Fill your Indian pantry like this

Taking on a new cuisine can be overwhelming. Recipes call for spices you don’t have at home, or combine ingredients in ways you’re not used to. Once you’ve got the perfect pantry in order, you’ll be able to whip up those new recipes with ease. FavorFlav is happy to help you get started with the basic ingredients for each cuisine—we’re starting with India.

Indian cuisine is characterized by spicy curries and chutneys. You may already have some of the spices at home, while others still require a little searching.

Spices

If you only want to stock up on five things, go for ground turmeric, garam masala, cumin seeds, coriander seeds and curry leaves. You can also opt for cumin or coriander powder. But by briefly toasting the seeds in a pan and grinding them yourself in a mortar, you give your food a much deeper flavor. Seeds also retain their flavor longer than powder, so it’s a win-win.

Other spices commonly used in Indian cuisine include cardamom, bay leaves, fennel seeds, fenugreek, nutmeg, chili powder and mustard seeds. These are also widely used in other cuisines, so there’s a good chance they’re already in your cupboard.

Ghee

If you take Indian cuisine even a little seriously, you’ll also have a jar of ghee in your cupboard as standard. Ghee is clarified butter. You can make it yourself and store it, but these days it’s even available at the supermarket. Use it for searing meat, but also for frying spices to release their flavors.

Get cooking

Now that you have all the basic ingredients at home, it’s time to roll up your sleeves. The cookbook Made in India by Meera Sodha is packed with the most delicious Indian recipes. From classics like tikka masala to dishes you may not have tried before, such as chicken livers in cumin butter.