There are multiple Indian spices available, some of them are used in daily cooking. Indian cuisine is renowned for its wide variety of exotic Indian Masalas. It gives a unique flavour and aroma to the dishes.
The combination of traditional herbs to produce beautiful cooking is an almost spiritual act. Certainly exploring Indian food will greatly expand your cooking collection. Getting familiar with them is a great first step in your knowledge.
We will discuss here the top seven spices that you need to try out in cooking various cuisines.
List Of Important Indian Spices For Cooking Different Cuisines
1) Curry Powder
It is one of the essential spices that is required in cooking a variety of dishes. Moreover, the powder gets prepared from the leaves of the dried herb. Therefore, they are best used fresh in the first or second stage of cooking.
Furthermore, you can use it while frying food items with onions and as your tadka spices. It will impart a spicy taste and citrus-like aroma in certain cuisines.
2) Bay Leaf
Bay leaf is used in Indian cooking in the same manner as other herbs in cooking. It is included as a whole leaf and usually cooked for the length of the dish, removed before serving. Its aromatic flavour is similar and reminiscent of clove and cardamom.
It is one of the masala spices usually added with mustard seeds, cumin seeds, cardamom pods, and others. In addition, it is added at the beginning of a dish and browned slightly for a unique taste.
3) Cumin Powder
Cumin powder is prepared from an extremely aromatic herb with warm and earthy tones. You will find it in both forms as a seed or a ground powder. Freshly ground cumin powder is the best way to release the intense flavour from various food items.
It is the key ingredient used in tempering or tadka and is famous in various cuisine blends. Moreover, It is the common herb used in most spice blends.
4) Black Pepper Powder
The black pepper powder is prepared from the dried berries of a tropical climbing shrub is widely used worldwide. It adds subtle heat to the dish. In addition, they also infuse flavour and aroma.
Moreover, it is primarily consumed in spicy Indian food and adds a powerful high flavour note in the recipe.
5) Turmeric Powder
Turmeric powder is widely used in Indian foods due to its flavouring and medicinal properties. It has an earthy flavour and has enormous health benefits with unique yellow colour.
Furthermore, it is popularly known for its antioxidant content, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and medicinal properties. Therefore, this herb is used to cure various diseases.
6) Fenugreek Seed
Fenugreek seeds are pretty bitter but have enormous health benefits. You can use few tablespoons in a family size dish near the end of the cooking process. Moreover, it imparts curry flavour and fragrance to many food recipes.
Its leaves are often used in Indian cooking to give flavour and are used in a teaspoon amount.
7) Red Chilli Powder
Red chilli powder gives a hotter or milder taste to food items depending upon the origin of the chillies. In addition, it brings the warming heat to the delicious dishes.
Moreover, there are many different varieties of red chilli powder available, varying in colour and spiciness level. So instead, it has a brilliant red hue that adds natural food colouring and smoky flavour.
Conclusion
You can obtain a list of vital herbs primarily used in cooking a wide variety of dishes. In addition, you get to know a short brief regarding its usage. Moreover, you will gain the purpose of all different herbs used in food preparation.