Spices Of India
Good food is something that everybody needs to cherish and enjoy at any time. But in order to prepare mouth watering dishes, it is very important to understand and know the variety of spices and seeds used in preparing these dishes. The correct proportion of spices added while cooking a dish brings about the right taste and the consistency in the meal.
Some of the main spices in Indian cooking are turmeric, red chilli powder, cumin and coriander powder and garam masala powder. In other words, without these spices and seeds, Indian food and cooking would have been incomplete and the taste would have not been up to the mark of Indian cooking.
Some of the important and essential seeds used in cooking Indian food are cumin seeds, black seeds, mustard seeds and aniseeds. The best part about these spices are that they not only serve in cooking but are also used for other purposes.
Turmeric
1. The Indian name for this spice is Haldi.
2. It is bright yellow in color and used as a coloring agent as well as flavour while cooking.
3. It is a healthy spice that can be used even to soothe cuts and sore throats. A pinch of turmeric powder added to a glass of butter milk can be a good medicine to relieve the pain in sore throats.
4. Indian cooking seems to be almost incomplete without a pinch of turmeric in it.
5. Curcumin is a chemical extracted from turmeric, which can be used as an anti oxidant, inflammation reliever and as a possible Cancer and Alzheimer’s Disease Preventative.
Red Chilli Powder
1. It is one of the most common spices used in Indian cooking and added in most of the recipes of India. In India it is called Lal Mirchi. (Red Hot Chilli)
2. It is extracted as a form of powder from dry red chillies after they are sunburnt and made crispy in texture.
3. The color and flavor of the red chillies depends upon the type and the variety of red chillies used in different regions.
4. For instance chili powder can also be known by the specific type of chili pepper named Cayenne Pepper which might be used in cuisines of Tex-Mex, China and Thai and is widely popular in Caribbean and Spanish Cuisine.
5. In India Red Chilli Powder is added in most of the dishes, keeping in mind the amount of spice required for that particular recipe.
Cumin Powder
1. Cumin seeds are used in many of the cuisines of different cultures. In India one calls it Jeera.
2. It contains a large percentage of iron and is considered to be a healthy spice. The seeds are ground and made into cumin powder.
3. Cumin seeds helps in removing acidity if added to make a light curry.
4. Cumin’s distinctive flavour and strong, warm aroma is due to its essential oil extract.
5. Cumin is one of those rare species that can be used not only as a spice for cooking but also as a medicine which has a high nutritional content.
Coriander Powder
1. It is a special herb in the family Apiaceace. The Indian name is Dhania.
2. This herb enhances many dishes and bring about the taste of coriander leaves.
3. Coriander can be also used as a herbal care medicine for a upset stomach, bad breath, rheumatism and joint pain.
4. Although a very light spice one cant imagine the amount of wonders that this herb can bring to the taste if added in food while preparing.
Garam Masala (Hot Spices)
1. Although included under the tag ‘spice’, yet it is not a spice. In other words it is a perfect blend of all the spices combined together and ground into powder.
2. This spice is used all over India and without this mixture of spice Indian recipes will not be worth eating.
3. Garam means hot and masala means spices and so comes the name Garam Masala.
4. It is added in small quantities keeping in mind the taste and the requirement of the preparation.
5. There are different ways to prepare this mixture of spices. Different regions have their own ways to prepare this masala.
6. The main common ingredients that are used to make this garam masala are cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, coriander and cumin seeds, fennel seeds and fenugreek seeds. Leaving these there can be other herbs and spices that may be added to prepare this masala.
Any recipe can be enjoyed if the taste is good and authentic. To bring about such flavors these fresh spices are added. Hence these spices are a part and parcel of the Indian Kitchen.
