Curry can refer to a number of different spice-blend concoctions.
India has a rich culinary history and its cuisine is characterized by its exotic tastes. India's climate and natural resources provide a bounty of diverse spices used in both everyday and gourmet cooking, both in India and around the world. In fact, most of the world's spices come from India, which is one of the largest spice exporters in the world. Learn about gourmet Indian spices to add distinct flavors and vibrant colors to your next South Asian-inspired meal. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Curry
Curry is one of India's most popular spices and is widely used in cuisines throughout the world. Curry has a strong, pungent, semi-sweet flavor and is derived from the leaves of the curry tree. Sometimes, curry leaves are used fresh, but most often, they are dried and ground into a powder. Other forms of curry also exist -- red curry is frequently used in gourmet dishes, as are curry liquids, powders and pastes. Spice blends made from garlic, ginger, turmeric, coriander, chili and tamarind are also referred to as curry and are a popular spice in gourmet dishes, Indian and otherwise.
Cardamom
Cardamom spice is derived from fresh, green cardamom pods, which are native to India. The spicy seeds contained within the pods are ground and used to flavor tea as well as rice and baked dishes. Cardamom is one of the three most expensive gourmet spices in the world and is also frequently used in Indian gourmet spice blends like garam masala and curry.
Cumin
Cumin is another gourmet spice that is frequently used in Indian cuisine. The seeds grow on bushes native to South Asia and are dried and ground to form a powdered spice. Cumin seeds, which resemble caraway seeds in size and texture, are also sometimes used whole. Cumin spice has a sweet, slightly hot and pungent flavor.
Coriander
Coriander spice is derived from an herb belonging to the carrot family. The leaves of the herb are known as cilantro and the seeds, dried and ground or used whole, are what we call coriander spice. Coriander has a sweet but bitter taste similar to orange zest.
Saffron
Saffron is the world's most expensive gourmet spice and is a staple in both everyday and gourmet Indian cuisine. It is derived from a flower that naturally grows in Asia and has a nutty, pungent flavor. Its value as a gourmet spice comes from the difficult sowing and harvesting process -- more than 85,000 saffron flowers will only produce 35 oz., or just over 2 lbs., of dried saffron spice. In India, saffron is used to flavor rice, candy and ice cream dishes.
Tags: derived from, gourmet spice, dried ground, frequently used, both everyday