Hello everyone, I am Sumaira. When I share a recipe, I know some ingredients are new if you did not grow up with this food — things like black cardamom, kasuri methi or mango powder. Please do not let that stop you. Almost everything I use is easy to find once you know where to look, and in every recipe I also tell you what you can use instead. This page is my guide to shopping for desi ingredients, wherever you live.
Start with one good shop
You do not need twenty special ingredients. One visit to a desi or Asian grocery store can set up your kitchen for most of my recipes. If you are starting, these are the ones I reach for again and again:
- Whole spices: cumin seeds, coriander seeds, black cardamom, green cardamom, cinnamon sticks, cloves, black peppercorns, dried red chillies, bay leaves
- Ground spices: turmeric, red chilli powder, Kashmiri chilli powder if you find it, coriander powder, cumin powder, garam masala, chaat masala
- The special ones: kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves), amchur (mango powder), ajwain (carom seeds), kalonji (nigella seeds), mustard seeds
- Store cupboard: dried chickpeas, red lentils, basmati rice, ghee or a neutral oil, tamarind if you like sour flavours
- Fresh, from almost any supermarket: ginger, garlic, green chillies, fresh coriander, lemons, onions, tomatoes, plain yogurt
Buy small bags the first time. Spices stay fresh about six months in a closed jar away from heat, so little and often is better than one big bag.
USA
Look for an Indian or Pakistani grocery store in your city — chains like Patel Brothers are in many states, and most cities have independent desi stores. They carry every spice on my list, usually at better prices than anywhere else. Big supermarkets keep the common ones — ginger, green chillies, coriander, turmeric, garam masala — in the international or spice aisle. Online, Amazon and Walmart carry the full range if there is no desi store near you.
Canada
Every bigger city has desi grocery stores, and the national chains carry more than people expect: the international aisle at Real Canadian Superstore, Walmart and FreshCo usually has the ground spices, chickpeas, lentils and basmati rice. For the special ones — black cardamom, kasuri methi, amchur — go to a desi store or order from Amazon.ca. In winter, frozen green chillies and frozen coriander from the desi store are a good backup.
UK and England
You are lucky — desi food is part of everyday shopping here. Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons all have a world foods section with the main spices, chickpeas, lentils and rice. For the full range, visit the desi shops in places like Southall, Tooting, Birmingham, Manchester and Leicester, or order online from Amazon UK or a specialist spice shop.
Europe
Most cities have Asian supermarkets — Indian, Pakistani or general Asian stores — and they carry nearly everything on my list, including the special spices. Turkish and Middle Eastern shops are also very good for chickpeas, lentils, yogurt, fresh coriander and green chillies. Online, Amazon for your country and specialist Asian food webshops deliver the rest.
Australia
Woolworths and Coles both have an international section with the main spices, basmati rice, chickpeas and lentils. For the full range, Indian and Pakistani grocery stores in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide carry everything, and Amazon Australia and online spice shops fill any gap.
If you cannot find something
Do not skip the recipe. In each of my recipes I write what you can use instead — a stock cube for chicken powder, lemon juice when you have no mango powder, and so on. And if you are ever stuck, ask me in the comments under the recipe. I will help you find a way.
Remember me in your prayers.