Indian Spices, Not Just Curry

Have you ever looked at a bottle marked “curry powder” and wondered whether that’s really all there is to Indian spices? Curry powder is a mix of other spices (much like a classic chili powder, which is not really a spice at all, or the other popular Indian spice mix, garam masala). So what are the top Indian spices, and how do you use them to create delectable Indian dishes?

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turmeric: made from the underground stem of a plant in the ginger family, it is perhaps the quintessential Indian spice, and it is what gives much Indian food its distinctive yellow color

ground chilis: the other major color in Indian cuisine—red—comes from ground chilis, either in the spicy form of cayenne, or the sweeter paprika

cumin seeds: you can buy these smokey seeds already ground, or grind them yourself

coriander seeds: these are actually the seeds from the cilantro plant, which is also used in its herbaceous form as an ingredient and garnish

black mustard seeds: these seeds (which are more brown than black), are used extensively in the south of India

cardamom: these fragrant seedpods have a subtle flavor and are often used in many curries and sweet dishes, as well as in the popular spice mix known as garam masala

cinnamon: part of the bark of the cinnamon tree, it is used either ground or in stick form

star anise: these lovely, star-shaped seedpods have a strong anise flavor and are used mostly for meat dishes

curry leaves: used either dried or fresh, curry leaves are citrusy and very aromatic

cloves: these are actually the dried unopened flower buds of an Indonesian tree, and are used either ground or in their nail-shaped form

ginger: the sharp, spicy and aromatic root used throughout Asia, and extensively in Indian cuisine

tamarind paste: made from the fruit of the tamarind tree, I’m not sure if it technically counts as a spice, but its sweet and sour taste is used throughout India

The best way to learn about using Indian spices is, of course, on a cooking vacation to India. Check them out on our website, or contact us for more details!

What bout you? Do you like to cook India food at home? Do you have the spices listed about, or do you just opt for a generic curry powder?

Try your hand using Indian spices with one of our recipes, such as this classic Awadhi Murg Tikka!

Learn more about the Indian spice blend garam masala.

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