Indian food is delicious and not very difficult to cook if you know what to cook with. It might seem that a crazy number of spices and herbs are used in Indian cooking and sure, some dishes can be quite complicated. But on the whole, Indian cooking can be quite simple and fun and all you need are some basic spices and herbs to get you started.
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1. Red Chilli Powder
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Don’t be afraid of this spice. You can put in as much or as little of it as you like when cooking Indian food but don’t eliminate it entirely. It adds a whole new layer of flavor that is very important in Indian cooking.
It's actually quite fun to make your own mixes! Start with simple ones like garam masala or curry powder. You just need a good recipe and a spice grinder or mortar and pestle.
Oh, it's a total game-changer! It's a round stainless steel box with several small containers inside for holding your essential spices. Super handy and keeps everything in one place. Plus, it's kind of an Indian cooking tradition!
You can never go wrong with a classic curry! Think chicken tikka masala or a chickpea curry. And don't forget the naan on the side. So many flavors to explore and enjoy!
Oh, there are so many! But if you're looking to start with the basics, I'd say cumin, coriander, turmeric, and garam masala should definitely be on your list. They are the backbone of many Indian dishes!
You might find some basic ones, but for a richer selection, local Indian spice shops usually have everything you need. You might end up finding new spices you want to try!
2. Turmeric Powder
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Another commonly used spice, turmeric powder also has medicinal properties and can be found in every Indian cook’s spice box. However, it has a very, very strong flavor and should be used sparingly or it could be the only thing you taste (and not a good taste at that)!
It's actually quite fun to make your own mixes! Start with simple ones like garam masala or curry powder. You just need a good recipe and a spice grinder or mortar and pestle.
Oh, it's a total game-changer! It's a round stainless steel box with several small containers inside for holding your essential spices. Super handy and keeps everything in one place. Plus, it's kind of an Indian cooking tradition!
You can never go wrong with a classic curry! Think chicken tikka masala or a chickpea curry. And don't forget the naan on the side. So many flavors to explore and enjoy!
Oh, there are so many! But if you're looking to start with the basics, I'd say cumin, coriander, turmeric, and garam masala should definitely be on your list. They are the backbone of many Indian dishes!
You might find some basic ones, but for a richer selection, local Indian spice shops usually have everything you need. You might end up finding new spices you want to try!
3. Coriander Powder
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Made from dried coriander seeds, coriander powder is another commonly used spice, especially for vegetables. It doesn’t taste very good with tomatoes though so keep that in mind when cooking!
It's actually quite fun to make your own mixes! Start with simple ones like garam masala or curry powder. You just need a good recipe and a spice grinder or mortar and pestle.
Oh, it's a total game-changer! It's a round stainless steel box with several small containers inside for holding your essential spices. Super handy and keeps everything in one place. Plus, it's kind of an Indian cooking tradition!
You can never go wrong with a classic curry! Think chicken tikka masala or a chickpea curry. And don't forget the naan on the side. So many flavors to explore and enjoy!
Oh, there are so many! But if you're looking to start with the basics, I'd say cumin, coriander, turmeric, and garam masala should definitely be on your list. They are the backbone of many Indian dishes!
You might find some basic ones, but for a richer selection, local Indian spice shops usually have everything you need. You might end up finding new spices you want to try!
4. Cumin Seeds
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Commonly used by tempering in hot oil, cumin seeds are used in quite a few Indian dishes, from vegetables to lentils and even to flavor steamed rice and give it a delicious aroma and taste. The same cumin seeds can be dry roasted and ground to make cumin powder – a common flavoring agent for Indian style curd.
It's actually quite fun to make your own mixes! Start with simple ones like garam masala or curry powder. You just need a good recipe and a spice grinder or mortar and pestle.
Oh, it's a total game-changer! It's a round stainless steel box with several small containers inside for holding your essential spices. Super handy and keeps everything in one place. Plus, it's kind of an Indian cooking tradition!
You can never go wrong with a classic curry! Think chicken tikka masala or a chickpea curry. And don't forget the naan on the side. So many flavors to explore and enjoy!
Oh, there are so many! But if you're looking to start with the basics, I'd say cumin, coriander, turmeric, and garam masala should definitely be on your list. They are the backbone of many Indian dishes!
You might find some basic ones, but for a richer selection, local Indian spice shops usually have everything you need. You might end up finding new spices you want to try!
As part of taking control over your health and wellbeing, it's important to pay attention to the amount of sugar you consume daily. Did you ever wonder how many grams of sugar are in a teaspoon? Understanding this can help you make healthier choices and avoid those sneaky sugars that add up throughout the day. No doubt, your body will thank you!
5. Mustard Seeds
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Again used in tempering with hot oil, mustard seeds are used extensively in south Indian cooking and add a special flavor (which I personally love) to the food.
It's actually quite fun to make your own mixes! Start with simple ones like garam masala or curry powder. You just need a good recipe and a spice grinder or mortar and pestle.
