A pinch of spice can change the whole dish and that idea is at the heart of Indian cooking. Instead of using readymade flavours, using spices as per your requirements allows you to get the right tangy or sweet taste from dishes. Indian spices offer that control with the combination of perfect aroma, heat and depth. As ingredients are now widely available across stores, setting up a spice rack brings an organised way to keep all the necessary ingredients beside you while cooking.
On that note, this guide helps you build a functional spice rack that fits seamlessly into your everyday cooking.
What is an Indian Spice Rack?
An Indian spice rack is a specialised storage unit for keeping all necessary ingredients in one place. Every single spice that is put in a spice rack has a special impact on the dish, be it a red chilli or just a pinch of salt. Apart from this, a spice rack greatly enhances the workflow of your kitchen. It helps you to prepare dishes in a consistent manner and saves you time from looking for one spice after another. In addition, proper storage of dry ingredients helps to maintain their freshness and quality. It directly supports better cooking outcomes.
Essential Spices for Beginners
Having a storage rack filled with essential spices helps you cook several flavourful Indian cuisines without searching for what to add to every dish. To help you get started, here are a few spices that you can keep on your first spice rack:
- Turmeric powder
- Green cardamom
- Red chilli powder
- Cumin seeds
- Coriander powder
- Mustard seeds
- Garam masala
- Whole cloves
- Cinnamon sticks
The above ingredients are commonly used in curries, vegetable preparations and lentil dishes. They allow you to cook a variety of meals with rich aroma and irresistible taste.
Where to Buy Indian Spices in the UK?
Due to the rise of online shopping in the past few years, it has become easier to purchase Indian spices across the UK. Some of the common places you can get Indian spices are:
- Online retail channels like Gayatri Store
- Local South Asian grocery store
An online store like Gayatri Store offers you a diverse range of spices with the flexibility to choose the right pack sizes as per your requirements. They also provide nationwide delivery across the UK. Besides that, the local South Asian grocery store allows you to choose spices from a wider range of fresh stocks.
Storage Tips to Keep Spices Fresh for Longer Duration
Keeping spices in the correct order helps you keep them fresh and ready to use whenever you need them. It also helps to maintain their aroma and flavour so that you get consistent results in your cooking. Some of the best practices to build your first spice racks include:
- Use airtight containers
- Keep spices away from direct sunlight
- Store spices in a cool, dry place
Basic Spice Combinations
Learning about the common spices used for daily cooking helps you cook Indian dishes with the right aroma and taste every time you prepare such dishes. Some of the common combinations of Indian spices include:
- Cumin + coriander + turmeric for everyday curries
- Garam masala for finishing dishes
- Mustard seeds + curry leaves for tempering taste
- Cardamom + cinnamon + cloves for aromatic rice
Once you get familiar with such combinations, you can customise flavours as per your taste preferences. Such a gradual learning process allows you to develop your own cooking style rooted in traditional Indian recipes.
Budgeting For Your First Spice Rack
Another crucial step for building your first spice rack is calculating the amount of ingredients you need to make flavourful dishes. To get an idea about the amount of spices you need on a regular basis, here’s what you need to do:
Final Thoughts
Creating your first Indian spice rack allows you to make your cooking experience enjoyable. This setup also helps you add the perfect aroma and taste to your homemade indian cuisines. Using a specific set of spices and gradually mixing spices allows you to customise the flavours of regular meals as well as special indian cuisines. In addition, keeping your spice rack away from direct sunlight, in a cool and dry place, you can ensure to get the right aroma and taste every time you cook meals.
