For thousands of years, spices have been traditionally used in Indian cooking for three reasons:
1. Their flavor.
2. Their ability to preserve food.
3. Their medicinal properties.
The climate in India has made it ideal for growing a wide variety of spices, and you can see this reflected in the national cuisine. Every region has their flavor combinations, and spice blends are more of an art than a science.
For example, a common spice blend in India is Garam Masala. On a very basic level, it’s a blend containing warming spices, such as cinnamon, clove, cumin, and black pepper. However, every family makes garam masala differently, with different ratios, and adding additional spices, such as cardamom, coriander, mace, ginger, and more.
No matter how it’s made, there is no wrong way. The right spice blend is whatever tastes the best to you! Our family has been using the same Garam Masala recipe for generations, and we think it’s pretty great. If you want to try it, you can get it here: DIY Garam Masala.
Storing Spices
Spices are best stored whole until use and then ground fresh. Whole spices will keep upwards of a year in a sealed container away from heat and light. Ground spices keep 2-3 months before they start losing their aroma and potency.
Preparation
You can coax a deeper flavor out of spices by blooming or dry roasting. Both are very quick processes. Blooming involves heating ghee until it is hot, and then adding whole spices, allowing them to pop for about a minute before moving on in the recipe. The hot oil penetrates the outer part of the wholes spices and brings out the flavor.
When dry roasting, make sure a hot skillet is completely free of oil or moisture, and then add your spices and toast until aromatic—about a minute or two.
Indian Essential Spices
Every Indian spice cabinet needs to have at least the following:
- Turmeric
- Cumin Seeds
- Coriander Seeds (and powder)
- Mustard Seeds
- Ciannamon
- Cloves
- Black Peppercorn
- Hing (asafoetida)
- Green Cardamom
- Cayenne
- Salt
Thank you…For this informative Blog!!!
I agree with your points whatever you have mentioned.
Yess…Spices perform a very significant role in some of the home remedies. Every spice used in the making of curry is a preservative. The basic role of the spices in Indian food is to enhance the flavor of the dish.
Waiting for your new blog…Thank you
This is an excellent blog post that gives a thorough review of the importance of spice in Indian cooking. You discussed the points on significance of spices in Indian cuisine, the many spices used, and the various ways to store, prepare, and use them. This article also contains a DIY garam masala recipe as well as a list of key Indian spices that each and every chef should have on hand. The blog entry is well-written and detailed, making it a useful resource for anybody fascinated in Indian cooking and spice use. You have delivered a wealth of valuable information and ideas, making it an essential read for anybody interested in Indian food.
Hi, can you attach the references? Thank you.
Thanks for this valuable information 🙂