The Heart of Indian Cuisine-Spices!

India the Land of Spices

Spices are defined as "a strongly flavored or aromatic substance of vegetable origin, obtained from tropical plants, commonly used as a condiment".

In ancient times, spices were as precious as gold; and as significant as medicines, preservatives and perfumes. India - the land of spices plays a significant role in the global spices market. No country in the world produces as many kinds of spices as India and with a quality that is unmatched.

At present, India produces around 2.75 million tones of different spices valued at approximately 4.2 billion US $, and holds the premier position in the world spices market.

Masala is a word very commonly used in Indian cooking and is simply the Hindi word for "spice." So, whenever a combination of spices, herbs and other condiments are ground or blended together, it is called masala.

Most Indian household around the world store their spices in what is called a masala dabba - an Indian spice box. This spice box is round and made of stainless steel with seven individual stainless steel bowls. It comes with a small measuring teaspoon and must have a tight fitting lid in between the compartment for the bowls and the main lid. This ensures that the spices do not get all mixed up. Each bowl is filled with the seven most favorite and most commonly used spices in the household.

No Indian Kitchen is without these certain spices with are a daily part of the cooking. Let's take a look at some here-

The Basic or Essential Indian Spices

There are a few basic spices in Indian cuisine that go into most dishes. Often a very basic vegetable dish is made by adding cumin or mustard seeds and asafetida in some hot ghee (clarified butter) or oil until they sizzle and pop. Then the vegetables are added and steamed.

Cumin Seeds
Other Names: jeera, jeeragam, jilakara, black cumin, kala jeera, royal cumin, shah jeera, Comino, cummin

A basic Indian spice. Used mainly in North Indian food and is used for its strong distinctive taste. When roasted, whole cumin seeds release more aroma and gives the dish a sweet flavor. Cumin can be used as a whole spice or in the powdered form. Cumin seed powder lends a sweet and mild flavor to a dish and is one of the main ingredients in the popular mixed Indian spice called Garam Masala.

Coriander Seeds
Other Names: dhaniya

Mainly used for its fresh, soothing and cooling taste, coriander seeds are very light weight and have a mild flavor. Although they come form the same plant, they should not be mixed up with cilantro. Coriander seeds like cumin is used as a whole spice and in a powdered form. In a powder form it is an indispensable spice in the spice box of Indians. The aromatic fragrance of the roasted coriander powder enhances the taste of any dish.

Black Mustard Seeds
Other Names: Mohri

In India the black mustard seeds are preferred over the larger yellow ones found in the western world. It has a strong but pleasing flavor and known for its digestive qualities. It is spluttered in oil or Ghee(clarified butter) and used as a tempering. Mustard seeds are used in India to flavor vegetables, pulses and pickles.

Turmeric
Other Names: Haldi

Looks similar to a ginger root but when cut has a gorgeous orange-yellow color. Turmeric is mainly used in Indian dishes for its medicinal properties and for the gorgeous intensive color it gives to the dishes. It is mildly aromatic and has a delicate scent of ginger. Turmeric is a wonder spice and is used throughout Asia to treat cases of stomach and liver ailments. It is also used exteranally to heal sores and in cosmetics.

Chilli Powder
Other Names: Lal Mirch, mirchi powder
The Indian chili powder is made from spicy ground chilies and is often hotter that the chili powder available in the US/European stores. It has a pungent, hot aroma with a strong bite to it.

Asafetida
Other Names:Hing, asafetida powder, asafetida, devil’s dung, ferula, foetida, heeng

This is often used as a digestive. It has a strong odor and a slight garlicky flavor. Do not taste this raw - it is NOT a pleasant experience. Using it in the recommended recipe however, works wonders. Just a pinch is used for cooking in dishes with lentils and beans.

Garam Masala
Other Names: Mixed Spice powder

Garam Masala is powdered blend/mix of spices(aromatic spices, see below) that may include cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, black peppercorns, nutmeg, mace. Garam means "hot", but not chili hot, hot in the sense that these spices are said to increase body temperature. It can be used a a mix of whole spices as well. A whole garam masala could include whole cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, cloves, cardamom (black or green), whole mace, and black peppercorns. Powdered garam masala is often added at the end of cooking in small quantities so that the full aroma is not lost whereas, whole garam masala is used in north Indian cooking, especially meat dishes and as aromatics for rice dishes. Often these are fried in hot oil before other wet ingredients such as meat, onions, garlic, and/or ginger are added.

Different regions use different mixtures and proportions of the spices. A Garam masala will vary from household to household.

Complementary Spices

Complementary spices like fennel or nigella seeds are sometimes added along with some of the basic spices to add to flavours. These are used in combination with the basic spices and aromatics mentioned below according to the dish being prepared.

