Most Preferred Indian Spices

Indian spices or masala as we call it here, are renowned in the whole world. It has been in our books of recipes since the ancient times. We’ve even dealt in trading spices with other countries. Our rich spice culture attracted tourist attention. Spices also are one of the most indispensable ingredients in cooking any Indian dish. Be it paneer tikka masala or fish fry masala little bit of spice is enough to make your dish smell and taste a little bit nice with its aroma and enticing taste. Let’s have a look at some of the most commonly used Indian spices in Indian dishes:

• Jeera or Cumin

In any tadka that we make, jeera is a basic ingredient that goes into it. It adds a smoky taste to your dish. You can either use is wholesomely or ground it into fine powder. The reasons jeera is so vividly used in the dishes is because it aids digestion process, is a source of iron, improves blood sugar level and even helps in weight loss. While using jeera, if using in dry form, be careful to not burn this spice as it burns easily while roasting it. Toast it only till you sense the aroma.

• Haldi or Turmeric

Since the olden times, before the advent of modern antiseptic medicines, turmeric was the go to of every household for any kind of wound or injury. Its healing properties are magical. Even today, incase there is a fear of minor internal injury or some external wound, people drink turmeric milk at night to boost the healing process. When added to food it has a pungent smell, but it brings with it its colour and medicinal properties. It could be used either in its original form or dry state where it is beaten into powder. Turmeric is widely used in daily skin care routine as well. It is said to give a specific glow to your skin, rubbing the dead skin off.

• Chili

A pinch of chili powder can do wonders to your dish. Not only does it add a little but of colour to your dish but it also makes the dish tantalizing. No dish is ever complete without adding bit of a chili powder. The spiciness can be a little too much for some people, where as for some it is totally worth it.

• Black Pepper

Black pepper powder is another very important ingredient in making any Indian dish. It adds a vivid taste and aroma the dish making it enticing. It is rich in antioxidants that helps to control cholesterol and blood sugar levels, has cancer fighting properties, helps in absorption of nutrients, helps your heart fight against cancer and much more.

Some people prefer to make the spices into powdered form while some prefer to buy it. Today there are options available for buying these online as well. You can browse any online grocery shopping website and check it out for yourself.