Here Are The Top 9 Spices For Every Kitchen

Spices play a very big role in Indian cuisine. No kitchen in India would be bare of spices no matter big or small. I have a specialized spice box which has small compartments to house different types of spices. At a time it can hold around 7 to 8 spices. Whenever I open that box, I feel at home. It is like the smell of nature captured and put inside a box. So for me, there is no cooking without spices. Spices add color and flavor and elevate the dish to another level. In this post I’m going to share the common spices found in my kitchen and their incredible health benefits.

What are spices?

A spice is the fruit, seed,root or bark of a plant that is used as a flavoring agent or a medicinal agent. Imagine a substance enhancing taste and color in addition to be packed to the brim with nutritious and medicinal properties, that is a spice! The size of a spice truly belies its power. A spice can be used alone or in combination with other spices. Each combination offers a different flavor in the dish. Sometimes there can be one dominating ingredient and other ingredients in smaller quantities too. This is called a masala or a spice mix. Since the flavor is so strong, spices should be taken in limited quantities so that the dish is balanced and wholesome.

Research on Spices

The Indian Institute of Spices Research is a dedicated research institute for spices in Kozhikode . They regularly come up with the researches on various benefits of the Indian Spices. It is a part of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). This organization records all important information related to spices. This site is a major help for the farming community. Farmers can rely on their extensive knowledge for spice cultivation.

The general word of caution that accompanies spices are as follows:

• Use only a limited quantity of spice for consumption.
• Too much spice based food can cause unwanted side-effects like heartburn or intestinal disorders.
• Make a balanced dish with spices, do not go overboard. Learn which spices work well together.
• Do not rely on a singly spice heavily. It is better to include other spices too in your diet.
• Take spices directly instead of using them as supplements.

Common Spices in kitchen

The most common spices in my kitchen are cumin, fenugreek, fennel seeds, corriander seeds, cinnamon,cardamom,cloves, pepper and star anise. My other kitchen staples are ginger, garlic, dried chillies and turmeric.

Cumin Seeds

Cumin seeds are small brown elongated seeds with a strong taste. It is rich source of iron and can aid in weight loss. Also it a great tummy tamer like ginger.

Tip: Boil a teaspoon full of cumin seeds in two cups of water until the water turns dark yellow. Consume it regularly to get rid of bloating or uneasy sensation in the stomach.

Fennel Seeds

This one looks like a cousin sister to cumin with similar elongated seends, slightly bigger and green in color. This tiny seed is the powerhouse of minerals like potassium,calcium,zinc, vitamins A and C and Iron. Fennel helps in regulating blood pressure and water content in the body. Regular use of fennel, improves eyesight too.

Tip: Fennel can be used as a mouth freshener after meals.

Cardamom

Cardamom can found mostly in sweet varieties like payasam, kesari or biryani varieties. It has a rich aroma due to which it is highly effective against bad breath. It is a proven medicine for diabetes.

Tip: Crush a pod of cardamom and add it to boiling water while making tea. Its aroma is very refreshing not to mention the high health benefits.

Cinnamon

Did you know that cinnamon is actually the bark of a tree called Cinnamomum? It is the base ingredient for many masalas and curries in the Indian kitchen. Cinnamon is loaded with anti-oxidants and has a powerful anti-diabetic effect. It also stimulates hair growth.

Tip: Cinnamon has a great aroma. So it is used as an air-freshener for its relaxing properties. Tie a bundle of cinnamon sticks in your living room or car to experience it for yourself. Why do you think cinnamon rolls are so popular?

Cloves

The best friend of cinnamon is the clove. Together they feature in most Indian curries. Clove is rich in anti-bacterial properties. It is full of anti-oxidants. Its uses are extensive starting from beauty benefits (hair and skin) to medicinal properties (gets rids of indigestion and is good for gums.)

Tip: Clove is great remedy for toothache. Simply keep a clove in the area of pain and you will experience a gradual relief!

Fenugreek

Fenugreek, also called methi is a close friend of the human tummy. It relieves bloating, indigestion, other stomach related disorders and is powerful against menstrual cramps too. Soak it in a bowl of water and consume it directly. Fenugreek leaves are also part of the in the Indian diet.

Tip: Powdered fenugreek is an excellent face mask and hair mask.

Pepper

Black pepper also aptly called ‘black gold’ is a highly valuable commodity since 4000 years. These small round black beads relieve muscle pain. It is a very good medicine for cold and cough. Pepper is very spicy and needs to be taken in limited quantities. It leaves a burning sensation in the tongue and throat when consumed raw. Pepper is also imperative for a healthy heart.

Tip: Mix crushed pepper with a tablespoon of honey and consume to get relief from cough.

Corriander seeds

Corrainder seeds are slightly flatter than pepper and are brown in color. With rich antiseptic properties they are a good cure for mouth ulcers. The fresh leaves are used for seasoning. It contains key vitamins like A and C in addition to folic acid and beta-carotene.

Tip: Corriander eases menstrual discomfort. So make sure to make it a part of your diet regularly.

Star Anise

Star anise is yet another versatile ingredient for digestive disorders and cold related illness. The spice looks exotic, shaped like a star. It is a much sought after spice for biryani as it gives a very good depth of flavor.

Tip: Did you know you can make both coffee and tea using star anise?

Surprising Uses of Spices

Spices are most commonly associated with cooking and health benefits. But did you know there are other important uses for these spices as well? Here are some of its uncommon uses:

Pest Control

Black pepper is sprayed on green bean plant during cultivation. This keeps the insects at bay. The strong properties of pepper function as an effective pest control.

Preservatives

Industries use Clove, Ginger, Garlic and Cinnamon as preservative agents.

Nutraceutical Products

These are products from plant sources. This is not the common variety of products. Various spices together are made into health supplements.The most well -known example of such a type of product is the ‘Chawanprash’.

Beverages

In addition to making coffees and teas with spices, there are a number of tasty drinks like Jaljeera, Kala Khatta , Kokum Sharbat that can be made from spices.

Spices as home remedies

Though spices are prominent in the kitchen, they are highly effective in other ways too. These spices fight against common infections and are therefore used as effective home remedies.

• Clove – Alleviates tooth and gum pain.
• Cumin – Effective against bloating and gas trouble.
• Pepper – Effective against cough and cold
• Cardamom – Effective against urinary tract infections.
• Cinnamon – Fights bad cholestrol and regulates blood sugar
• Fenugreek – Great hair and skin care agent.

These are the important spices for every kitchen. Given here are some of the benefits of the common spices. There are still other spices that are used like saffron, nutmeg, ajwain etc which also hold various health benefits.

Versatile,nutritious and powerpacked – what spices do you commonly use in your kitchen?