Red chilli powder is a popular spice in many Indian cuisines. This spice, also known as Lal Mirch powder, is appreciated for the flaming, fiery flavour it adds to any dish it is put in.
Red chillies, from which this spice is made by drying and grinding, are abundant in India. In reality, India is the world’s top exporter of a dry red powder, with a total value of 64.29 USD million exported in 2020-21. It’s no surprise it is so affordable in India. In India, you may buy red chilli powder from a variety of brands, but for guaranteed freshness and flavour, we recommend Vasant Masala‘s Lal Mirch powder.
What is Red Chilli Powder?
Red chilli peppers can set your taste senses on fire, and occasionally your stomach as well! It’s essentially a spice combination made up of one or two varieties of dried red chillies crushed and pulverised into a fine powder. It is used to season meals in Indian cuisine.
The Kashmiri chilli is smaller in size, less spicy, and adds brilliant colour to meals. It is sold in all supermarkets under several brand names.
It is commonly used in daily cooking and therefore well-known, even globally, but did you know that it also has a plethora of health benefits? If not, here are ten incredible health benefits of this spicy pepper.
The Health Benefits of Chilli Powder
Helps With Digestion:
Lal Mirch powder helps increase gastric juice secretion, which aids digestion and relieves constipation and gas. It also helps to keep your intestines healthy by reducing dangerous bacteria in your stomach. Because of these qualities, it has become an essential component of every Indian cuisine.
Maintains Blood Pressure Levels:
Red chillies, especially their powder, are rich in potassium. Potassium helps to regulate blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels in the body. Capsaicin, an active component that reduces blood pressure and im0proves circulation, is also present in red chilli powder.
Has Anti-inflammatory Properties:
Capsaicin, which is present in red chilli powder, also has anti-inflammatory effects, which means it decreases inflammation and discomfort, especially in muscles and joints.
Aids Weight Loss:
It is well known for its ability to help in weight loss. Capsaicin, present in red chillies, is once again responsible for this, as it reduces appetite and increases fat burning by increasing the body’s metabolism.
Improves Cognitive Function:
It contains iron, which boosts haemoglobin synthesis and blood flow. That, in turn, improves the brain’s performance in areas such as training, processing, logic, remembering, problem-solving, decision-making, and concentration.
Improves Heart Health:
Capsaicin, a wonder component found in red chillies, also lowers triglycerides, cholesterol, and platelet aggregation in the blood, which helps to enhance heart health. It also helps to keep blood clots from forming, which is good for heart health.
Helps in Nasal Congestion:
When you have a cold, it can thin the mucus that forms in your nasal passages, which aids in its removal. This is why, when you have a cold, doctors and physicians recommend eating hot meals and drinking soups with red chilli powder in them.
Boosts Immunity:
Vitamin C, which is abundant in red chilli powder, boosts the immune system and aids in the battle against infections and illnesses. It also helps the body reduce free radicals and has been linked to a decreased risk of cancer.
Improves Skin and Hair:
Healthy skin needs both vitamin C for collagen formation, an important protein found in both skin and hair, and vitamin A to maintain hair hydrated and in excellent condition. In addition to these nutrients, red chilli powder contains vitamin E, an antioxidant with skin and hair benefits. As a result, Lal Mirch powder is highly helpful to your skin and hair.
Chilli Powder Shelf Life
Shelf life is determined by a variety of factors, including the location and method of storage. Chilli powder, on the other hand, is classed as a ground spice with a shorter shelf life than whole spices such as black peppercorns. It has a storage life of around 2-3 years.
How to Store Chilli Powder?
The key to keeping ground spices correctly is to keep them away from light, heat, and moisture. A cabinet away from the stove, oven, or dishwasher would be ideal. Another ideal place to keep your chilli powder at room temperature is the pantry. Here are some things you should keep in mind while storing chilli powder:
- When using your container of chilli powder to season dishes over the stove, use a clean, dry spoon to dole out the spice to protect it from heat and moisture.
- Do not pour it directly from the jar into a hot pot, since this causes heat to enter the jar and produce condensation.
- It can be kept in an airtight container for up to six months. Store-bought chilli powder may be stored for up to three years, but the flavour will deteriorate with time. To keep the powder fresh, add chunks of asafoetida.
- While most spices should be kept at room temperature, red spices (many of which are classed as capsicum) such as chilli powder and paprika can be kept in the refrigerator to increase shelf life.
- Keep an eye out for moisture inside your sealed container or bag of chilli powder. Condensation develops as a result of temperature fluctuations. Try to keep the chilli powder out of the fridge for as little time as possible.
Which Containers are Best for Storing Chilli Powder?
While most packaged chilli powder is sold in plastic containers or bags, these are not ideal for long-term preservation. Instead, try purchasing a handful of these storage containers:
- Glass is preferable for long-term storage to plastic, which absorbs smells. It also serves as an airtight seal. While mason jars may work, amber-coloured glass containers that filter off light are a better choice.
- Ceramic is similar to glass in that it does not absorb smells, offers a good seal, and is opaque.
- Food-safe metal tins are frequently constructed of stainless steel. Metal, like ceramic, is an opaque substance that effectively blocks out light.
How to Select Red Chilli Powder?
- Before you buy, make sure to read the labels.
- Avoid those that vaguely reference free-flowing agents or preservatives in the ingredient list as much as possible because pure chilli powder without such additions is widely accessible in stores, so you can avoid these additional chemicals!
- Make sure you buy from a reputable supplier like Vasant Masala because there is a considerable risk of red chilli powder becoming contaminated with other powders, red food colouring, and so on.
- Examine the package seal and the use-by date.
Cooking With Red Chilli Powder:
To restore the mood, snacks should be spicy and chatpata. Snacks may really revitalise you for the rest of the day, especially if you eat your favourite comfort food. Try these snack recipes, and you will not be disappointed.
- It is often used to make meals hotter in Indian cuisine.
- When used sparingly, it gives a beautiful crimson glow and a strong flavour to foods without making them unpleasant.
- Included in any bean pot, as well as baked corn and casseroles.
- It’s great for marinating paneer or sliced veggies.
- It provides a delicious spicy kick to tomato-based recipes.
Consumption of red chilli, according to Ayurveda, is beneficial throughout the fall and winter seasons, but only in moderation. It should be used with caution during the summer since it might cause pita problems (indigestion).
If you want to stay healthy, red chilli powder is a must-have in your diet. Consider yourself blameless if your guilty pleasure is hot cuisine. When utilised in its purest form, with all of its natural oils intact, red chilli powder provides a plethora of advantages to our daily diet. Remember to choose healthy and organically rich red chilli powder the next time you go grocery shopping.