• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
That Girl Cooks Healthy
  • Home
  • About Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
    • FAQ/Disclaimer
    • Work With Me
  • Recipe Index
  • Health guidance
    • My Caribbean
  • My E-book
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About Me
    • FAQ/Disclaimer
    • Privacy Policy
    • Work With Me
  • Recipes
  • Health guidance
  • My E-book
  • ×

    BLANK » Recipe Index » Caribbean Dishes

    Poudre de colombo (Colombo powder)

    Last Updated January 2, 2023. Published August 1, 2018 By Charla 8 Comments

    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Yummly
    • Flipboard
    • Mix
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Learn how to make this French Caribbean fragrant curry powder blend called poudre de colombo to add to your poultry, soups and stews.

    poudre de colombo

    Poudre de colombo (colombo powder)

    If you are a fan of making your very own spice blends from scratch then you are in for a real treat because this curry powder is fragrant and very very complimentary to any dish which it is seasoned with.

    The definition

    In short pourde de colombo also known as colombo powder is a curry blend which hails from the French Caribbean. It is used in Guadeloupe, Martinuque, St Marin, St Barts and other local regional French colonies.

    The origins of this seasoning is believed to come from immigrant plantation workers who came from Sri Lanka with the capital city being colombo.

    Colombo also lends it's name to the dish known as chicken colombo, a thick stew. You can also make a stew using any type of poultry including goat, lamb or pork.

    This curry vs normal curry

    What I adore about poudre de colombo is it's unique blend of flavours. Curry is widely used by most Caribbean Islands. Like Jamaica has its own Curry Powder

    However, in the French Caribbean their curry has a different take to that of Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and so fourth. Uncooked rice is toasted and included for a nutty taste and serves as a thickener.

    What spices are used

    The most common spices are

    • Cumin seeds
    • Coriander seeds
    • Mustard seeds (black but can use brown)
    • Black pepper
    • Fenugreek seeds
    • Turmeric
    • Cloves
    • Rice (although not a spice, but very important!)

    Some people like to add a dried chilli for heat along with ginger and cinnamon for a warming note. The quantity and various add ins make the colour of the curry varied - anything from bright yellow to a brown hue.

    The steps

    Colombo curry powder very very easy to make and is ready in less than 10 minutes.

    How to make poudre de colombo steps 1-2

    1, All you need is some whole spices.

    Alternatively, you can use ground spices but whole spice is preferred because they are more potent and a coffee grinder. If you don't have a coffee grinder you can make this recipe using a mortar and pestle.

    2, The first thing you need to do is heat a pan, frying pan or skillet works just fine. This  helps the spices to toast much quicker.  I used brown rice because it's more nutritional dense.

    How to make poudre de colombo steps 3-4

    3, Start by toasting the rice, you will know it's done because you will be able to smell it and the colour will have changed.

    4, Then you want to add the remaining spices excluding the ginger, cinnamon and turmeric because these are your ground spices and there is no need to expose them to any heat.

    Again, all of the spices should be fragrant and ready so allow them to cool, you can leave them off the stove in the pan to rest for 5 minutes.

    How to make poudre de colombo steps 5-6

    5, Once the spices have cooled down then place them in your spice grinder

    6, Mill into a fine, powder like consistency.

    Ground spice method

    If using ground spices this recipe is a breeze all you need to do is measure out your quantity needed. Then toast the rice grains and either use a coffee grinder or mortar and pestle to mill everything together.

    How to store colombo powder

    Put the curry in a airtight glass jar, label with date and what it is and store in a cupboard or pantry for several months.

    poudre de colombo (colombo powder)

    Recipes to try curry powder with

    • Caribbean Potato Curry
    •  Jamaican Curry Gungo Peas
    • Jamaican Curry Shrimp
    • Creamy Coconut Curry Chicken
    • Vegan Caribbean Plantain Curry
    • Curried Jackfruit

    Poudre de colombo (colombo powder)

    Poudre de colombo (Colombo powder)

    Learn how to make poudre de colombo - French Caribbean curry
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Extras
    Cuisine: Caribbean
    Prep Time: 2 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 7 minutes
    Servings: 1 cup
    Calories: 250kcal
    Author: Charla

    Ingredients

    • ¼ cup of brown rice uncooked
    • ½ teaspoon of cumin seed
    • ½ teaspoon coriander seeds
    • ½ tablespoon of mustard seeds brown or black
    • 1 /2 tablespoon of black pepper
    • ½ tablespoon of fenugreek seeds
    • 1 whole clove
    • 1 teaspoon of turmeric
    • ½ teaspoon of ginger
    • ½ teaspoon of cinnamon

