Spices are the key when it comes to producing real Indian taste. All of them have their own tale to tell, their own personalities, and some significant responsibility for transforming the Indian culinary delight into something special. So, if you are willing to experience Indian food preparation, then brace yourself for what is to come!
To begin with, a delicious adventure and taste tour awaits us, where you will learn about 11 essential Indian spices in the kitchen. So when you are ready to purchase these spices for your home cooking needs, do not forget to consider Shalimar’s Chef Spices for the freshest and best quality spices.
1. Turmeric (Haldi)
Beginning with the standout ingredient, turmeric—this spice isn’t only yellow but also infuses the dishes with its mild, warm, and earthy taste. Aside from the taste, the turmeric also has anti-inflammatory effects, which makes this spice favourable for use in cooking as well as for medical purposes. From curries to rice, a spoonful of turmeric adds flavour and that bright pop of colour to your dishes. Next time, your guests might even inquire about that warm golden glow—and yes, turmeric is the secret!
2. Cumin (Jeera)
For everyone who is interested in that special Indian smell, cumin is the spice you are looking for. These little seeds turn fragrant when roasted and add a lot of warmth to Indian curries and dals that are delightful staples of countless Indian households. Cumin, with its nutty and slightly peppery flavouring, can be used in its whole form, crushed or ground. Just think of cumin being heated in the oil for the initialization of your cooking—the smell of the oil invading the air around the kitchen, tempting, isn’t it?
3. Coriander (Dhaniya)
Coriander seeds or powder can be used to add a natural, clean, slightly citrus-tasting flavour to foods. When used together with cumin, it forms a great combination of earthy and citrusy flavours. Coriander is an all-round Indian spice; it can be used in spice blends, curries, soups, as well as salads. It may be used as a kind of underlying taste, but there truly isn’t any recipe that would be better without coriander.
4. Red Chili Powder (Lal Mirch)
A pinch of red chilli powder is what gives Indian food its heat. Though each part of India has its own measures concerning spiciness, a pinch of red chilli powder is enough to make the food warm. It is used in almost every Indian curry and marinade that you can imagine. Apart from spicing your food and making it hot, red chilli powder also gives your food a bright red colour that makes it appealing to the eyes.
5. Garam Masala
Garam masala is an accumulation of spices such as cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, and other spices, making a warm, harmonious mixture. Even a small amount brings out the essence of Indian spices and makes your food savour like the real Indian cuisine. It is the final ingredient in many a dish, right from butter chicken to palak paneer, and would not be out of place in the best Indian kitchen spice rack.
6. Black Mustard Seeds (Rai)
Black mustard seeds are tiny but do provide a tangy and somewhat bitter taste and are used in Indian tempering, or tadka. Just imagine them spluttering in hot oil and the delicious flavour they impart to various dishes such as lentils and vegetable curries. Perhaps you know it from the crunchy sound that it gives food dishes prepared in a particular manner. In the context of Indian cuisine, the use of mustard seeds is rather unambiguous: it is an Indian spice that contributes to the taste and increases the abrasiveness of food.
7. Asafoetida (Hing)
Ah, asafoetida! This one’s more of a surprise card. Widely recognized by its pungent smell, even a small amount of this spice enhances vegetarian dishes, particularly those made from lentils. However, once it comes into contact with the hot oil, it forms a taste that cannot be replicated—this is the beauty of the aroma. This is one of the many potent spices in Indian cuisine and could add that extra ‘wow’ factor to any vegetarian dish.
8. Fenugreek (Methi)
Fenugreek leaves are used in food preparation; their taste is bitter, but they impart an aroma to the food, especially in curries and pickles. Its specific flavour makes it an unreplaceable ingredient in North Indian cuisine, added to sauce and stew preparations. Fenugreek leaves are usually sun-dried and used in butter chicken and curry recipes to give that boost of flavour. This spice is not very assertive, but it gives a wake of taste with other culinary foods and products.
9. Cardamom (Elaichi)
Cardamom is the most popular spice, also known as the queen of spices, due to its pleasant smell and taste, which is close to sweetness. Indian greens or black are employed in preparing different recipes with distinctive tastes. Green cardamom is milder and ideal for rice preparations, curries, and sweets, while black cardamom is smoked and excellent in heavy preparations. This spice not only contributes a rich and comfortably warm base taste to dishes, but it is an essential part of the kitchen if you want to make your food better.
10. Cloves (Laung)
Cloves are small flower buds that add warm, sweet taste and aroma to dishes in India. These are typically highly flavoured, with a strong, virtually putrid smell, and are usually used in small quantities. Cloves are used for flavouring spice mixes, rice, and even tea. Used sparingly, a whole clove can positively alter the taste of a biryani or a robust curry, for instance. You would be surprised how much this little spice is able to modify the flavour of a dish or give it an extra layer of depth with just a handful.
11. Black Pepper (Kali Mirch)
Last but not least is black pepper, which is an essential Indian spice in every kitchen. Its heat is mild but unmistakably of a peppery nature, giving depth to dishes such as soups, curries, and marinades. Black peppercorns are a staple in Indian cooking and the first spice that most people turn to when they want to kick up the taste. It’s a spice that goes well with every type of flavour, which is why people from India and across the globe use this spice.
Why Shalimar’s Chef Spices?
When making the selection on which spices are the best for Indian food preparation, quality is of the utmost importance. This is why Shalimar’s Chef Spices will ensure that only genuine and top-quality spices are delivered to you that actually represent the Indian food taste and quality. All our spices are sourced and packed with optimum standards of freshness, aroma, and potencies inherent in all natural spices. These spices help keep taste levels just right—whether you’re using them to cook a curry or add a little heat to your chai.
And here’s the best part—you can easily purchase our collection at www.shalimars.com, because now a world of premium Indian spices is within a click’s distance.
Bringing Indian Flavours to Life with Shalimar’s
Even a simple dish cooked with good-quality Indian spices is like unleashing a pot of gold of flavours. This is not so much due to their individual properties, but rather due to the sophisticated synergy of the numerous spices in Indian curries, which make multi-layered flavours a trademark of Indian cuisine.
Shalimar’s Chef Spices includes almost all the Indian spices required to cook these delightful dishes at home.
Not only does the use of our spices make the dish tasty, it brings a little bit of India, tradition, and quality to your meal. Shalimar’s Chef Spices is a perfect grocery for those who are just starting with Indian cuisine or want to spice it up. Go to www.shalimars.com to begin your spiced adventure in Indian food with the finest spices used in preparing Indian meals.
Create Magic with Every Spice
Indian cooking is the combination of knowing how to paint a canvas with a palette of spices. Every spice contributes a different aroma, which makes every food creation a flavour celebration. From turmeric, giving curries the bright yellow colour, to garam masala lending warmth to dishes, these are 11 fundamental spices of Indian cuisine.
But with our Shalimar’s Chef Spices, you will get the best of all the quality and enjoy India’s true flavour right from one’s kitchen.Well, the next time you decide to cook, do not forget to stock up your spice rack on the following spices for Indian cooking.
Shalimar’s Chef Spices is here to help you, offering the finest Indian spices to enrich every dish. Make your order now from www.shalimars.com and bring out the Indian flavours into your kitchen.