Oh, it's a total game-changer! It's a round stainless steel box with several small containers inside for holding your essential spices. Super handy and keeps everything in one place. Plus, it's kind of an Indian cooking tradition!
You can never go wrong with a classic curry! Think chicken tikka masala or a chickpea curry. And don't forget the naan on the side. So many flavors to explore and enjoy!
Oh, there are so many! But if you're looking to start with the basics, I'd say cumin, coriander, turmeric, and garam masala should definitely be on your list. They are the backbone of many Indian dishes!
You might find some basic ones, but for a richer selection, local Indian spice shops usually have everything you need. You might end up finding new spices you want to try!
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6. Curry Leaves
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Another staple of south Indian cooking, curry leaves can be used fresh or dry. The most common way of using them is by tempering them in hot oil along with other spices.
It's actually quite fun to make your own mixes! Start with simple ones like garam masala or curry powder. You just need a good recipe and a spice grinder or mortar and pestle.
Oh, it's a total game-changer! It's a round stainless steel box with several small containers inside for holding your essential spices. Super handy and keeps everything in one place. Plus, it's kind of an Indian cooking tradition!
You can never go wrong with a classic curry! Think chicken tikka masala or a chickpea curry. And don't forget the naan on the side. So many flavors to explore and enjoy!
Oh, there are so many! But if you're looking to start with the basics, I'd say cumin, coriander, turmeric, and garam masala should definitely be on your list. They are the backbone of many Indian dishes!
You might find some basic ones, but for a richer selection, local Indian spice shops usually have everything you need. You might end up finding new spices you want to try!
7. Garam (guh-rum) Masala
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A powder made by dry roasting and blending together several spices, garam masala is used in small quantities in a lot of Indian cooking. It adds that touch of exotic to any dish and is typically Indian. The dry spices that make up garam masala include black cardamom pods, green cardamom pods, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, mace, black peppercorns, bay leaf and cumin. (You can also keep these individual dry spices in your pantry in case you want to make your own spice mix or use them individually when trying out more complex recipes.)
It's actually quite fun to make your own mixes! Start with simple ones like garam masala or curry powder. You just need a good recipe and a spice grinder or mortar and pestle.
Oh, it's a total game-changer! It's a round stainless steel box with several small containers inside for holding your essential spices. Super handy and keeps everything in one place. Plus, it's kind of an Indian cooking tradition!
You can never go wrong with a classic curry! Think chicken tikka masala or a chickpea curry. And don't forget the naan on the side. So many flavors to explore and enjoy!
Oh, there are so many! But if you're looking to start with the basics, I'd say cumin, coriander, turmeric, and garam masala should definitely be on your list. They are the backbone of many Indian dishes!
You might find some basic ones, but for a richer selection, local Indian spice shops usually have everything you need. You might end up finding new spices you want to try!
8. Ginger & Garlic
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You’ll find a lot of Indian recipes call for ginger and garlic paste to form the flavor base on which to rest the whole dish. You can use ready ginger and garlic paste or make your own using fresh ginger and garlic pods. Personally, the fresh stuff always tastes better!
It's actually quite fun to make your own mixes! Start with simple ones like garam masala or curry powder. You just need a good recipe and a spice grinder or mortar and pestle.
Oh, it's a total game-changer! It's a round stainless steel box with several small containers inside for holding your essential spices. Super handy and keeps everything in one place. Plus, it's kind of an Indian cooking tradition!
You can never go wrong with a classic curry! Think chicken tikka masala or a chickpea curry. And don't forget the naan on the side. So many flavors to explore and enjoy!
Oh, there are so many! But if you're looking to start with the basics, I'd say cumin, coriander, turmeric, and garam masala should definitely be on your list. They are the backbone of many Indian dishes!
You might find some basic ones, but for a richer selection, local Indian spice shops usually have everything you need. You might end up finding new spices you want to try!
9. Fresh Coriander Leaves
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Go to most any Indian home and you’ll find your host garnishing the food with chopped up fresh coriander leaves. There is just something about fresh coriander that adds flavor to Indian food and I know my mum never lets food out of the kitchen without it!
These 9 spices and herbs are like a starter pack for Indian cooking. As you get more comfortable with the feel and taste of these, you can experiment with spices like asafoetida, fenugreek and even onion seeds (this list can be never ending really). Have you tried your hand at Indian cooking? What are some Indian spices and herbs you’ve enjoyed using?
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Comments
heena-pink: we have all tht infact im even suprised tht we have the same container as the one in cover pic
Mayniaccro: Yeah in Pakistan too !
alka: Pakistan was once apart if India so a lot "Pakistani Culture" is just Indian culture modified.
vickyeezy: CUMIN IS A YES, ABSOLUTE YES
Fabbp: Omg!! That pic looks exactly like my spice container...😳😀
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