(143)Spice Box

Masala Dani

Treasure box of health

The kitchen is the pharmacy of our house.

Our Indian kitchen is nothing but the pharmacy store of our house. Here we get a variety of spices. I don’t think other countries’homes have so many variations .In India Kashmir to Kanyakumari and Mumbai to Kolkata . Rich or poor all have spice boxes and all use spices in their day to day normal food preparation. So let’s start our journey in the spice box.

You know what a spice box is? A spice box is nothing but a single box with 7 compartments. Each compartment has its unique identity. colour, flavour, taste and medicinal value.  You cannot compare one spice with another. as they are just different from others. Let’s understand the values of each spice separately.

Masala Dani is a popular dry spice organiser where you can find all the needed spices in the same place. A typical masala dani has a number of small cups, often seven, placed inside a round  box. Anyone who is passionate about cooking must have the following 8 different types of dry spice boxes in his/her kitchen to create some delicious recipes.                                   

We Indians also use some fresh, green spices in our kitchen. This Green masala dani except Garlic and Onion we keep in the fridge. 

Spice box number 1– Salt

1. Sea salt ( common salt)
2. Rock salt (Sendha namak)
3. Black salt ( Sanchal powder)

Spice Box number 2

1. Cumin seeds (Jeera).
2. Mustard seeds(Rai).
3. Coriander Cumin powder (Dhanajeera powder).
4. Red Chilli powder (lal marcha powder).
5. Turmeric powder ( Haldi)
6. Fenugreek seeds (Methidana)
7. Asafoetida powder ( Hing).

Spice box number 3

1. Whole Coriander seeds (Dhana).
2. Caraway seeds ( Shahjeera).
3. Black Sesame seeds (Kala Til).
4. Fennel Seeds (Variyali).
5. Carum Seeds (Ajmo).
6. White Sesame seeds ( Safed Til).
7. Dry Fenugreek leaves ( Kasuri methi)

Spice Box number 4

1. Cinnamon sticks (Taj).
2. Black Cardamom (Badi Elaichi).
3. Whole red Chillies.
4. Bay leaves ( Tej patta).
5. Black pepper (Mari).
6. Clove( Laving).
7. Star Anise (Badiana)

Spice Box number 5

1. Cardamom(Elaichi)
2. Ginger powder(Sunth)
3. Pipramul powder(Ganthoda powder)
4. Nutmeg.( Jaiphal)
5. Poppy seeds (khuskhus)
6. Saffron (kesar).
7. Mace(Javantri)

Spice Box number 6

1. Garcinia (Kokum).
2. Tamarind (Imli).
3. Mango powder (Aamchur powder)
4. Pomogranate seeds powder ( Anardana powder)
5. Gooseberry powder ( Amla powder)
6. Mint Powder ( Phudina powder).
7. Mustard coarse powder(Rai na kuria)

Spice box number 7

1. Zaatar powder.
2. Basil.
3. Oregano.
4. Rosemary.
5. Thyme.
6. Garlic powder.
7. Chili flakes.

Spice box number 8

1. Pavbhaji Masala.
2. Chole Masala.
3. Rasam Powder.
4. Sambhar Powder.
5. Jiralu Powder.
6. Milga podi Powder.
7. Chat Masala.
8. Biryani Masala.
9. Garam masala.

Spice box number 9 Green spices which I am  keeping in the fridge except Onion and Garlic.

1. Green chillies.
2. Ginger.
3. Curry leaves.
4. Coriander leaves.
5. Phudina.
6. Onion.
7. Garlic.
8. Basil leaves.
9. Parsley.

              List of my other recipes.