For Nepali and Indian families living in the UK, food is often more than just a meal. The right combination of spices can bring back the taste of home, whether you are cooking a traditional Nepali dal bhat, Indian curry, momo achar, biryani, or a simple weekday meal.
With so many spices available in UK supermarkets and South Asian grocery stores, knowing which ones to keep in your kitchen can make cooking easier and more enjoyable. Here are some essential Nepali and Indian spices that every South Asian household in the UK should consider having.
1. Turmeric Powder
Turmeric, or haldi, is one of the most widely used spices in Indian and Nepali cooking. It gives dishes a beautiful golden colour and is commonly used in dals, curries, vegetables and meat dishes.
A small amount of turmeric can add both colour and depth to everyday cooking, making it an essential kitchen cupboard staple.
2. Cumin Seeds
Cumin seeds (jeera) are an important ingredient in both Nepali and Indian cuisine. They can be fried in hot oil or ghee at the beginning of cooking to release their aroma.
Cumin is commonly used in dal, curries, rice dishes, tarkari and many traditional spice blends.
3. Coriander Powder
Coriander powder provides a warm, earthy flavour and is frequently used alongside cumin and turmeric. It works particularly well in vegetable curries, chicken dishes, lamb recipes and lentils.
For busy families in the UK, keeping coriander powder at home means you can quickly add authentic flavour to everyday meals.
4. Cumin and Coriander Powder
A combination of cumin and coriander is another useful staple for South Asian cooking. It brings together the earthy flavour of cumin with the freshness of coriander and can be added to many curry recipes.
This combination is especially useful when preparing quick homemade meals after work or university.
5. Garam Masala
Garam masala is a classic Indian spice blend made from a combination of aromatic spices. Depending on the brand and recipe, the blend may include ingredients such as cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, cumin and black pepper.
It is commonly added towards the end of cooking to give curries, meat dishes and rice recipes a rich aroma.
6. Red Chilli Powder
For families who enjoy spicy food, red chilli powder is an essential ingredient. It can be used to adjust the heat level of curries, achar, chilli dishes and marinades.
Nepali and Indian households may prefer different levels of heat, so choosing the right chilli powder can help you prepare food exactly to your taste.
7. Timur and Nepali Spice Blends
For authentic Nepali cooking, ingredients such as Timur (Sichuan pepper) are particularly popular. Timur has a distinctive citrusy and slightly numbing flavour and is often associated with Nepali achar and traditional recipes.
Nepali spice blends can also make it easier to recreate familiar flavours when living away from Nepal.
Why Buy South Asian Spices in the UK?
Buying from a specialist Nepali and Indian grocery store in the UK can make it easier to find authentic brands, traditional ingredients and different pack sizes in one place. Whether you live in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow or elsewhere in the UK, having a well-stocked South Asian kitchen means you can prepare your favourite dishes whenever you want.
At MasalaMart, we aim to make shopping for Nepali, Indian and wider Asian grocery product