Although spices are one of the most intimidating ingredients that people are wary about when it comes to Indian cooking, they are also the reason why Indian dishes get their one-of-a-kind, aromatic and tantalizing taste and smell from. Here are 5 spices in India you simply cannot resist, if you want to cook up an Indian meal that is packed with loads of flavor.
1. Cumin
Cumin is one of the popular spices in India and adds a smoky note to your dishes and is either used whole or as part of a spice mix. This spice burns very easily when dry roasting it so you need to make sure you toast just until your nose senses smoke or fragrance.
2. Turmeric
Turmeric can be used in its dried or fresh form. Besides adding a yellowish orange tinge to your dishes, it comes with an array of health benefits. It possesses a pungent, earthy fragrance and is a favorite in curries and other dishes.
3. Chilli powder
No dish is ever complete without a nice dose of chilly but usually, it is used in powder form in Indian dishes. It is this ingredient that gives your dish the red color as well as the spicy flavor that feels like your tongue’s on fire but is totally worth it.
4. Garam Masala
This is a blend of cinnamon, cumin, coriander, cardamom, and black pepper. It is frequently seen in most of the Indian vegetarian dishes. Each of these spices come with their own unique advantages and when used together, offers you the ideal balance of flavors. You can easily find these spices without running around too much.
5. Cassia Bark
Another popular spice among Indian spices is cassia bark. Also known as Chinese cinnamon, this spice is commonly used instead of true cinnamon in most of the cooking procedures. It possesses a rough, tree bark-like texture. It comes with a mild flavor so you can use it in large quantities.
So there you have it, make sure you check out the quality and cost of the spices from spices suppliers carefully before purchasing these ingredients.