Sumptuously Simple Recipes gathered from friends, family, chefs and street peddlers we've met in our travels. Please scroll to the bottom of this page to watch our video. We would love to hear your ideas for classes- if you have some recipe suggestions or feedback, please send it our way to info@spicegenie.com!
Incredible India- The Land of Spice, Our Trip to India
About Spices in India
One could not imagine Indian cuisine without its distinct, flavorful spices. The story of spices date back 7,000 years with India at the forefront of the spice trade. Long ago spices were a luxury for the very rich. Did you know that a handful of cardamom was worth as much as a poor man's yearly wages at one time? Today, India remains the spice purveyor as it is the world's largest supplier of spices- cumin, red chilis, fenugreek, cardamom and black pepper, to name a few. India's tropical climate is perfect for producing a robust spice crop- year around sun, heat and an abundant water supply make for its fertile soil. Did you know that 176 million pounds of cumin grow in India each year- with only 10% exported? This number may initially sound high but its not-considering that India is the home to over a billion people and cumin is one of the most popular spices found in Indian masalas. India is blessed with colorful festivals throughout the year and the food plays a big part in these celebrations.
Our Visit to an Indian Spice Market
We arrived in the midst of the Indian Spring season with people celebrating the Baisakhi Festival (the North Indian grand harvest festival) and Holi (one of the most popular and colorful holidays of the year). During our stay in 2 of the largest cities in the country, Bombay and Delhi, we visited spice shops, spice wholesale markets and some small spice farms. With help from our friends at the Indian Spice Board, we journeyed to one of the largest and oldest spice markets in Old Delhi named, Kadhai Babhli. Spice traders from all over North India come to this eventful market to sell their spices everyday except Sunday. Kadhai Babhli is a feast for the senses- bold, pungent spices of every kind piled sky-high, side-by-side for buyers to carefully inspect the quality.
Spices- in the Food and Much More!
Simply irresistible, spices flatter the senses- our sight with the vibrant colors, our smell with the enticing fragrances and our taste with the distinct flavors. Indian cuisine is purely delightful- cooking is an art that's passed down from one generation to the next in Indian families- often by word-of-mouth. Every family in India has its own distinct spice blend- also known as the masala with some masalas containing up to 25 different spices!
Like many cultures throughout the world, Indians rely on spices for other uses, in addition to cooking. In India, Ayurvedic medicine calls for spices to maintain good health. Many people today continue using spices to create physical and emotional well-being. Fennel, for example is often used as a digestive and breath freshener- that's why a small bowl of fennel often sits close to the exit of Indian restaurants. While visiting an Ayurvedic spa in Bombay, we enjoyed face scrubs made from fenugreek.
Learn How to Cook Like a Local!
Please click on our video to learn our sumptuously simple recipe, Spicy Potatoes & Peas- a simplified version of my mother-in-law's Aloo Mutter dish.
Click the icons below to view the online video in your preferred format.
One could not imagine Indian cuisine without its distinct, flavorful spices. The story of spices date back 7,000 years with India at the forefront of the spice trade. Long ago spices were a luxury for the very rich. Did you know that a handful of cardamom was worth as much as a poor man's yearly wages at one time? Today, India remains the spice purveyor as it is the world's largest supplier of spices- cumin, red chilis, fenugreek, cardamom and black pepper, to name a few. India's tropical climate is perfect for producing a robust spice crop- year around sun, heat and an abundant water supply make for its fertile soil. Did you know that 176 million pounds of cumin grow in India each year- with only 10% exported? This number may initially sound high but its not-considering that India is the home to over a billion people and cumin is one of the most popular spices found in Indian masalas. India is blessed with colorful festivals throughout the year and the food plays a big part in these celebrations.
We arrived in the midst of the Indian Spring season with people celebrating the Baisakhi Festival (the North Indian grand harvest festival) and Holi (one of the most popular and colorful holidays of the year). During our stay in 2 of the largest cities in the country, Bombay and Delhi, we visited spice shops, spice wholesale markets and some small spice farms. With help from our friends at the Indian Spice Board, we journeyed to one of the largest and oldest spice markets in Old Delhi named, Kadhai Babhli. Spice traders from all over North India come to this eventful market to sell their spices everyday except Sunday. Kadhai Babhli is a feast for the senses- bold, pungent spices of every kind piled sky-high, side-by-side for buyers to carefully inspect the quality. 
Simply irresistible, spices flatter the senses- our sight with the vibrant colors, our smell with the enticing fragrances and our taste with the distinct flavors. Indian cuisine is purely delightful- cooking is an art that's passed down from one generation to the next in Indian families- often by word-of-mouth. Every family in India has its own distinct spice blend- also known as the masala with some masalas containing up to 25 different spices!
Like many cultures throughout the world, Indians rely on spices for other uses, in addition to cooking. In India, Ayurvedic medicine calls for spices to maintain good health. Many people today continue using spices to create physical and emotional well-being. Fennel, for example is often used as a digestive and breath freshener- that's why a small bowl of fennel often sits close to the exit of Indian restaurants. While visiting an Ayurvedic spa in Bombay, we enjoyed face scrubs made from fenugreek.
