We have been receiving many questions about spices lately, perhaps due to the re-emergence of our inner chefs during the pandemic. We consider ourselves to be experts on spices; not only because our name has the word ‘spice’ in it, but because our origins are steeped in spices, and because we still source only the highest quality seasonings for our meals.
A little history: our founder Sushil Malhotra supplied South Asian spices and chutneys to New York’s curry houses in the 1990’s. He then went on to run a fine Indian restaurant—one that spent fifteen years as the #1 rated Indian restaurant on Zagat. Today, our Culinary Director, Hari Nayak, one of the most sought after chefs in North America, continues the tradition of using freshly ground spices, while tying in a modern twist to our global cuisines.
At Cafe Spice, we believe that adding spices to food can make a huge difference to our overall eating experiences. Below are a few of the spices we use, plus additional spices that are commonly used in cuisines all around Asia and beyond. We also included each spice's enticing characteristics—all of which we hope convinces you to add them to your cooking repertoire!
Red Chili Powder
Chili powder is one of Chef Hari’s three favorite spices. It adds a warm heat to any dish, and also lends its vibrant red color to make food look that more appetizing. You might expect to find red chili powder in our Cafe Spice Chicken Vindaloo, but did you know that it also flavors our Saag Paneer? That’s versatility!
(Use it in chili, beans, casseroles, and meat recipes)
Cardamom
Chef Hari Nayak counts cardamom as another one of his three favorite spices. He says in his cookbook, My Indian Kitchen: “This versatile spice is used in a wide range of dishes from Indian curries to desserts and teas.” Cardamom is widely used in Indian food. Cardamom accents the sauces of our Vegetable Korma and Chicken Vindaloo dishes. If you haven’t tried our Saffron Rice, the accompaniment in many Cafe Spice dishes, you’re in for a treat—whole cardamom pods!
(Use it in French toast, pancakes, cookies, alcohol infusions, chai tea, and meat rubs)
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is the dried inner bark of the laurel tree. A major ingredient in Indian food, it is used to flavor and add fragrance to curries, rice, and teas. Cinnamon can be found in many Cafe Spice items, such as our Chicken Vindaloo, Chicken Curry, Channa Masala, Vegetable Korma, and Saag Paneer.
(Use it in DIY pumpkin pie mixes, coffee, roasted root vegetables, and pastry glazes)
Turmeric
We use turmeric in Cafe Spice’s recipes to give our food a warm aroma and a bright color. What would our award winning, Chicken Tikka Masala, and several other signature dishes be without it?
(Use it in tea, soups, salad dressings, coleslaw, dips, fish, chicken, and cauliflower rice)
Cloves
Cloves are the unopened, dried buds of the evergreen clove tree. Chef Hari Nayak uses this spice to add fragrance to Cafe Spice rice and grain recipes, as well as an ingredient in garam masala, a spice blend frequently used in Indian food. In addition, cloves appear in the sauces of our signature dishes, including Saag Paneer and Vegetable Korma.
(Use it in poached pears, punch, apple butter, holiday simple syrups, and chorizo tacos)
Fennel
A member of the parsley family, fennel is used in both savory and sweet dishes. The seeds are often sugar coated and eaten as a snack. Fennel plants can be seen growing on roadsides in many parts of the world and are nibbled by travelers as a snack. Chef Hari loves fennel and counts it as the final one of his three favorite spices.
(Use it in roasted vegetables, pork, chicken, soups, pot pies, dressings, and salads)
Star Anise
Chef Hari Nayak uses the licorice-flavored seeds found in the star-shaped pods of star anise to add flavor and aroma to savory or sweet dishes. It definitely gives them a shot of star power!
(Use it in mulled wines, cookies, punches, sorbets, spiced chai tea, and granitas)
Cumin
Cumin “grounds” dishes with a slightly smoky, earthy flavor. Many of Cafe Spice’s meals contain this special ingredient that subtly adds character by lending a deeply satisfying flavor note.
(Use it in dips, chili, stews, meats, vinaigrettes, roasted vegetables, and glazes)
Coriander/Cilantro
This has been called the world’s most popular spice, used in cuisines throughout the Western and Eastern hemispheres. Cilantro, the green leaves of the plant, is often used as a way to balance hotter flavors. The seeds of the plant are called coriander and are small, round, and peppery.
(Use it in pico de gallo, dips, pesto, tacos, shrimp, lamb, chicken, and flavored mayo recipes)
Mustard Seed
Mustard seed is a spice that evokes the beauty of a waving field of mustard flowers on a midsummer’s day. Chef Hari uses black mustard powder in curries and pickles, while he uses whole toasted black mustard seeds in many other dishes.
(Use it in mac and cheese, baked beans, deviled eggs, dips, ribs, meatballs, and pork recipes)
Fenugreek
Fenugreek is an ingredient in both Cafe Spice’s Saag Paneer and Vegetable Korma. With its slightly bitter taste and distinctive scent, Chef Hari uses fenugreek to round out and balance the sweet and savory notes in an Indian dish. For those who have not tried fenugreek, its seeds smell and taste similar to maple syrup. Fenugreek leaves are often eaten in India as a vegetable.
(Use it in okra, curry, falafel, sausage patties, enchiladas, nachos, and burgers)
We hope this article helps give you some more knowledge about the world of spices! At minimum, we hope it inspires you to add a few new spices to your cabinet, which of course will then lead to trying new recipes, and soon your inner chef will be here to stay!
Happy eating!