Fennel Seeds
Other Names: Saunf

Although this is a basic Indian spice, it is not essential. It is mainly used in North Indian cuisine and posses digestive qualities. If you often visit Indian restaurants you will find these coated with colored sugar and offered after meals as a mouth freshener. Fennel seeds are also often used to spice up teas and drinks.

Fenugreek Seeds
Other Names: Methi, halba

This spice, which is actually a lentil, is used throughout India for it's distinctive flavor (it has a slight bitter taste) it gives the dish and for its wonderful healthful properties. Fenugreek is used in small quantities and is used throughout India - both in North and South Indian Cooking. As a matter of fact, after turmeric, fenugreek seeds is the most medically useful item in an Indian kitchen.

Nigella Seeds
Other Names:Kalonji, onion seeds, calonji, hasbasoda, ketza, black caraway

Small black seed, sometimes called onion seeds, although they are not really seeds from onions. these are often used in North India to enhance vegetable dishes. Toasting the seeds briefly brings out the flavor.

Carom Seeds
Other Names: Ajwain

These have a strong peppery-thyme flavor. This poppy seed like plant comes from the lovage plant. It is very popular in North Indian cooking. It is used in preparing many Indian vegetables and pulses.

Aromatics or Secondary Spices

To the above spices we would add chopped onions, tomatoes, herbs and any of the following secondary spices and create a curry. We go light with the Aromatics and added them in small quantities or in the form of garam masala.

Green Cardamom
Other Names: Elaichi, Choti Elaichi, cardamom pods, cardamom powder

This is used throughout India to flavor curries, vegetables, rice, dessert and the ever famous masala chai.
The pod itself is neutral in flavor, it is the brown sticky seed inside the pod that gives that wonderful flavor. The pods should be kept whole, as ground cardamom quickly loses flavor.

When you require cardamom in the powdered form, the best way is to crack open the pods using the back of a spoon and powder the small brown/black seeds inside in a mortar or it is recommended to grind small quantities at home using a coffee mill. When a recipe calls for whole cardamom, the pods can be cracked open slightly to release the full flavor of the spice.

Black Cardamom
Other Names: Kala Elaichi

This is larger in size and darker in color. It is often used to flavor meat, poultry and rice dishes. The spice is coarser in flavor than the green variety. The inner seeds are often one of the spices used in Garam Masala.

Cinnamon Sticks
Other Names: Dalchini

It is the bark of the cinnamon tree that is often used in India in many curries and pulavs to give the dish a rich flavor. With its warm, sweet flavour, cinnamon is one of the biggest workhorses on the spice shelf. Cooks often use it to flavour baked goods and drinks but cinnamon also works wonders in stews and sauces.

Cloves
Other Names: Laung, lavang

Cloves are nail-shaped dried flower buds that have a strong, pungent, and sweet flavour. They are used in many meat dishes, marinades, pickles and in many garam masalas. Cloves are used whole or in powder form. In India clove oil is also used due to its medicinal value. Many Indians chew on cloves to relieve toothaches and it is used also as a mouth freshener after a meal.

Nutmeg
Other Names: Jaiphal

This is usually used in powdered form, grated freshly using a whole nutmeg. Often it is used to flavor Indian sweets, but may be used in some savory dishes.

Mace
Other Names: Jaivitri

Mace is the dried reticulated ‘aril’ of the same fruit that nutmeg is the seed of. It has a warm and pleasing flavor. It is best to use the blades whole and remove them after cooking as biting it is not a pleasant experience. It's used to flavor curries, masala chai and certain vegetables as well as Indian desserts

Black Peppercorns
Other Names: Kali Mirchi

It is said Vasco da Gama risked everything and started on an endless sea voyage primarily in search of one thing pepper. And was he successful in his great quest! It’s called the ‘king of spices’ and accounts for the lion’s share of spice exports from India.

White Peppercorns
Other Names: Miri

The most common pepper is round, black, shriveled and hard. White peppercorns are the same as black ones but the outer black shells are removed. White peppercorns are sharper and less pungent but they are smooth and creamy.

Saffron
Other Names: Kesar, zafran

It requires over two hundred thousand stigmas from crocus sativus flowers and a short harvest season of just 10 days per year to make a pound of saffron. That’s why saffron is the world’s most expensive spice.Indians use the threads in hot milk for about 15 minutes before using it to bring out the colors in fancy Mughal dishes it's not usually in everyday cooking.

Bay Leaves
Other Names: Tejpat, Laurel Leaf

Indian Cassia also known as Tejpat (Cinnamomum Tamala) is a small to moderately sized ever green tree. The leaves of this tree is the spice having clove like taste and a faintly pepper like odour. The leaf is mainly used for flavouring foods like rice and meat dishes. It is also a spice used in garam masala.