Vadouvan
Vadouvan , sometimes referred to as Vaudouvan , is an Indian blend of spices that is believed to have French origins. It is believed to have been developed by French settlers in Puducherry , India . It is considered a modification of a Tamil blend of spices known as Vadagam or Vadakam . The ingredients of Vadouvan mixes can vary, but always contain onions , garlic , cumin seeds , mustard seeds and fennel seeds . In addition, black soybeans , fenugreek seeds , turmeric , curry leaves , asafoetida, and oil and salt are usually added.
Traditionally, the spice mixture is dried in the sun and then crushed. Then castor oil is added, which is said to have preservative properties, and the whole thing is rolled into small balls. These then continue to dry in the sun for several days. As a result of the fermentation process that begins , the balls then take on a dark (olive) brown color.
Vadouvan is used to flavor a wide variety of dishes. It can be used for all kinds of rice, potato and wok dishes .
It used to be a rarer niche product , but nowadays it is already widely available for purchase, especially on the Internet .