How to Make Powdered Celery Seed
Although celery seed is small, there may be times that you'll want to grind it into powder. Perhaps you're making a very rich, creamy soup, and you don't want the texture of the celery seeds getting in the way. Maybe you're making potato salad, and you don't want any of the seasonings distracting from the textural contrasts of the other ingredients. In any case, it's very easy and fast to make your own. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Place a small quantity of celery seed in the bowl of your mortar. Don't overfill the mortar with celery seed, or else the seeds and powder will end up all over the place when you grind the seeds with your pestle. If you require a large amount of powdered celery seed, grind it in small batches. It will be more tedious, but you won't waste any time or celery seeds this way.
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Grind the celery seeds with the pestle. Use firm, smooth motions as you grind the pestle into the mortar. Don't be jerky, or the seeds and powder may spill onto your work surface, floor or both.
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Repeat if necessary until you obtain the amount of powdered celery seed that you need.
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Tips & Warnings
Freshly ground whole spices make a world of difference, no matter what you're flavoring. You may want to taste-test even tried and true recipes to make sure you're using the amount of spices you really need for each one. Since the intensity of freshly ground spices is much stronger than that of pre-ground spices, you may find that you need less of the freshly ground ones to achieve the same results in your favorite recipes.
A coffee grinder (one that you use only for spices) can be handy for grinding up whole spices, but it won't grind something that's already very small, such as celery seed. For that, you'll need to invest in a good-quality mortar and pestle. Try a Mexican grocery store for a molcajete, the traditional granite mortar and pestle used in most types of Mexican cuisine. You can also try a suribachi and surikogi, which are traditional Japanese mortars and pestles. A Thai mortar and pestle is another choice weapon for your cooking arsenal. These three options are inexpensive and will give you a lifetime of good use if properly maintained.
Don't measure the celery seed according to the amount for which your recipe calls, as it won't be accurate. Instead, measure the celery seed after you've ground it into powder.
When choosing a mortar and pestle, make sure that whatever you choose is food-safe. While the decorative ones are lovely to look at, they may contain lead-based paints or other materials that are unsafe to come in contact with your food.
