Indian cuisine is a vibrant melange of boundless dishes, that vary with region, culture, tradition, community and even religion. It is distinguished by the exquisite and refined use of spices, cereals, fruits, and vegetables cultivated across the country. Indian food uses an entire platter of exotic flavours.
Indian cooking is widely known for its diversity and has now inspired many countries all over the world. The cuisine can be exciting and intimidating at the same time. A certain change in the cooking technique can bring the same flavour in a completely different essence.
Spices are the ‘love’ ingredients of Indian cuisine. They are the heartbeat that makes the entire dish more lively. The wide range of spices and mixes adds a tingling experience to the food. It can enhance multiple dishes into a tasty and well-seasoned meal. The versatility of Indian cuisine is a pure representation of how the flavours of spices blend to bring in newness to dishes.. Every Indian kitchen has a myriad of spices. These spices not only add a sprinkle of flavour and a splash of colour, but they also bring plenty of health benefits..
India is known as a temple of spices. Spices are one of the most important ingredients in Indian cooking. Keeping this in mind, it is essential to use authentic and original spices for the best recipes. Some of the spices from ancient times are known to be one of the most expensive products around the world. Quality is more relevant than quantity, even the tiny pinch of pure spice can bring a heavier taste than using the abundance of average spices. Every single spice has its own flavour and reason and each of them is equally important to bring out the element of zest.
All the Indian spices are produced or grown in different locations according to the weather, altitude, soil quality and so on. They are derived from flowers, roots, stems, seeds or barks. These spices are then threshed and refined for edible use. The quality of spices is worth the amount of time it takes to process. In recent times, with economical difficulties, a lot of adulterated spices are sold and the quality has been compromised. Adulterated spices include food colouring and added flavours that can be harmful for health reasons therefore, one must purchase the spices from the right place.
Spices and seasonings can make a dish from being bland to extraordinary. Each spice has a compelling flavour and must be used in a proportionate amount. All spices are to be explored with cooking dishes but it is important to know the proper use of the same. One should be aware of how strong or light a particular spice flavour can be. Once you master the art of adding the perfect amount of flavour, you can win over your cuisine.
Indian food encourages home cooks to be creative and daring with its variety of spices and condiments, and experimental mindset. Playing around with spices and flavours is a simple way to change up your dinner routine.
Indian households have a variety of spices and mixes for their day-to-day use. There are top 7 spices that are bottled up in their everyday Indian Masala Box while other spices are usually kept in jars and bottles in a drawer. Below are the infamous and most used, spices and masalas used in Indian cooking. Knowing about these are your first few steps or understanding the flavours of Indian dishes. Let us learn more about them and their uses.
Essential Spices of Indian Cuisine:
1. Red Chilli Powder (Lal Kashmiri Mirchi Powder)
Although there are many different types of dry red chillies used in Indian cooking, most people favour the mild Kashmiri red chile, both whole and ground, because it has a bright red colour and a smokey flavour. When using other chiles in place of Kashmiri red chillies, keep the heat level in mind. This is the most common approach to making your dish spicy.
2. Turmeric Powder (Haldi)
Ground turmeric is a bright, healthy spice with a peppery-woody flavour and a deep golden hue that lends a peppery-woody flavour to curries. It is used in everything from drinks to curries to stir-fried vegetables, and even face masks, because of its anti-inflammatory effects.
3. Asafetida (Hing)
Dried and powdered tree resin is typically an aromatic added to heated ghee or oil. Its raw, pungent scent mellows into a musky aroma, giving lentils, beans, and vegetarian curries silky, umami flavours. Hing is frequently made with wheat flour, however, gluten-free options are available.
4. Cumin (Jeera)
Cumin is a popular spice in Indian cuisine because it adds nutty, toasted flavours and depth to a wide range of dishes. Whole cumin seeds can be used to temper, and roasted and ground cumin can be used later in the cooking process. Cumin gives the texture of depth and earthiness to soups, daals, and curries. Add a pinch of ground cumin to plain yoghurt for a nutrient and flavour boost.
5. Mustard Seeds
Brown mustard seeds are more widely used in Indian cookery than black mustard seeds. Wait for them to crackle and pop as they release their flavour in a kettle of boiling water. These seeds can also be used to garnish.
6. Garam Masala
Garam Masala translates to “warm spice mix.” It adds depth and warmth to recipes, and it tastes great with red or green chiles for a meaty, aromatic flavour. Every Indian region has its unique variation. Garam masala is made with twenty-one whole roasted spices, some of which are difficult to come by. As a result, she created this 5-ingredient garam masala with a comparable authentic flavour
7. Coriander Powder
With a hint of citrus, this versatile spice lends earthy notes to Malabar curry,
vindaloo, sambar, and rasam recipes. For several popular spice blends, entire seeds
are briefly roasted before being crushed with other spices. Ground coriander is
popular because it gives foods texture and can be savoured with every bite. For the
perfect earthiness, coriander is frequently combined with cumin.
India is one of the leading countries in the cultivation of spices with a wide production around the country, therefore it is important to choose the best produce. We at Living Beyond, believe in the authentic purity and essence of the spices. The ground spices are carefully handpicked, refined and made sure to be unadulterated. Each spice is picked from the best land, to preserve its natural extract and aroma. These are made sure to be organic and healthy compared to the preservatives spices in the market as we care the most about our customers and their loved ones.
Living Beyond has brought spices and mixes into the market for all the people who care about their health with respect to the quality and taste of food. These spices are put together in an appropriate proportion for the daily Indian recipes to make cooking easier and efficient. After roasting and grinding the spices, one would be fascinated by how a quality spice can bring a divine taste of flavours. As we all know, Indian recipes are a thorough representation of how spices can make a dish extraordinary.
