| Vasco de Gama sailed eastward from Portugal in | | | | some of the spices mentioned above. |
| 1497. Christopher Columbus sailed westward from | | | | India is a diverse nation with many cultures and food |
| Spain in 1492. Both expeditions had the same goal - | | | | styles. The staple food can be rice, wheat, or a |
| India, the land of spices. Vasco de Gama did reach the | | | | combination of rice or wheat. People could be |
| port of Calicut, India in 1498. Portuguese were followed | | | | vegetarian or Nonvegetarian. People in coastal states |
| by French and British voyages. Eventually, British | | | | eat more fish than other meat. On the economic scale, |
| prevailed and transitioned from spice and other trades | | | | people range from the poorest in the world to the |
| to rule of the land and occupied India for more than | | | | richest in the world. You have fast-food joints, small |
| 300 years, changing the destiny of India. | | | | restaurants and fancy upscale places. No matter |
| On the other hand, Columbus landed on the | | | | where you are, if it is Indian food, there is bound to be |
| unchartered territory of North America, believed he | | | | the aroma of spices and mouth-watering dishes. Every |
| had landed in India and thus gave the term American | | | | style of cooking will have their favorite spices. For |
| Indians. As the word of this newfound land of vast | | | | example, south Indian cooking uses coconut, tamarind, |
| landscape, natural beauty and resources spread to | | | | curry-leaves, red chilies and mustard seeds. People in |
| Europe, many more groups sailed to US and settled in | | | | north do not use coconut that often. |
| USA, the land of immigrants. America eventually got its | | | | The most common method of cooking curries or lentils |
| freedom from British Empire and became the most | | | | is to heat a tablespoon of oil in a pan, add mustard, |
| advanced and prosperous country in the world. | | | | cumin, fenugreek seeds, dry red chilies; wait till the |
| Indian spices were the driving force behind the rise of | | | | mustard is done popping and splattering, then add curry |
| British Empire and discovery of America. Indian spices | | | | leaves and green chilies, add onion, garlic, ginger (either |
| are as diverse and colorful as the people of India. If | | | | chopped or pureed) and then add salt, turmeric |
| you enter an Indian kitchen, the aroma of the spices will | | | | powder, chili powder, coriander-cumin powder. Saute |
| make you crave for the delicious food. In addition to | | | | the mix till it is well-cooked, oil starts to separate from |
| the color and flavor, each Indian spice has a unique | | | | the mix and the flavor has filled the kitchen. Then, add |
| value and health benefits. Some of the popular spices | | | | your lentils or vegetables and let it simmer and cook. |
| are cumin seeds, mustard seeds, bay leaves, chilies, | | | | The proportion of the ingredients varies as per your |
| turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander-cumin | | | | taste and you can experiment with it as you go. |
| powder, cloves, black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, | | | | Cooking is more of an art than science. You can add |
| fenugreek seeds, asafoetida, carom seeds, fennel | | | | the delicious lentil or vegetable with chapattis (Indian |
| seeds, tamarind, jaggery, saffron. Most of these are | | | | bread) or with rice. |
| dry spices in whole or powdered form. There are also | | | | In the 15th and 16th centuries, explorers from the world |
| fresh ingredients which add spice and essence to | | | | were travelling to India for its spices. Now, Indians and |
| Indian cooking - garlic, onion, ginger, green chilies, cilantro, | | | | their spices have travelled and settled all over the |
| curry leaves, coconut, mint, etc. Nuts like cashews, | | | | world. No matter where you are, you can get the |
| almonds, raisins, peanuts, pistachios are used more | | | | ingredients and create your delicious meal to add a little |
| often to make sweets and desserts, but also in curries | | | | spice to your life. If you don't cook at home, then |
| to add richness. Curry powder and garam masala are | | | | remember these spices when you are savoring an |
| the most popular terms for Indian spices for people not | | | | Indian dish at a party or restaurant. |
| familiar with Indian cooking. Both of these are mixes of | | | | |