Indian cooking spices

There are so many wonderful Indian cooking spices available in India. Some of those mainly used in Indian dishes only whereas there are some spices which are popular across the world. But I think there are only a few countries who will have such varieties of cooking spices. Indian people mostly prefer spicy food. They often add various aromatic spices to make their dishes special & really mouth water.

This list is not a short one. So here I have mentioned a small list of Indian cooking spices. Though this list is not exhaustive but these are spices which are very common and added to various popular dishes.

Also check this: soup making Indian aromatic spices

A list of Indian cooking spices

Ginger: It is one of the most used Indian cooking spices, this aromatic spice is used for making gravy as well as dry dishes. For making non-veg item is, it is indispensable.

Garlic: Lahsun, another most used Indian cooking spice, it is almost compulsory in case of Indian non-vegetarian food item.

Tamarind: Tamarind (or Imli in Hindi) brings sour taste in various vegetarian & non-vegetarian items.

Holy basil: It is sometimes added to food. Holy basil (tulsi) is little different from western basil. It is only used is some local foods.

Nutmeg: Popular Indian cooking spice but it is added in some very special dishes to bring mouthwatering aroma.

Black salt: In some cases, people prefer to add black salt in a popular drink like lassi, chhaas, it is also used in some dry type snacks too.

Mint/Pudina: It is also popularly used in various food, particularly pudina is used to make North Indian green chatni for having with various snacks & starter.

Mustard seeds: Very common Indian cooking spice and often used in tempering and brings special flavor in gravy or curry.

Nigella seed: Another popular cooking spice

Poppy seeds: Popular spice in India and it is also used in various western foods. Popularly used in chatni, rice made food etc.

Turmeric: Most common & popular Indian cooking spice. It is used almost every food in India. From gravy baes food to dry tandoori items, every where it is used

Coriander: Its leaves and seeds are added to food. It brings different aroma of food. Coriander leaves are also a very preferred item to add various foods.

Black pepper: Its powder is often added to make dish little hot. People like to add it to soup, dry snacks etc

Asafoetida: It is very rarely used in soup but often added in many Indian dishes. A special Indian cooking spice what always make a food shahi.

Cardamom: It is added with garam masala which is used many common Indian dishes like various paneer based dishes, non-vegetarian items, sometimes even cardamom is separately used in many dishes. It is even added to various sweet dishes to bring mouth watering aroma.

Indian bay leaf: Very common aromatic leave which is used as one of the popular Indian cooking spices, often used in various dishes along with some special Indian style soups

Cinnamon: Generally added in soup along with garam masala but sometimes even added separately to various delicious dishes.

Cloves: It is a part of garam masala and one of the very common Indian cooking spices.

Cumin seed: Very common Indian spice, it is used in sabudana khichdi, paneer based various dishes, Indian spicy food items and various different types of foods too.

Carom: Very common Indian cooking spice

Chili: Green chili, sun-dried red chili and red chili powder are used. It is used in both vegetarian & non-vegetarian foods. There a few Indian states (Maharashtra, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihard, Jharkhand, Rajasthan etc) who prefer chili in their dishes.

Curry leaf: An aromatic leaves which are used as Indian cooking spice. It brings special flavour in foods.

Fenugreek: Both leaves and seeds are used as a spice. Kasuri methi is nothing but dry leaves of fenugreek leaves which is used in various Indian foods.

Ajwain: A common Indian spice, it is added to various North Indian & South Indian foods. In Bengal it is often used to make shukto.

Fennel seeds: It is also a very popular Indian cooking spice

Do you use any other types of Indian cooking spices then you can mention that by leaving a comment below.