8 Essential Indian Spices Every Pantry Needs

Indian cuisines worldwide are known for their spices and rich flavours. Interestingly, it is the variety of exotic spices that first attracted the British to India as well. Bold, authentic, and exquisite, Indian spices are popular for their spice, pungency, and bright colours. Indian households generally have a round desi masala box or masala dabba filled with 8-10 important spices that they use in their everyday cooking.

Are you stocking up your pantry or learning how to cook? Or maybe you are setting up your kitchen for the very first time and you want to know which essential spices you must buy? From red chilli powder, cumin to hing, there are 8 basic spices for Indian cooking that you must know.

8 Essential Indian Spices to Have in Your Kitchen

1. Red Chilli Powder

The first spice that comes to mind when one thinks of Indian food is red chilli powder. Made with sun-dried red chillies, this spice is one of the most essential Indian spices used for cooking. Red chilli powder is a source of vitamins A, B, C, K, potassium and copper among others. It is known to aid digestion, boost immunity and fight chronic diseases.
Aashirvaad Chilli Powder is a perfectly balanced, high-quality red chilli powder. It is made with expertly cleaned and selected sun-dried chillies that are directly sourced from farmers. For a red colour like no other and a rich authentic taste, Aashirvaad Chilli Powder is a great option for your kitchen.
Want to learn more about its advantages? Read our blog on Chilli Powder Benefit to discover how this spice can add more than just heat to your meals!.
Try Out: Aashirvaad Chilli Powder

2. Cumin

Cumin seeds, also known widely as jeera in India, are a must-have in every kitchen. It is traditionally used in every tadka while preparing curry or a dal for its aromatic effect. They are also ground into a powder and used in several dishes. They are a rich source of iron and antioxidants that are known to reduce the risk of many diseases.
cumin seeds provide energy and strengthen the immune system. They also have medicinal value in India, as they are known to fight diarrhoea and have been used in Ayurveda for hundreds of years. Having cumin at home will enhance not only your food but also your health.
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3. Turmeric

Characteristically yellow, turmeric has been the poster child of essential Indian spices everywhere. It is another important spice that has medicinal properties and is recognised by Ayurveda. It has numerous health benefits, like anti-inflammatory properties, reduces anxiety, helps manage depression, alleviates arthritis pain and boosts metabolism.
Aashirvaad Turmeric Powder is a naturally golden yellow powder made from expertly sourced and sun-dried turmeric. Free of impurities and packed with flavour, this turmeric powder is a great product to add to your masala box.
Curious to know more? Explore our blog on Aashirvaad Turmeric powder

4. Coriander Powder

Coriander powder, made from ground coriander seeds is also known as Dhaniya Powder. Green and fragrant, coriander powder is used in curries and gravies to add aroma and flavour. It is also added to soups, stews, and pickles in the south for an enhanced taste.

Aashirvaad Coriander Powder gives you the perfect taste, aroma and flavour of coriander seeds in a finely ground powder for your home cooking. Expertly selected seeds are finely processed without artificial agents or colouring to give your kitchen a high-quality essential spice in Aashirvaad Coriander Powder.
Try Out: Aashirvaad Coriander Powder

5. Mustard Seeds

Black mustard seeds, also known as mohri or rai, are sure to be present in every masala dabba in the country. Mainly used along with cumin, mustard seeds are fried in hot oil along with vegetables to add a pungent and nutty flavour to the dish. Mustard seeds are rich sources of calcium, copper, iron and many other vitamins and nutrients. They are known to promote better digestion and healthy skin and are packed with antioxidants too.

6. Garam Masala

Garam Masala is the ultimate hot Indian spice mix in Indian cooking. There are many variations of this mix however, there are some important spices that are always present in Garam Masala.These spices include mustard seeds, coriander seeds, cumin, black pepper, cloves and fennel seeds.

Garam masala is hot and spicy to taste with floral notes and the backing of the intense black pepper and bay leaf. Garam masala is used in curries, stews, and dals to add a punch of flavour and spice to a normal dish and make it incredible.
Try Out: Aashirvaad Shahi Garam Masala

7. Hing

Hing or asafoetida is a dry powder used in Indian cooking to add pungency and a strong flavour to food. A small amount of hing can be added to curries, dals, stews, pickles, etc. for a flavourful meal. Hing is recognised by Ayurveda to aid in digestion and gas while also having antibacterial and antifungal properties that help in fighting off infections and diseases.

8. Black Pepper

Black pepper is ground into a fine powder, which is added to all kinds of Indian dishes to enhance its taste and health benefits. Black pepper powder has a significantly strong and unique flavour that helps with sore throat and cold. Being a source of manganese, black pepper helps boost metabolism and bone health. Other than being excellent with Indian food, you can add a pinch of black pepper to your soups to feel warmer and subdue your cold and cough too.
Try Out: Aashirvaad Black pepper

What is a Masala Dabba? (Spice Box)

It literally translates to a spice box. It is typically a stainless steel box that is dedicated to your essential spices. Since spices are the heart of Indian cooking, this box is an important part of Indian households. Though the content of the masala dabba varies from one household to another, it generally contains essential spices used in Indian food like turmeric, cumin, mustard seeds, turmeric, garam masala, hing, red chilli powder, etc. A masala dabba saves you a lot of time while cooking as it ensures that you have all the essential spices that are almost used in every Indian dish in one place and you don’t have to go around searching for them in your pantry.

Conclusion

Remember, Indian spices are the backbone of Indian cuisine. Hence, you must invest in premium-quality spices that will help to enhance the flavour of your home cooking.
Looking for a one-stop destination to shop for spices from top brands like Aashirvaad? Look no further and head over to the ITC online store right away! The ITC online store is your ultimate online store to shop for all your pantry essentials at the best price ever!
Make grocery shopping easier by downloading the ITC Store grocery app from the Google Play and Apple App Store . Shop for your daily essentials with just a few taps.

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