Bengali panch phoron

Panch phoron is the Indian version of Chinese Five-spice Powder. It is highly aromatic and used to flavour the food of Bengal in north-east India, which is noted for its richness and a gentle, warm spiciness attained with very little chilli. The spices are mixed but kept whole until needed, then they are usually fried in hot oil or ground and cooked into aromatics at the start of the cooking process. The spices can also be fried whole in ghee and spri