Do you frequently order Indian cuisine? Or find yourself trying your hand at cooking Indian food? Would you confidently turn a Vanilla Ice song into spice spice baby? If your answer to this is a resounding yes, then you’ll probably be aware that Indian meals are almost incomplete without a dash of spices (also known as Masala). No wonder India is also internationally recognized to be the ‘Land of Spices’.
There are plenty of spices that give Indian dishes that extra oomph of flavor. Fans of the cuisine would willingly claim that this is what makes it even more irresistible. Apart from hitting the blissful point of your taste buds, Indian spices also boast of several health benefits. This is without question a welcome addition especially if you’re tired of searching for tasty food options that’s also healthy.
If you love Indian meals you’ll have the best of flavors and health benefits. An ideal duet, right? So here are the top Indian Spices and their various health benefits.
Traditional Indian Spices
In all likelihood, you’ll need to clear some space in your pantry to stock up on these spices. Also, just a tip from us: the obsession with spice mixtures can get real and an assortment with labeling of them is a must so that you’re not tossing the wrong ingredients in your dish.
1. Turmeric Powder
Today, it is popularly recognized as the spice used in the mother of all drinks, which is the ‘Golden Milk Latte’. But the humble Turmeric powder has actually been an ingredient used in most Indian households since time immemorial. It has a vibrant yellow color which makes it stand out in the spice aisle. Although, the powder can be like a loaded gun for your clothes, because once stained, it scars your clothes forever! So try to avoid spilling it while you use it.
Health Benefits: This spice possesses anti-inflammatory properties, improves digestion, helps heal wounds and can drastically improve the health of your skin.
2. Cumin
Just a few tiny seeds of cumin can do wonders for your hair, skin and body. It’s recommended that you start your day with a glass of cumin water on an empty stomach. But you could also find ways to add them to your meals. It’s a key ingredient in curries, vegetables and can add immense flavor to your rice. It practically has the power to elevate the taste of plain white rice. Just don’t keep your face too close to the pan with the heated oil after you throw some cumin in. Their dance in the bubbling oil can be fascinating, but the splattering hot oil, not so much!
Health Benefits: There are several health claims around the spice cumin such as providing a helping hand to lose weight, improving your digestive system and being effective against diabetes too.
3. Cloves
Cloves surely do a great job at adding an extra kick of flavor to your meals. But it even produces a natural antiseptic oil that can ease toothaches, while multitasking to help freshen up bad breath. By chewing on a few cloves, you could fight the bacteria in your mouth. It even makes eating and biting through crunchy food items a piece of cake. Of course, as well as they can enhance the flavor of various dishes, biting through a solitary piece of clove in something like a Biryani can be a bit of a mood dampener.
Health Benefits: Used to treat oral diseases like bleeding gums or toothaches, Cloves are also a natural mouth freshener. Try chewing on this spice in moderation if you wish to see results.
4. Mustard Seeds
Mustard Seeds are loaded with vitamins and minerals that help ease headaches, spasms and indigestion. Just so we’re on the same page, we’re referring to the seeds and not the classic mustard sauce that gets squirted onto our favorite hot dogs, among other things. You can use mustard seeds for salad dressings. But there’s a range of versatile ways to add them to your meals and heighten the flavor.
Health Benefits: Although you may doubt the health benefits of these seeds, because of its tiny size, mustard seeds are actually extremely rich in nutrients and aids in managing cholesterol levels.
5. Fenugreek Seeds
Fenugreek seeds are a great option if you’re trying to fight toxins in your body. Unfortunately, it isn’t very useful when it comes to dealing with toxic people, but it helps you enhance your confidence for sure. Wondering how? Well it protects your skin and fights dandruff in your hair, prevents hair loss and even enhances weight loss. This ultimately helps you feel beautiful inside and out. And maybe gives you the courage to get rid of toxic people. Too much of a long shot with this joke? We thought so too.
Health Benefits: You can consume these seeds by drinking the water in which these seeds are soaked for a night. Another way is to chew on them for weight loss and improving the health of your skin and hair.
Final Thoughts
Having spices in your kitchen is like adding a little graffiti to the kitchen. By this we mean it brings color to your pantry and flavor to your food. In addition to that, you’ll have a super aromatic kitchen where the smell could tempt your neighbors into wondering what’s cooking. And well, the cherry on top of the cake is that most of the spices you’ll enjoy experimenting with will be beneficial to your health.
Related: Love Indian Food- These Ingredients are must have in Your Pantry
