10 Secret Ingredients that can make Food more tastier
In India, we have an age-old affair with spices and you can find them basically in most Indian dishes. These secret ingredients gained popularity to such an extent that people in West got intimidated by the Indian cooking pattern.
Spices add distinctive flavor and aroma to the food and in addition rewarded loads of health benefits as well. Cooking a delicious recipe is all about correctly using the ingredients.
While cooking, one needs to understand the pallet and choose spices that don't overpower other taste. Feels confusing?
Well, cooking food is an art and there are some age-old practices that you must know while cooking food. With generations of traditions and cultural influence, Indian cooking is all about the secret ingredients. Besides adding the distinctive flavor, these ingredients also arouse your taste buds to form an emotional bond with the food.
Essential but Secret Ingredients of Indian Cooking
Cooking is very simple as you just need to follow the recipe but it is not easy. Well, you can master the art if you are aware of the secret ingredients and how they could enhance the quality of your dish. It is the fine blend of certain ingredients that make your food distinctive and delicious.
Try these simple ingredients that are easily available in your pantry but works like magic when you add them to your favorite recipe.
Kasuri Methi
This dried herb is bitter but has a powerful aroma when put on Indian Curries. These dried leaves are actually from fenugreek plant containing various nutritional properties. Both leaves and seeds are widely used in Indian cooking.
The seeds are used in the pickle. Kasuri methi is used at the end as a garnish of curries to add a distinct aroma. Take a teaspoon amount of dried methi, crushed in hand and sprinkle on the vegetable or chicken curry to enjoy that different flavor of this dried herb.
Coconut Milk
The healthy milk substitute was only recognized in the southern part of India. One can make different recipes using coconut milk that is light to digest and taste like tender coconut. If you make some curry that got too spicy, just add few spoons of thick coconut milk to lower down the heat.
Peanuts
Wondering how peanut made to the list of special kitchen ingredients? Well, peanuts are the most easily available nuts in the market at a cheaper rate. Mostly peanuts are used in fasting recipes but did you know that you can make them taste like cashew.
Most of the restaurants use peanuts in place of cashew to give a delicious taste to a curry. Just soak one cup of peanuts with watermelon seeds. Make a smooth paste by adding some milk. This paste will taste almost similar to cashew paste yet won’t put a dent in kitchen budget.
Ginger
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Wish to give a spicy kick to your vegetable or non-vegetarian curry then try adding one tablespoon of fresh ginger paste in the curry. Ginger has a slightly spicy taste which goes well with tea, curry, dal or even in cake. The tip to get the best taste of ginger is by never allowing it to get burnt because then it will taste bitter.
Hing / Asafoetida
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For many of those who can’t eat garlic because of religious purpose or don’t like the pungent flavor, use more than a pinch of hing to give a taste of garlic to your curries. Similar to garlic, hing is also very good for digestion and get rid of the gastric problem after relishing heavy meal.
Gud / Jaggery
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Also, known as Jaggery, is a healthy substitute for sugar. In ancient times, Indian sweets were make using gud or palm sugar. If you have a sweet tooth, then try making desserts with jaggery. The best part about this sugar substitute that it is good for health, natural and gives caramelized flavor to any dessert.
Nutmeg
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The other aromatic ingredient to use in your daily cooking is nutmeg. This spice has a dominant flavor, slightly bitter taste and is a natural sedative. Yes, you heard it right. In olden times, a pinch of nutmeg was added in milk before giving it to children so they can sleep well. Also, it provides natural warmth to the body. One can use nutmeg in sweets as its aromatic and will help a person feel relax instantly.
Cinnamon
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Want to add natural sweetness to a savory recipe, then add one inch of cinnamon in your cooking. You can also use ground spice to add flavor to rice dishes. On the medicinal point of view, Cinnamon lowers down the cholesterol level, sugar level, and control blood pressure when consumed with warm water empty stomach every morning.
Cardamom
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Considered as the most fragrant spice, Cardamom has a minty taste. Mostly used in Indian Sweets, cardamom gives a fresh fragrance of Indian food. You can add them in biryani, curries, sweets or offer as a mouth freshener making Cardamom pods a must-have ingredient in the kitchen.
Black Pepper
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Without usage of chili, there is no existence of Indian food. Every recipe contains a generous amount of red chili whether you are cooking vegetables, chicken, or pulses. But, using a small amount of black pepper in few dishes can increase the heat and aroma of any recipe. This spice is widely used all over the world and contains medicinal properties to fight common cough/cold.
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