Chili powder Chili powder Chili powder (also powdered chili, chile powder or chilli powder) is the dried, pulverized fruit of one or more varieties of chili pepper, sometimes with the addition of other spices (also sometimes known as chili powder blend). It is used as a spice to add pungency or piquancy and flavor to dishes. In American English, the name is usually spelled "chili". In British English the spelling "chilli" (with two "l"s) is used consistently. Chili powder is used in many different cuisines, including American cuisine, particularly in Tex-Mex, Chinese, Indian, Korean, Mexican, Portuguese, and Thai. Chili powder blends are
Indian cuisine ("elaichi"), cumin ("jeera"), turmeric ("haldi"), asafoetida ("hing"), ginger ("adrak"), coriander ("dhania"), and garlic ("lasoon"). One popular spice mix is "garam masala", a powder that typically includes seven dried spices in a particular ratio, including black cardamom, cinnamon ("dalchini"), clove ("laung)," cumin (jeera), black peppercorns, coriander seeds and anise star. Each culinary region has a distinctive "garam masala" blend—individual chefs may also have their own. "Goda masala" is a comparable, though sweet, spice mix popular in Maharashtra. Some leaves commonly used for flavouring include bay leaves ("tejpat"), coriander leaves, fenugreek leaves, and mint leaves. The use of curry leaves and roots