Indian kitchen is synonymous with spices. Who doesn’t enjoy the intoxicating aroma of the spices when something is cooking in the kitchen. The colourful rows of glass bottles filled with masala in different colours, emanating amazing flavours is good enough to evoke our earliest kitchen memories. Indians love their food and an essential part of our food is spices such as turmeric, cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds, red chilli, coriander powder, and many more. Whole or powdered — spices can be used in any way to make food delicious.
Apart from the amazing taste that these spices lend to our food, they are also loaded with numerous health benefits. Say goodbye to most of your ailments with the age-old dadima-ke-nuskhe which involve a liberal use of Indian spices. From cough and cold to joint pain — there is a remedy for everything in the world of spices.
So, let’s get started. Here are the top 10 most indispensible Indian spices to stock up on:
Cumin Seeds
A favourite in India, Mexico, Middle East, Spain, and many more countries — cumin or jeera can be used whole or ground in food preparations. Its distinctive aroma makes the food more flavourful. There are two types of cumin seeds — white and black. White cumin is more readily available than the black one. Apart from adding taste, this Indian spice also helps in digestion. It is known to boosts immunity and mental health as well. You can easily buy the most authentic cumin seeds online for a unique flavour. Look for Agmark-certified brands that assure you of best quality and unadulterated cumin seeds.
Black Pepper
Grown in the Western Ghats and Malabar region of India, black pepper or kali mirch is the most-traded spice in the world. Fruit of a flowering vine, black pepper is dried and then used in its saleable form. This ‘King of Spice’ derives its spiciness from piperine — an essential ingredient in many traditional medicines. It is generally used in coarse ground form — especially in Italian preparations, Indian chutney, soups, and more. Kali mirch is also known for its health benefits such as weight loss, apart from helping in asthma and congestion. This pungent spice is also consumed for its high antibacterial qualities. Fresh and top-quality black pepper seeds are now available online at your fingertips. Use black pepper to add a deep flavour and piquancy to your dishes.
Turmeric
Can you image your food without this one? I bet not! Native to Southeast Asia, turmeric aka haldi — an indispensable spice indeed — is used in ground form in almost every Indian and many Moroccan dishes. Not only does it impart a tempting colour to any main dish, it also enhances its flavours. For authentic turmeric flavour, bring home our special turmeric powder which is unadulterated and authentic in taste.
Whether as a spice in food, a health booster in milk, or a beauty ingredient in cosmetics — this magical spice has something for everyone. The fresh version of this rhizome is used to make rich and unique preparations. Turmeric is synonymous with purity and is also a part of many Hindu traditions — from wedding ceremonies, shifting into your new abode, to a general home-cleansing puja. An Indian undoubtedly appreciates the importance of pure turmeric.
Clove
Clove aka laung is an aromatic spice, native to Indonesia but commonly used in most Indian households. It forms an integral part of the evergreen garam masala that we have grown up relishing. Initially pale in colour, the flower buds turn green and then bright red. After that, they are dried till brown in colour. Though used in curries, it is also added to beverages to add a distinct flavour. Cloves are a rich source of vitamin A and C, iron, phosphorous, calcium, and sodium. Its medicinal properties include relieving toothache, curing diarrhoea, and treating nausea. Enjoy the goodness of our choicest cloves — which offer the finest flavour to your dishes and life.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon aka dalchini is obtained from the bark of cassia tree. The heavenly aroma of cinnamon makes it a must-have in any kitchen. It is used in sweet as well as spicy dishes. Enhance the flavour of any dish by adding a pinch of its powder or use it as a whole piece. Get your hands on the best cinnamonfor a fresh and authentic tang in your meals. Apart from enhancing flavour, it regulates blood sugar levels, is anti-inflammatory, and reduces cholesterol and joint pain.
Red Chilli
Indian food is famous for its spicy flavours and most of the piquancy in any food comes from red chilli. Present in every Indian household, chilli is put in food as whole or in its powdered form. Whole red chilli is generally added to hot oil as tempering and powdered form is added to almost every curry to give it an attractive colour and irresistible taste. Spice up your dishes with this strong and special masala and surprise your guests with your lip-smacking preparations. Any bland meal can be converted into a flavourful and delicious one with the presence of laal mirchi. Or how about trying some chilli flakes if you want to add spice to your pizzas and pastas.
Amchur Powder
Amchur — a combination of aam or mango and chur or churan — literally means dry mango in powdered form. Raw mangoes are peeled, cut, sun-dried, and then ground to prepare amchur. This powder is especially added to preparations such as pumpkin, potato capsicum, and other dishes as well. It gives a tangy punch that is simply delicious. The tropical flavours of the exotic spice are perfect for marinades and chutney. Give that perfect taste to your meals with the most delicious amchur powder which contains no harmful or artificial additives.
Coriander
Also known as chinese parsley or cilantro, coriander is often added in gravies as well as dry vegetables. Dhania powder is known to thicken the gravy and add a distinctive flavour to the dish. One of the oldest known spices, coriander is a very healthy Indian spice. It has antioxidants, clears the skin, lowers cholesterol, stimulates, is anti-allergic, and promotes digestion. Rich in dietary fibre, it is also full of minerals such as zinc and copper. Make your meals more delicious and healthy with authentic and aromaticdhania powder available only on SaleBhai.
Garam Masala
Another inevitable Indian spice, garam masala is an interesting blend of chosen spices. Cumin, coriander, cardamom, bay leaves, fenugreek, cloves, and cinnamon are ground together to make garam masala. As the name suggests, garam which means hot and this spice also provides warmth from within. Thus it is quite commonly used in winters to give every gravy a thick texture, irresistible aroma, and of course a much enhanced taste. Get your flavours right for any dish by adding this intoxicating and aromatic mix of rich spices. We bet that the strong and pungent flavour of our choicestgaram masala will make your dishes tastier and utterly delectable. Apart from adding taste, the perfect mix of whole spices will also solve many of your health issues.
Cardamom
Cardamom or elaichi is another frequently used spice in India. Cardamom is of two types — green and black. Green cardamom is more common and is loved for its sweet and soothing aroma and a refreshing after-taste — which makes it ideal to be used in both sweet and savoury preparations. On the other hand, black cardamom has a smoky and powerful flavour and is added to gravies to add spice. This ‘Queen of Spices’ is the third-most expensive spice in the world. And why not, add it to kheer, halwa, or even chicken or paneer gravies and you will become a fan of this spice instantly. Cardamom is one spice that is also had stand-alone — as a mouth freshener. Apart from enhancing flavour of any dish, it also improves blood circulation, maintains cholesterol, and relieves cardiovascular disorders.
There are so many more spices I would have loved to talk about. After all, India isn’t known as the land of spices for nothing. Apart from the indispensible spices aka masala mentioned above, other common spices which add to the deliciousness of Indian food are bay leaves, nutmeg, mustard seeds, saffron, rajma masala, kitchen king, chana masala, and the list goes on and on. So, what are you waiting for? Get the best assortment of spices online, only on SaleBhai.
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Originally published at www.salebhai.com.
