You may be a girl who has entered the kitchen for the first time after getting married. Or you may be a young student living alone, trying to understand the basics of cooking. Or it can be someone who is not Indian at all, but wants to try cooking Indian food! Whoever you are, it can be a bit overwhelming the first time you try Indian cooking. Rest assured that it will not be so difficult over time and you get the hang of it. Preparing an Indian meal doesn’t take much time, if you know your way around. Fresh ingredients form the basis of most Indian cooking and many households will cringe at the thought of cooking with anything that comes out of a can. Going to the local market to buy fresh vegetables, fruits, meat and fish is a ritual that all Indians like. This article will give you Indian cooking tips that will make you a happy cook.
1. Spices are an integral part of Indian cuisine. Many spices and aromatics are used daily in Indian cooking. Without them, the dishes would be bland and lifeless. So unless you have a basic understanding of spices, cooking won’t be fun. But don’t worry, it’s actually not as difficult as it seems. In fact, you’ll be able to learn more about spices as you cook everyday meals. Turmeric, chili peppers, coriander, cumin, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, and anise are just a few of the spices that are used regularly. Apart from this, ginger, garlic and onion are also used. Different spices lead to different flavors. Some are best used as ‘tadka’ (a concoction of powdered spices in hot oil or ghee) and others are best used ground or as a paste.
2. In Indian cooking it is very important to have the pan hot and the oil hotter before adding spices or vegetables. So turn up the heat!
3. We know that spices from India smell amazing. But it would be a good idea to open the kitchen windows when cooking Indian food, unless you want to fill your nostrils with the strong smell of chili powder.
4. If a recipe calls for grinding spices like coriander or cumin, it is important that you first roast them in a pan before grinding. This will ensure that all of the delicious flavors are released.
5. Use the pressure cooker as much as you can. Reduce the cooking time of meats, vegetables and lentils. In fact, some lentils will take hours to cook on the stove, so using the pressure cooker is smarter. However, be aware of cooking times.
6. When a dish calls for the use of curd or yogurt, it is a good idea if you can make it fresh at home. Store-bought yogurt just doesn’t taste the same as homemade yogurt.
7. Indian cuisine is based on fresh ingredients. So, as much as possible, avoid anything that comes out of a can!