Indian Ingredients
DALS
Chana Dal pale buff to bright yellow, sold split without skin
Kabuli Dal (chickpea) pale to light brown, sold split without skin
Kala Chana smaller and darker brown than chickpea
Massor Dal salmon colored; buy the skinned variety
Mung Dal (green gram); buy without skins
Toor Dal pale yellow to gold; split without the skins; not oiled
Urad Dal (black gram) split without skins
OTHER SPICES AND INGREDIENTS
Asafetida hing sold as a yellow powder
Black Cumin Seed or Royal Cumin shahi jeera thin black seed
Black Salt kala namak reddish grey salt
Cardamom elaichi green or white
Carom ajwain piquant-flavored seeds; look like celery seeds
Cayenne red pepper powder
Charoli Seed chironji small, round nut-like seed
Chat Masala Sandy colored powder containing many ingredients
Chenna cheese unripened fresh cheese, which is easy to make
Chickpea flour besan finely ground; made from roasted Chana Dal
Green Chilies hari mirch
Dried Red Chilies lal mirch sun-dried pods of the capsicum plant
Fresh Coriander Leaves hari dhania Cilantro or Chinese Parsley
Corander Seed dhania
Fresh Curry Leaves meetha neem [Will last only for 2 weeks]; do not buy dried
Curry Powder masala Madras Indian Curry Powder NOT American!
Fenugreek Laef methi sold in summer at Indian stores
Fenugreek Seed methi rusty brown rectangular seed
Garam Masala make it; do NOT buy it—it will be stale
Fresh Ginger adrak
Kalongi nigell a round black seed with peppery taste
Kewra Essence ruh kewra perfumed essence from the screwpine plant
Green Mango aam used to prepare chutneys and desserts
Mango aam in season
Mango Powder aamchoor
Masala contains from 2 to 35 ingredients
Mustard Oil sarson ka tel only pure in Indian store
Black Mustard Seeds rai tiny, brown black seeds
Paneer Cheese paneer must be made at home
White Poppy Seeds khus khus
Red Pepper Powder puissi lal mirch must buy from Indian store
Rose Essence ruh gulab prepared from rose petalsSaffron Threads kesar threadlike strands; expensive
Sambar Masala many ingredients; may be purchased in store
Sevian or Seviya very thin threadlike vermicelli; check recipe before buying
Silver Leaf vark used to embellish desserts; not needed
Tamarind imli bean like fruit of tamarind tree; sold in packages
Chana Dal pale buff to bright yellow, sold split without skin
Kabuli Dal (chickpea) pale to light brown, sold split without skin
Kala Chana smaller and darker brown than chickpea
Massor Dal salmon colored; buy the skinned variety
Mung Dal (green gram); buy without skins
Toor Dal pale yellow to gold; split without the skins; not oiled
Urad Dal (black gram) split without skins
OTHER SPICES AND INGREDIENTS
Asafetida hing sold as a yellow powder
Black Cumin Seed or Royal Cumin shahi jeera thin black seed
Black Salt kala namak reddish grey salt
Cardamom elaichi green or white
Carom ajwain piquant-flavored seeds; look like celery seeds
Cayenne red pepper powder
Charoli Seed chironji small, round nut-like seed
Chat Masala Sandy colored powder containing many ingredients
Chenna cheese unripened fresh cheese, which is easy to make
Chickpea flour besan finely ground; made from roasted Chana Dal
Green Chilies hari mirch
Dried Red Chilies lal mirch sun-dried pods of the capsicum plant
Fresh Coriander Leaves hari dhania Cilantro or Chinese Parsley
Corander Seed dhania
Fresh Curry Leaves meetha neem [Will last only for 2 weeks]; do not buy dried
Curry Powder masala Madras Indian Curry Powder NOT American!
Fenugreek Laef methi sold in summer at Indian stores
Fenugreek Seed methi rusty brown rectangular seed
Garam Masala make it; do NOT buy it—it will be stale
Fresh Ginger adrak
Kalongi nigell a round black seed with peppery taste
Kewra Essence ruh kewra perfumed essence from the screwpine plant
Green Mango aam used to prepare chutneys and desserts
Mango aam in season
Mango Powder aamchoor
Masala contains from 2 to 35 ingredients
Mustard Oil sarson ka tel only pure in Indian store
Black Mustard Seeds rai tiny, brown black seeds
Paneer Cheese paneer must be made at home
White Poppy Seeds khus khus
Red Pepper Powder puissi lal mirch must buy from Indian store
Rose Essence ruh gulab prepared from rose petalsSaffron Threads kesar threadlike strands; expensive
Sambar Masala many ingredients; may be purchased in store
Sevian or Seviya very thin threadlike vermicelli; check recipe before buying
Silver Leaf vark used to embellish desserts; not needed
Tamarind imli bean like fruit of tamarind tree; sold in packages