek powder
1/4 teaspoon mustard powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper powder
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon powder
1/8 teaspoon clove powder
1/8 teaspoon cardamom powder
1 teaspoon chili powder, adjust as needed
1 tbsp rice flour, optional
1/4 tsp dried curry leaf powder, optional

NOTE: You’ll need about 2 teaspoons of curry powder for making a curry for 2 to 4 people (as a guideline)

Instructions

Gather and measure the ingredients.

Put measured spices in the bottle. Cover with the lid and then shake a few times.

Store it in a cool, dry, and dark place to keep flavor and shelf life.

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More Sri Lankan Curry Recipes To Try