Masala and Memories
भाजी किंवा आमटीत मसाल्याचं प्रमाण किती असावं? यावर पु ल देशपांडे म्हणतात, सुरेख डोळ्यामध्ये भरलेल्या काजळासारखं, डोळ्यांची शोभा वाढवणारं. जर तो जास्त झाला किंवा अजिबात नसेल, तर डोळ्यांची सुंदरता हरवते. अगदी तसंच, योग्य प्रमाणात वापरलेला मसाला जेवणातल्या मुख्य घटकांची चव आणि सुंदरता वाढवतं.
If the masala is too much or too little, the beauty is lost. But when it’s just right, it enhances everything – just like kajal brings out the beauty in the eyes. That’s exactly what masala does in our food. It’s not the star ingredient, but it brings everything to life.
Masala is the soul of Indian cuisine. We simply can’t live without it.
Across India, there are countless types of masalas – every region, every home has its own unique version. And in our home, it’s my mother’s Artisanal Malvani Masala – perfected over generations and made with love and details.
My First Memory of Masala
My earliest memory of masala takes me back to my Ajji’s house during summer. In the backyard stood a Kandap Machine – an iron pounding machine that made a rhythmic dhadak dhadak sound as it crushed spices. The air would be filled with the aroma of roasted spices, and you couldn’t avoid sneezing! That unmistakable smell told you – masala was being made.
Ajji would dry roast red chillies in a large iron kadhai, carefully turning them till just right. Every summer, neighbours would come over with their own ingredients to get their spices pounded. It wasn’t just cooking – it was a tradition.
Every Family Has a Recipe. This One’s Ours.
It is my observation that some families have their own masala recipes, passed down through generations. Others buy it from trusted local makers.
Our family is lucky – we have our own recipe. It’s a legacy passed down from my grandmother to my mother. And it’s still made the traditional way.
On my father’s side, my grandmother had her own style too. On regular days, she used powdered masala. But for special dishes, she would freshly roast and grind 20–22 spices by hand in a stone mortar and pestle. We have a grocery shop in Malvan, so all the spices are always available fresh and in abundance.
What Makes Malvani Masala Unique?
Malvani Masala is a bold, aromatic blend of red chillies and whole spices in a specific ratio.
There’s no onion, no garlic, and no dry coconut in it.
Depending on the version, it can have anywhere between 17 to 25 ingredients. Red chillies are sun-dried and roasted to perfection. Each spice is roasted separately and with care before being pounded – not ground – into a masala.
This masala is used mostly in roasted coconut gravies and is a staple in Malvani cuisine.
Why do we call it Artisanal Malvani Masala and not Just Malvani Masala?
We’ve been making Malvani Masala for over 30 years, ever since we started our restaurant Chaitanya. We wanted one signature masala – consistent, authentic, and unforgettable.
Since then, my mother has worked hard to perfect and standardise the recipe. Over time, we learned that three things matter most:
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Quality of Ingredients
We handpick every spice from the market. Only the best makes it into our masala. -
Perfect Roasting
Every spice needs a different temperature and timing. You can’t roast them all together. Each one gets special attention. -
Traditional Pounding
Modern machines cut spices into powder, but pounding releases their natural oils. When those oils blend together, that’s when magic happens – that’s when you get the rich aroma and flavour of real Malvani Masala.
For years, we’ve been making our masala exclusively for our restaurant. It was something special – crafted with care, perfected over time, and never really meant for sale. Honestly, we never thought of putting it out into the world. It was just ours – our kitchen’s secret, our family’s pride.
But over the years, something changed. Guests would often ask us, “Can we take a little of this masala home?” or “Where can we buy this?” And slowly, we started to realise – maybe this shouldn’t just stay within the walls of our kitchen. Maybe it’s time to share what’s been ours for so long.
So here we are – finally offering our Artisanal Malvani Masala to you. It’s still made the same way: in small batches, with handpicked spices, just like we always have. Only now, it’s not just for our restaurant – it’s for every home that wants to bring the warmth of Malvan into their food.
We’re not just sharing a spice mix. We’re sharing a part of our journey, a flavour full of memories.