Indian Cooking 101 : For Beginners

Before i start with healthy and delicious delicacies, i thought i should dedicate my first post to the basics of cooking, my way – the easy way!

Lets talk about our great Indian food. Indian cuisine is characterized by its subtle  and sophisticated  use of many spices and vegetables.Indian food has diversity like as many cultural and ethnic groups in India. Indian food is influenced by Indian culture just like its various civilization, which contributed their share in its overall development and present form.

Indian food is pretty complicated with its exotic spice blends and deceptively unusual ingredients. Although Indian food seems very complicated but can be prepared successfully at home when you follow simple recipes and use Indian spices. Traditional Indian food is a healthy choice with a balanced diet of starch (steamed rice, Roti), tons of vegetables, dal (lentils), yogurt, saag etc.

I would like to give you an insight on what a Indian kitchen should have, which makes cooking seem like an easy task. This is almost all that you need to cook all those awesome delights that i am going to share with you, believe me.

Must have in all Indian Kitchen:

Indian Spices

Hindi Translations

  • Cayenne Pepper
  • Coriander Powder
  • Turmeric Powder
  • Cumin Powder
  • Garam Masala
  • Chaat Masala
  • Dried Mango Powder
  • Dried Fenugreek Leaves
  • Whole Cumin Seeds
  • Fennel Seeds/Aniseeds
  • Mustard Seeds
  • Curry Leaves
  • Black Peppercorns
  • Cloves
  • Cinnamon Sticks
  • Green Cardamom
  • Bay Leaves
  • Lal Mirch Powder
  • Dhania Powder
  • Haldi Powder
  • Jeera Powder
  • Garam Masala
  • Chaat Masala
  • Amchur Powder
  • Kasoori Methi
  • Sabut Jeera
  • Saunf
  • Rai
  • Kadi Patta
  • Sabut Kali Mirch
  • Laung
  • Sabut Dalchini
  • Hari Elaichi
  • Tej Patta

Must-haves in every Indian Fridge:

  • Plain Yoghurt
  • Ginger-Garlic paste
  • Fresh Coriander Leaves

Must-haves for every Indian Stove:

  • Non-Stick Frying Pan
  • Deep Saute Pan
  • Deep Soup Pot
  • Non-Stick Wok (called kadhai in Hindi)

You’re all set to go on a culinary adventure with the exotic foods of the Indian sub-continent, when you will have all of these.