What can I cook?The spice rackBeginner’s first 12SubstitutesSee all: SpicesAll blendsGaram masalaSambar powderSee all: BlendsWhat can I cook?Is my spice still good?DishesSee all: CookAll guidesRegional spice stylesStoring spicesSee all: Guides

Indian Spice Lists

Shortlists of Indian spices: the essentials, warming spices, sour ingredients, South Indian spices and the best homemade blends.

The 10 essential Indian spicesThe ten spices that do most of the work in Indian cooking, what each one tastes like and the dishes it is essential for.Warming spices in Indian cookingThe “garam” spices of Indian cooking: cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, black pepper, dry ginger, nutmeg and black cardamom, and how to use them …Sour ingredients in Indian cookingHow Indian cooks add sourness without vinegar: amchur, tamarind, kokum, anardana and black salt, and which dishes use each.Spices for South Indian cookingThe spices and tempering ingredients behind sambar, rasam, poha, lemon rice and chutneys: mustard, curry leaves, urad dal, chana dal, hing,…Homemade masala blends worth makingSeven Indian spice blends that taste far better homemade than shop-bought, from garam masala and sambar powder to goda masala and milagai p…