Classic Indian Cooking Spices
Whether you are a seasoned Indian spice chef or just dipping your toes into something new, this guide to the essential Indian Spices will give you the basic knowledge you need to create a delicious and authentic Indian dish. You will learn more about the most popular Indian spices including Cumin, Turmeric, Black Pepper, Mustard Seed & Nutmeg. The powerful flavors and aromas paired with the numerous health benefits of these spices will help create classic meals all over the world. Growing in popularity, you may start to see these Indian spices popping up on more menus near you.
CUMIN
Cumin has been used in the kitchen since ancient times. The distinguishing warm & earthy flavor makes cumin a popular spice for Indian cooking. It is most aromatic when freshly ground, so if that is what you are after, you can use a mortar and pestle to get the full flavor. The slightly bitter taste goes great with root vegetables, cabbage, and meats.
Not only does it add unique flavors to your Indian recipes, but there are also many health benefits of cooking with cumin. It aids digestion, respiratory disorders, insomnia and helps improve immunity.
TRY THIS: Cumin Spiced Chicken from Primal Palate
Not only does it add unique flavors to your Indian recipes, but there are also many health benefits of cooking with cumin. It aids digestion, respiratory disorders, insomnia and helps improve immunity.
TRY THIS: Cumin Spiced Chicken from Primal Palate
TURMERIC
Turmeric is a widely used spice among Indian cultures. The enticingly rich color paired with a pungent and earthy aroma make this a spice found on savory plates and in many curry dishes. You may see it popping up more often as Turmeric is becoming increasingly more popular in different cultures. The expansive range of trendy new uses for the spice include in fish recipes, smoothies and even coffee.
The health benefits of cooking with turmeric are numerous. It's been said to reduce the risk of heart attack, sooth joint pain, and even fight cancer. This Indian cooking spice is adding more than just flavor to your life!
TRY THIS: Curried Meatballs from Bon Appetit
The health benefits of cooking with turmeric are numerous. It's been said to reduce the risk of heart attack, sooth joint pain, and even fight cancer. This Indian cooking spice is adding more than just flavor to your life!
TRY THIS: Curried Meatballs from Bon Appetit
WHOLE BLACK PEPPER
Black pepper is likely a spice that most people are familiar with. While it is one of the most commonly traded spices in the world, it's versatility makes it a great spice for Indian cooking. The slightly spicy and aromatic flavor evaporates quickly when ground, which is why it's most often recommended to use freshly ground pepper in your dishes. That just-ground taste adds that perfect finishing flavor for many popular Indian dishes.
TRY THIS: Lamb in Black Pepper Curry form Malikka Basu
TRY THIS: Lamb in Black Pepper Curry form Malikka Basu
MUSTARD SEED POWDER
Add a little kick next time you are cooking Indian food with mustard seeds. The intense mustard flavor makes this a popular Indian spice when cooking dishes like curry, lentil soup, and vegetables. It adds an unmistakable flavor when mixed with other spices to help create that perfect taste when creating classic Indian cuisine.
TRY THIS: Indian Mustard Fish from All Recipes
TRY THIS: Indian Mustard Fish from All Recipes
NUTMEG
Known for a distinct earthy and nutty flavor, Nutmeg has the versatility to be used in a variety of Indian dishes. It can bend and blend to fit the taste of many different meals, so it will be found in most curry dishes, and is widely used in soups, meat seasoning and when roasting vegetables. While the aroma may be fleeting, the flavor can be overpowering, so you don't need to use too much.
TRY THIS: Steamed Nutmeg Flan from The Tiffin Box
TRY THIS: Steamed Nutmeg Flan from The Tiffin Box