    Instructions

    • On medium-high heat add a medium sized skillet to the stove.
    • Proceed to toast the brown rice until it is fragrant and slightly golden in colour, rotate and move the pan back and forth so each rice grain is toasted evenly.
    • Add all of the other whole spice excluding the turmeric, cinnamon and ginger. Again, toast the spices until the a strong in smell.
    • Once toasted set aside and allow to cool for a few minutes
    • Add the whole spices along with the turmeric, cinnamon and ginger to a spice grinder and mill into a fine consistency.
    • Store in an airtight jar, label and use within several months.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 250kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 11mg | Potassium: 340mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 1g | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 5mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @ThatGirlCooksHealthy or tag #ThatGirlCooksHealthy!
    « Sea Moss Drink (Irish Moss Drink)
    Stuffed plantains (Vegan, Gluten Free) »
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Yummly
    • Flipboard
    • Mix

    About Charla

    I'm Charla. Caribbean foodie & Certified Health Coach. Welcome to the heaven of gluten and dairy free recipes as well as modernised healthier alternatives to some of your favourite Caribbean recipes.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lagatta de Montréal

      September 13, 2020 at 9:06 pm

      5 stars
      My Haitian friends also use this. I love it (of course I also like spices from the BWI, Hispanic and Dutch islands). I'm making a potimarron soup tonight - not so different from your pumpkin soup. It is raining and chilly here in Montréal.

      Reply
    2. Rea

      August 29, 2018 at 11:32 am

      Hi, Charla!
      I just returned from France where I encountered Colombo curry for the first time.
      I couldn't find any powder to buy because I was in a small town, but read online about the toasted rice & wanted a recipe which included it.
      Could I ask your source for this recipe? Is it a French Caribbean person, or a book?
      By the way, I really like your blog, will be following it 🙂
      All the best, Rea

      Reply
      • Charla

        August 29, 2018 at 12:26 pm

        Hi Rea. I know someone who is from Guadeloupe who told me about it. I also do my research several times over to make sure I am very versed in a recipe that is outside of my own island before posting it.

        Reply
        • Rea

          August 29, 2018 at 6:26 pm

          Thank you! That's great. All the best 🙂

          Reply
    3. Jazz

      August 02, 2018 at 10:52 pm

      5 stars
      The nuttiness of toasted rice sounds like it adds a wonderful flavor dimension to this powder. I can't wait to try it!

      Reply
      • Charla

        August 03, 2018 at 10:45 am

        Thank you Jazzmine!!

        Reply
    4. Mimi

      August 01, 2018 at 8:05 pm

      Wow!!! Such a lovely bunch of spices, and I've never heard of rice being included. Fabulous. Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
      • Charla

        August 01, 2018 at 10:05 pm

        You are welcome Mimi

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Greetings

    I'm Charla. Caribbean foodie & Certified Health Coach. Welcome to the heaven of gluten and dairy free recipes as well as modernised healthier alternatives to some of your favourite Caribbean recipes. Learn more about me

    JOIN MY MAILING LIST AND BE THE FIRST TO KNOW WHEN I POST EXCLUSIVE HEALTHY RECIPES.

    Featured recipes

    two cups of porridge on a tray

    Haitian Akasan (Cornmeal Drink)(Vegan)

    Angle shot of epis with blurred veggies in the background

    Haitian epis

    2 patties on a plate

    Jamaican Turkey Patties (Gluten Free)

    two bowls of soup

    Caribbean Detox Soup

    refried peas with plantain chips

    Jamaican Refried Gungo Peas (Refried Beans)

    charred pineapple

    Grilled Pineapple Slices

    More

    Featured in

    Top Choice Recipes

    shrimp with vegetables and rice

    Shrimp Rundown (Jamaican Coconut Shrimp)

    yuca fries with dip and drink

    Air Fryer Yuca Fries

    A collage of sweet potato recipes

    Sweet Potato Recipe Roundup

    cheese balls in a white plate

    Cassava Balls (Vegan, Gluten Free)

    oatmeal in green bowl

    Slow Cooker Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal (Vegan, GF)

    close up of the salad

    Zucchini Avocado Salad (Vegan, Keto, Low Carb)

    overhead salad shot

    Jamaican Roasted Ackee Salad

    Jamaican sexy juice

    Jamaican Sexy Juice (Pineapple punch)

    Footer

    Featured In

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Contact

    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Copyright © 2020