Indian Food for Dummies


Ok, if you want to make awesome Indian food while looking awesome, there are going to be some things you'll need.

The Essentials- These are the things you will need to be a successful Indian cook.
-a deep, sturdy pan (I use a Dutch oven)
-Spices: Invest in a few high quality spices, as you will only use a few tablespoons at a time
          -Garam Masala spice-Penzey's spices, in Menlo Park, CA, offers several types of Masala spice via Mail Order
          -a good quality basic Curry powder (or buy a curry plant and dry the leaves)
          -Cardamom pods (Here in the US, I buy them in bulk at an Indian grocery)
          -a medium or large empty jar (Mason or peanut butter, for your Ghee)

-gear: Every good cook needs a cute lil' apron, pot holders, and timer
-Knives: Unlike the rest of Asia, Indian cooks do not do a lot of heavy chopping, so a precision knife is generally not needed. However, any kitchen should have a large butcher's knife (your call on European or Asian), a paring knife, and a utility knife (again, your call on size).

So now that you have all the stuff, let's start cooking!