Top 11 Indian Spice Blends and How to Use Them

Indian dishes are known for their depth of flavors and rich textures. It is our Indian spice blend that makes our cuisine so special and delicious. Spice blends, or masalas, are combinations of various spices. They add the desired depth, flavor, and aroma to the food.

In this blog, we will discuss spice blends, the most used spice blends in Indian cooking and the health benefits of adding spice blends to your food.

What are spice blends?

Spice blends, or masalas, are mixtures of various ground spices and herbs, which are added in specific quantities, to craft a composition to season dishes like curries, biryanis, snacks and even beverages and chats.

Indian cooking uses a range of spice blends, these spice blends differ with regions, types of food and personal preference. Each blend has a unique composition, adding to the wide spectrum of the Indian culinary experience.

Top 11 Indian Spice Blends You Should Know

Indian cooking uses several spice blends to enhance the taste and aroma of the dishes, some commonly used masalas are discussed here.

1.Garam Masala:

Garam Masala is one of the most well-known spice blends in Indian cooking. It is widely used in curries, dry veggies, lentils, biryanis and tandoori preparations. Garam masalais used in North and South Indian delicacies, but the preparation of the masala varies with the region, as it becomes spicier in South Indian preparations.

Ingredients: Garam masala ingredients include cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, black peppercorns, bay leaves, cumin seeds, coriander seeds and mace. As the name suggests, this spice blend adds warmth and depth to the dishes.

Benefits: Garam masala aids in digestion, provides our body with certain antioxidants and helps maintain metabolism.

2.Curry Masala:

Curry Masala, is another common spice blend used in Indian cooking. It is quite like garam masala, and differs in the fact that it contains turmeric, which is absent in garam masala. Curry masala is used in making gravies. It is also added to sauteed onion and tomato, to make a base for the curry.

Ingredients: Ingredients of curry masala include turmeric, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, red chilipowder and fennel seeds. It adds a beautiful yellow color to our dishes.

Benefits: Curry masala has anti-inflammatory properties, aids in digestion, is also rich in antioxidants and boosts immunity.

3.Chai Masala:

Chai Masala is a popular spice blend not only in India,but also in many foreign lands. It is an aromatic blend of whole spices that add flavor to the tea. Chai masala recipes may also vary from region to region and from household to household. It is known for adding aroma and depth of flavor to Indian teas.

Ingredients: Chai masala is prepared using cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, black peppercorns, fennel seeds and nutmeg. Depending on the taste preference some ingredients may vary.

Benefits: Chai masala boosts metabolism, aids with digestion, has antioxidant properties, regulates blood sugar, and improves immunity. You can simply mix it with tea leaves or add it to boilingmilk to infuse its flavor into the tea.

4.Chaat Masala:

Chaat Masala is the spice blend you add to any dish you want to make tangy and street-food like. t is used in making chaats, topped on cut fruits and even salads, it is added to raitas, break pakoras and even topped on lentils, to add a salty and tangy flavor.

Ingredients: Chaat masala contains dried mango powder, black salt, cumin powder, coriander powder, and red chili powder. It aids in digestion and acts as a stomach coolant.

Benefits: It aids digestion, acts as a coolant, and enhances the flavour of snacks.

5.Biryani Masala:

Biryani Masala is a spice blend used in preparing the famous Indian biryanis. It is very flavorful, and adds depth and a beautiful aroma of fresh spices. It can be used to make vegetarian, egg and meat-based biryanis.

Ingredients: Biryani masala contains cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, bay leaves, star anise and cumin. It can boost digestion.

Benefits:Known for its aromatic properties, biryani masala can boost digestion and provide mild pain relief.

6.Sambhar Powder:

Sambhar powder as the name suggests, is used to make sambhar, a staple South Indian dish. It is a deeply aromatic spice blend which adds flavor to the South Indian lentil and vegetable stew- sambhar and to rasam.

Ingredients: Sambhar powder is made using coriander seeds, cumin powder, mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds and red chili powder. It aids in digestion and is a great source of dietary fiber.

Benefits: Sambar masala helps with digestion, gives important vitamins, and is a good source of dietary fiber.

7.Kitchen King Masala:

Kitchen King Masala is a blend of all major spices, and as the name suggests, it is the king of all spice blends. It is used to cook Indian vegetable curries, gravy and dry, pulao and biryanis. It adds a strong spicy and aromatic flavor to all dishes.

Ingredients: Kitchen King masala contains coriander, cumin powder, red chili powder, turmeric, and black pepper. It aids in digestion.

Benefits: This all-purpose masala adds flavor to many dishes and offers anti-inflammatory benefits.

8.Shahi Paneer Masala:

Shahi paneer is a loved north Indian dish, made using cottage cheese (paneer) in gravy of onion, tomato, and cream. Shahi Paneer masala is the spice blend used to make this gravy.

Ingredients: Shahi paneer masala contains cashews, almonds and aromatic spices like cardamom, cloves, and mace. It adds richness and warmth to the dish.

Benefits: It makes dishes richer, gives energy, and can boost brain function because of the nuts in it.

9.Chole Masala Powder:

Chole Masala is used in preparing chickpeas (Kabuli chana), commonly enjoyed with poori and bhature. It adds flavor and aroma to chole.

Ingredients: Ingredients of chole masala include dried mango powder, cumin powder, coriander powder, cinnamon, cloves, and bay leaves. It aids in digestion and balances acidity.

Benefits: It helps with digestion, reduces acidity, and provides vitamins and minerals.

10.Pav Bhaji Masala:

Pav Bhaji Masalais a flavorful spice blend that adds a tangy spicy taste to our loved pav bhaji. Pav bhaji masala in making pav bhaji along with a lot of street food dishes like tawa pulao, masala pav, paneer bhurji and street-style sandwiches.

Ingredients: Pav Bhaji Masala contains coriander powder, cumin powder, dry mango powder, red chili powder and fennel seeds. It adds color and flavor to pav bhaji.

Benefits: It adds flavour and colour to dishes and aids digestion.

11.Paani Puri Masala:

Paani Puri Masala is a spice blend used to prepare Paani Puri (golgappa) water in minutes. It is simply mixed with tamarind pulp and water to create a tangy and spicy paani to enjoy with puri.

Ingredients: It typically contains black salt, cumin, dry mango powder, black pepper, and tamarind.

Benefits: It boosts the flavor of the popular street food, Pani Puri (Golgappa).

Indian spice blends make the Indian cuisine so special. It is important to note that our spice blends vary as we travel across the country, with each region customizing the blends according to their rich cultural and taste preferences.

How to store spice blends

Spice blends typically need to be stored in airtight containers in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and moisture. This ensures the preservation of freshness and flavor.

Benefits of Spice blends

Apart from the various health benefits listed above, spice blends make cooking easy while adding the required depth and flavor to our dishes.

Final Thoughts on use the of Indian Spice Blends

Spice blends have been used in Indian cooking since a long time. They add the desired flavor, color, depth, texture, and essence to delicious Indian delicacies. Spice blend composition varies in different regions of our country, but the importance of their use never fades. They also add to the ease of cooking, making sure our dishes always taste perfect. Indian cooking is incomplete without our spice blends.

Surya Masale has a wide range of spice blends. Shop your favorite spice blends online and make your cooking experience hassle-free while enjoying tasty delicacies.