Panch phoron
South Asian whole spice blend
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Panch phoron (Bengali: পাঁচ ফোড়ন), panch phoran (Bhojpuri: 𑂣𑂁𑂒 𑂤𑂷𑂩𑂢), pānch phodan or pāncha phutaṇa (Odia: ପାଞ୍ଚ ଫୁଟଣ), is a whole spice blend, originating from the eastern part of India, used as a prominent ingredient in the cuisines of Bengal, Odisha, and the Bhojpuri region of Bihar. It is also used in the cuisines of Bangladesh, Northeast India, other areas of Bhojpur,[1] Mithila, Assam and Nepal. The name literally means "five spices".
Panch phoron | |
| Alternative names | Panch phodan, pancha phutana |
|---|---|
| Type | Spice blend |
| Region or state | India, Bangladesh |
| Main ingredients | Fenugreek seed, nigella seed, cumin seed, black mustard seed (or wild celery seed (radhuni)), and fennel seed |
| Ingredients generally used | Radhuni |
| Similar dishes | Chinese five-spice powder |

All of the spices in panch phoron are seeds. Typically, it consists of fenugreek seed (methi), cumin seed (jeera), nigella seed (kalonji), black mustard seeds and fennel seed (mouri/saunf) in equal parts.[2][3] The black mustard seeds are sometimes substituted with wild celery seed (radhuni).[2] Some cooks prefer to use a smaller proportion of fenugreek seeds, because of their mildly bitter taste.[2] Unlike most spice mixes, panch phoron is always used whole.