Throughout history, people have bought and sold spices from India, crossing oceans and mountain ranges in pursuit of them. Indian cuisine is known for its creative use of spices and spice blends, known as "masala" in Hindi. The spices transform otherwise bland, ordinary ingredients into a delicious and exciting meal, whether the dish is a spicy curry or a cool and fragrant raita.
Cardamom
Cardamom comes from a bush that produces black, green or white pods. These pods contain tiny, sticky, fragrant seeds that are frequently used in Indian cooking. Cardamom is a strong-flavored spice that is ground or left whole and used in curries, vegetable, meat and rice dishes, and in desserts and the Indian tea known as masala chai.
Chilli
Chilli, the fruit of the capsicum plant, is commonly used in savory dishes throughout India. Known to Westerners as chili, this pungent spice is added to Indian foods in fresh, dried, whole or ground form to give fiery taste and color to a dish. Chilli can be found in curries, such as the spicy Kerala curry, as well as in sauces and pickles.
Turmeric
Turmeric is a bright orange or yellow powdered Indian spice that comes from the dried root, or rhizome, of the Curcuma longa bush. India is a major exporter of turmeric. Throughout the world, turmeric is used as a natural preservative and to add color to foods such as butter, pickles and relishes. Turmeric is widely used in Indian cooking and is one of the main ingredients in curry powder. It is often referred to as Indian saffron.
Tamarind
The fruit of the tamarind tree is commonly used as a spice or condiment in India. It is widely cultivated and sold to other countries; tamarind is an important ingredient in Worcestershire sauce. This slightly sour spice is used in South Indian cooking, and often added to curries as well as meat and vegetable dishes.
Fenugreek
Fenugreek seeds come from a small, leafy annual plant and add a slightly bitter, tangy flavor to Indian dishes. This spice is always toasted before it is used, to enhance its mellow flavor. If fenugreek is toasted too much or burned, its flavor will become bitter and unpleasant. Fenugreek is found in curry powder, chutneys and sauces. It is available as whole seeds or ground into a powder.
Garam Masala
Garam masala, meaning "hot spice," is a spice blend that is found in many cooked Indian dishes. There is no one right way to make Garam masala, as the ingredients will vary slightly due to regional differences or the individual cook's preference. Cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, cumin, coriander seeds, black peppercorns and fenugreek seeds are some of the spices used to make Garam masala.
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