6 different types of Indian spice seeds • Spices are the essence of Indian cuisine. • Every Indian dish remains incomplete without the addition of necessary spices. • A wide array of spices are used in Indian cooking, and there are a lot of varieties of spices available in the market - seed spices, ground spices, specialty spices are some of them. • Every spice possesses a unique taste and aroma which enhances the taste of the dish.
• Every spice is used for a different purpose. To instill a strong fragrance to your food dish, seed spices are good to go with.
• Let us go through some of the popular Indian seed spices, their usage and their benefits. • Cumin Seeds Mustard Seeds Fenugreek Seeds Sesame Seeds Thymol Seeds Fennel Seeds
Cumin Seeds (Jeera) • Cumin seeds are easy to pick out when used in dishes. They possess a distinct taste, intense aroma and a dark brown colour. • Cumin seeds are one of the most commonly used Indian seed spices as a base ingredient for tadka (tempering) in Indian cuisine. • Cumin seeds have antioxidant properties, and they help treat diarrhea, control sugar, balance cholesterol and prevent cancer. •
Mustard Seeds (Rai) • Mustard seeds are an integral part of Indian food and have a black, yellow or brown colour. • The flavor of mustard seeds is released the most when crushed and cooked in oil. •
Mustard seeds have health benefits like lowering
cholesterol,
inflammation,
improving digestion and prevention of cancer. • But along with nutritional part, it adds flavors to your food, be it dal, sabji or salad.
Fenugreek Seeds (Kasturi Methi) • Fenugreek seeds, commonly known as Kasturi methi, must be used with care; they possess a bitter flavor and a strong fragrance. • Fenugreek seeds are helpful for cholesterol, regulating blood sugar, heart problems, weight loss etc. • Whole fenugreek seeds can also be lightly crushed and used to make herbal tea which possesses health benefits.
Sesame Seeds (Til) • Sesame seeds are a widely used ingredient used in Indian cooking. • They add nutty and crunchy flavor to the food and are best for consumption during winters. Sesame seeds can be consumed raw or in roasted form. They are also used, for tempering (Tadka) sabji, seasoning of Indian dishes/salads and to make traditional sweets such as sesame (til) ladoos. • Sesame seeds are a good source of fibres. • They have been proved beneficial to lower cholesterol, blood pressure, keep bones healthy and aid blood cell formation.
Thymol Seeds (Ajwain) • Ajwain is an herb used in Indian household at most. • Ajwain tadka in dal and sabji is a must for a delicious flavor. • Ajwain possesses bitter and tangy flavor, and a strong aroma so can be used in for seasoning in dal and achar. • Ajwain is known to have antibacterial and antifungal properties, treat indigestion, prevent coughing, lowers cholesterol and pressure. • Ajwain is one of those Indian spice seeds, which solves the twin purpose of adding flavor to the dish and providing good health benefits.
Fennel Seeds (Saunf) • Not known to all fennel seeds is a Mediterranean spice, a flavored herb as well as a medicinal plant. • Also known as saunf, fennel seeds are the only Indian seed spices used as mouth fresheners. They have a crunchy composition while are sweeter and refreshing in taste. • They are rich in Vitamin K, E, and C. Fennel seeds have a lot of health benefits, they help regulate blood pressure, prevent cancer, improve indigestion and lose weight.
You can find all these spices in nearby grocery stores or buy them from online masala store of Vasant masala. Vasant Masala is the top manufacturers of seed spices in India. Spices of Vasant masala are hand-picked and blended using fully automated machinery, thus ensuring quality and richness.