Key ingredients you must have to cook Indian dishes at home.

An Indian pantry is packed with some essential ingredients without which you might not be able to cook any Indian dish. These basic ingredients are at the core of Indian cooking that you’ll need to produce authentic Indian flavors. There are so many things that go into a dish but these ingredients are required in almost every dish we cook. This is the reason why an Indian kitchen never runs out of these food items. Let’s know what they are.

Rice & Wheat flour 

Rice and wheat flour is the staple in Indian cuisine. All three meals of the day incorporate either rice or bread, or both which makes it an essential ingredient in Indian cuisine. Indians cook rice and bread in many different ways. While cooking rice is a bit easier than bread, these staples are equally enjoyed with both dry veggies and curries, whether it’s bhindi masala or chicken curry.

  

Pulses

Pulses and legumes are good sources of protein in the Indian diet. There are plenty of pulses and beans that are cooked and consumed daily in India like red kidney beans, black beans, chickpeas, red lentils and many more. They are a delicious option for vegans who rely totally on plant-based and need to meet their protein and vitamin requirements. 

Some of them are even used in the ground form like chickpea flour. The flour is used to cook several mouth-watering dishes like pakoras, laddoos, kadhi and more so.  

Veggies & herbs  

Veggies and herbs like onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic and cilantro help make Indian food zesty, flavorful and versatile. Every Indian dish, believe us when we say that - almost every Indian dish needs these ingredients to make a rich, creamy and flavorful base.  Whether you’re cooking a curry or a dry meat or vegetable dish, these veggies and herbs help you make the base and enhance the flavor in the dishes.

Spices 

Spices are inarguably one of the most vital ingredients of Indian cooking. They breathe life in Indian dishes and make them as delicious as they are worldwide. Whether it’s the easiest lentil soup or the iconic vindaloo, every dish is just incomplete without the spices. That is why you’ll find a broad variety of spices in India. 

Some of these spices are used for aroma, some for the zest or some for the savory color that most Indian curries contain. So clearly, the Indians can’t do without the spices.

So, if you’re starting your Indian cooking journey or wish to prepare a nice Indian meal for your family, make sure you have these items in your kitchen. But if you don’t want to spend time cooking and still want to enjoy Indian food, we’ll see you at Indian Grill in San Leandro. 

Ingredients from Sunlight Indian Grocery now or drop in today.