For those of us who are fortunate enough to reside in an area that has an ethnic-themed strip mall, we can do most of our shopping there. If you can’t locate a particular item at your local supermarket, or it’s too pricey, there are several businesses you can visit regularly.
- Kewra, Orange Flower Water, and Rosewater (Screw Pine Flower Water)
Your pantry should be stocked with these three essential oils, but they’re not always easy to come by. It is a common ingredient in Indian cuisine, particularly in desserts, due to the distilled essence of the rose petals. In addition to being a natural skin toner, you’ll enjoy the fragrant flower aroma in your lassis.
In European, Middle Eastern, and North African cuisines, orange flower water is essential and a pantry staple. A result of distilling bitter orange blossoms for their essential oils is also known as orange blossom water. Lemon verbena and orange blossom fizz is a refreshing summer cocktail created with lemon verbena and orange blossoms.
- Dried beans and legumes.
There will be an International Year of Pulse’s celebration in 2016. However, in Indian cuisine, dried pulses, including chickpeas, beans, lentils, and split peas, are a pantry staple because they are a vital ingredient in dal-roti. These pulses may be found in most supermarkets, but they can also be purchased at a lower price online. You can also get theme in Indian Grocery Online.
Your pantry should be kept cool and dark so that you can easily access your bags of chickpeas, lentils, or pulses.
- Snacks from India are the third item on our list.
Snacks and desserts from Indian Grocery Online should be enjoyed in moderation. Almost every Indian grocery store has an aisle devoted to Indian snacks, and you’ll be able to get just about anything you’d like. In coastal India, you’ll find masala peanuts, a spicy battered and deep-fried peanut snack only available in that area.
- Paneer and Ghee, Indian Dairy Products:
Having paneer, or Indian-style pressed cottage cheese, in your fridge is a need. A block of paneer makes dinnertime a cinch, even though it is possible to prepare your paneer (see out The Kitchn’s tutorial here). For example, you might make a restaurant-quality paneer Mughlai curry in about 30 minutes. Indian Grocery Online get their paneer blocks from a local dairy, but you should be able to get something similar in your supermarkets as well. Frozen or refrigerated, you’ll find paneer in Indian Grocery Online.
