Recipes

Spices and Ingredients

Understanding spices and ingredients is a key part of understanding Indian food. This list is here to help you learn more about the different ones available and how they work with a curry.

Black Cardamom

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The cardamom plant which produces both the black and green cardamom seeds used in cooking is closely related to the ginger family. The largest producer of black cardamom is Nepal, followed by Indian and Pakistan. There are two main species of black cardamom.  The pods of amomum subulatum cardamom are…

Curry Powder

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Curry powder is a mixture of spices based on South Asian cuisine.  A similar spice blend exists in the north, called garam masala.  Although you can buy readymade curry powder, it’s easy to make your own using everyday spices you will find at your local supermarket. Hundreds of varieties of…

Mustard oil

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There are two different oils that the term ‘mustard oil’ refers to.  Both are made from mustard seed and each has its own uses: Culinary mustard oil is a fatty vegetable oil, made from pressed seeds. The essential oil, made by grinding seeds with water and extracting the oil by…

Turmeric

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Turmeric is part of the ginger family and like ginger, it is a rhizome; a horizontal stem of a plant that grows underground. Generally speaking, it is valued more for its colour than its flavour (turmeric is the oldest natural food dye in the world) but it is used extensively…

Cumin

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Cumin (Cuminum cyminum) Said to be the second most popular spice globally, here we delve into the description of cumin; where it is found and how it is used.  A common ingredient in cuisines all over the world, we look at cooking with cumin and the uses of cumin in…

Garlic

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Garlic is probably the most popular spice not only in Indian cooking, but in cuisines all over the world. It is estimated that 90% of the world’s food contains garlic in some shape or form.

Cloves

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A clove is an aromatic dried flower bud from the Myrtaceae tree which is native to Indonesia. Cloves can be used whole or ground. Whole cloves are very strong and might be a bit much to handle in most dishes. The ground version can add an aromatic kick without interfering with…

Ginger

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Ginger (Adrak – Indian translation) Ginger is a rhizome – a horizontal stem of a plant found underground and usually has roots and shoots. Ginger is native to India which produces 30% of the world’s supply and is the global leader in its production. It is used in cuisines all around the world and in…

Onions

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Onions are used in virtually every type of cuisine and cooking in the world.  They are very versatile and can be used cooked, fresh or as a garnish.  Onions are an essential part of everyday cooking in India and are found in many local dishes and are the base for…

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