What are some must-have spices for Indian cooking at home?

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!

Can I find all Indian spices in regular grocery stores?

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!

What's this masala dabba I've heard about?

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!

How can I make my own Indian spice mixes?

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.

What should I cook to explore Indian cuisine?

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!

9 Spices and Herbs to Have at Home for Those Who Adore Indian Food ...

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

Red Chilli Powder 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.

2. Turmeric Powder

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)!

Frequently asked questions

: 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!
: 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!
: 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.
: 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!

3. Coriander Powder

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!

4. Cumin Seeds

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.

5. Mustard Seeds

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.

6. Curry Leaves

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.

7. Garam (guh-rum) Masala

Garam (guh-rum) Masala 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.)

8. Ginger & Garlic

Ginger & Garlic 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!

9. Fresh Coriander Leaves

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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Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

Pakistan was once apart if India so a lot "Pakistani Culture" is just Indian culture modified.

we have all tht infact im even suprised tht we have the same container as the one in cover pic

Yeah in Pakistan too !

CUMIN IS A YES, ABSOLUTE YES

Omg!! That pic looks exactly like my spice container...😳😀

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