Lots of people love Indian dishes, but when it comes to cooking Indian food, they tend to step back as they have absolutely no idea about how to make Indian curries with all those Indian spices. Well, it is true that Indian dishes, mostly, have at least five or more spices to make the dish delicious and flavorful, but it is not as tough as it seems to make Indian dishes. There are some common Indian spices you can add in India dishes which will make the dish perfect and delectable.
One thing is clear that you cannot make Indian dishes or any Indian curries without spices as they are inseparable. Furthermore, different regions of India have different cuisines with their own choice of spices used in making dishes.
There is a standard procedure that you need to follow to ensure that the dish you cook looks and tastes authentic. Just search for Indian spices near me and you will find a list of e-commerce websites offering Indian spices or a retail store near you where you can get these spices.
If you are seriously thinking about starting an Indian pantry, you just need to learn about some basic Indian spices that will do well for your kitchen. In this post, we will discuss some of these Indian spices that are used commonly in almost all the Indian dishes.
This selection of spices is the common spices that are used in Indian households and using these spices will do the trick.
Let’s dive in then!
Table of Contents
Cumin Seeds (Jeera)
One of the most common Indian spices that are used to make the dish more nutty and smoky, cumin seeds are tiny brown seeds with a unique aroma and you can use whole seeds and cumin powder in dishes.
The whole cumin seeds are used in tempering in the oil and it is the first thing in the cooking. Furthermore, if you want to make a spice blend to make an Indian curry, cumin seeds are an integral part of it. Cumin seeds are mostly used in rice dishes, lentils, Indian curries and other vegetables. You can also use seeds in making different Indian traditional beverages too.
While cooking, you need to be careful as these whole seeds will burn instantly, especially when you put them in hot oil.
Cumin seeds powder is also a very common spice to be used in various Indian dishes. Packed cumin seeds are available in the market that you can buy. Just type Indian spices near me and you will find it. You can use the mixer to make your ground cumin seeds too. You can add ground cumin directly in the cooking while sautéing and it will bring aroma and flavor to the dish.
Ground cumin seeds are used in making vegetables, meat, fish and legumes.
Coriander Powder (Dhaniya Powder)
Coriander powder is made by crushing dried coriander seeds and is the must spice in any of Indian dishes. You can buy packed coriander powders available in the market or you can crush coriander seeds at home. One of the reasons why coriander powder is used in Indian cooking is its ability to give a traditional Indian taste to the dish.
All you need to do is to use the powder directly in the cooking process and then saute well to get that aroma and flavor. Also, you can make spice blends with coriander powder. Also, there are some impeccable health benefits of using coriander powder regularly.
You need to saute the dish well and if not, it will leave a pungent strong raw smell to the dish. In most of the Indian dishes, coriander powder is the inseparable ingredient.
Garam Masala (A Blend Of Different Indian Spices)
If you are planning to start your Indian pantry, you cannot survive without garam masala, one of the most flavorful Indian spices used in cooking lentils, vegetables, fish, meat and other dishes.
You can use garam masala directly while cooking Indian dishes and sometimes, chefs sprinkle garam masala at the end of the cooking process to impart the flavor to the dish. It is also used to make marinades too.
There are many types of garam masala available in the market from various Indian regions, but you need to go for North Indian garam masala.
Don’t use this spice in a high quantity as it is a blend of different spices and using too much will leave a sharp taste. You should not use more than two tablespoons of this spice for a perfect flavor and aroma.
Turmeric (Haldi)
Turmeric is also one of the most common Indian spices which are dispensable. It is the spice that makes the color of the Indian dishes yellowish rich. Apart from the aroma and flavor and color, it brings to the dish, another reason why turmeric is used in Indian dishes is its medicinal properties. With cancer-preventing properties to antiviral and antibacterial properties, turmeric is a gem of all spices.
Turmeric is used directly in the cooking process or sautéing. It is used in almost all Indian dishes such as vegetables, rice, lentils, salads, meat, fish and others.
Using too much turmeric is also not recommended as it will give a pungent smell and taste to the dish.
Conclusion:
These are some common Indian spices to start with if you want to make an Indian kitchen. Using these spices will give the dishes authentic Indian taste and flavor. You can buy these spices by typing Indian spices near me in search engines to buy from a retail supermarket. You can also place orders online at Desi Gabbar – The Online Indian Grocery Store to get your order delivered at your doorstep.
