Spices you must include in your Masala Dabba.

Indians cannot imagine their kitchen without a Masala Dabba. It is not just about an essential need in the kitchen, but it makes everything convenient in the kitchen. In fact, for some, it has developed into a hobby, making a different version of their own. Indian Masala Dabba might have five common spices, but with a hint of imagination, it can be made into different versions that cover other cuisines.

Indian cuisine, unlike the rest, isn’t based on stocks or sauces, but a blend of spices that create flavoursome, delicious and rich food. The preparation itself is elaborate. Some spices are grounded, some used in a combination to create a unique taste. The addition or removal of a spice changes its taste and the flavour of a dish.

Masala dabbas can be traced back to our great grandparents period, when they were built from wood, passed down through generations and had small compartments carved into them. It is evident that Indians do love their spices and a spice box comes in handy whether you want to make something simple as Jeera Rice, a complex Prawn Biryani, or a simple gravy. 

Earlier they were made from wood, as the kitchen dynamics changed so did the seasoning ways, from wood to brass and now to Stainless Steel Spice Box. Storing them in a box keeps the flavour and texture of the spices intact. Makes them convenient to store in small quantities and doled out with spoons when needed.

There are several spices used in Indian cuisine, but we have narrowed the main ones that an Indian kitchen can’t do without.

1.  Red Chilli – Made by grinding dry chillies into flakes and powder red chilli is used in almost 70% of Indian savoury dishes. It is used in breakfast, lunch and dinner and sometimes even used raw.

2. Black Mustard Seeds – Used primarily in tadka, mustard seeds are added in different cuisine like coconut rice, curd rice, sambhar, dhokla, etc. They are great for your health, and their small size ensures they are added into any food and are noticed much. 

3. Jeera or Cumin Seeds – Loved for its rich aroma, cumin is an easy to identify spice in dishes. Great for your health and recipes, jeera is a must-have in your spice box. Most dishes like jeera rice, dal fry and buttermilk include jeera either in seed form or powdered form.

4. Turmeric powder – The vibrant and vivid hue of Haldi is the mainstay of Indian cuisine. Haldi gives the beautiful bright colour and adds depth and richness to gravy dishes.

5. Coriander powder – A key ingredient to make dry sabzis, coriander powder, is an ingredient in any masala Dabba you should have. It adds aroma and an added taste to your recipes.

Why use a masala Dabba and how to choose one?

If you are cooking food daily, you must be using some of the common spices, or even more. A masala dabba makes life so much easier. Keeping a traditional Indian spice box makes everything more productive in the kitchen. It is so beneficial rather than opening every container for every spice. Though, cute looking small spice containers are trendy and visually appealing but not functional at all. So to make things easier finding everything in the same box makes it more accessible.  

A plastic container might come in variation, but we wouldn’t recommend it due to harmful toxins it might contain. Another option is wood, and they even look authentic and beautiful with spices stored in them, but wood is a porous material that can absorb smells and oils of the spices. Stainless Steel Spice Box is best for both storing and cleaning without affecting the aroma and oils of spices. 

If you are looking to buy Stainless Steel Spice Box / Manufacturers, then Rajat Appliance has a variety of masala dabbas, lunch boxes and tiffins. Feel free to share with us what spices you store in your masala Dabba.