Remove from dish before serving as a bay leaf can easily cut the mouth. This expensive spice is the dried fruit of the ginger family. The pods, either green or white contain brown aromatic seeds. Whole pods are used to flavor rice and meat dishes but are not meant to be eaten. The seeds are ground for garam masala.
Chilies range in color from bright green to deep red, depending on their ripeness.
Mexican serrano or jalape o as well as Thai chilies can be substituted for hot Indian chilies. The heat of ground dried chilies depends on the type of chile used. Indian dried chili powder is bright red and is mildly hot. In many recipes, New Mexican chili powder and paprika are combined for similar color and taste. Do not confuse Indian chili powder with the brown American south-western blend sold in supermarkets.