5 incredible uses of Indian herbs and spices that you won’t believe!

You probably keep your Indian herbs and spices in the kitchen, as this is the place you’re most likely to use them, but these incredibly versatile ingredients can be used in lots of other ways than simply to make your food taste delicious. Read on for some surprising ways to make use of their magical properties.

Turmeric

Turmeric is widely used in Indian cooking to add colour and taste, but it also has some amazing medicinal uses, and has been found to fight heartburn, digestive issues and inflammation. It’s basically a superfood and has inspired the craze of the turmeric latte, which the health conscious crowd are drinking like it’s going out of fashion. Intrigued? Check out the recipe and try it now!

Ginger

Ginger adds a warming, earthy flavour to your cooking and is well known for settling unhappy stomachs, but what is less widely known is that it’s great for your skin, thanks to the abundance of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties it has. Ginger makes a wonderful face scrub that can help to remove spots: simply combine 2tbsp of olive oil, 1tbsp of ground ginger and 4tbsp of brown sugar and enjoy clear, glowing skin!

Kashmiri chilli powder

Aside from adding a wonderful, subtle heat to food, and being great for your health, Kashmiri chilli powder is one of the Indian herbs and spices that can benefit your body on the outside as well as the inside! Chilli powder can be used to make an incredible lip plumper, which gives you beautiful, full lips without resulting to Botox. Learn how to make your own here.

Coarse black pepper

Black pepper is usually used as a final touch of seasoning, or perhaps to make a tasty sauce for a steak, but what not many people know is that it is incredibly good for giving you shining and dandruff-free hair. To remove excess dry skin from your scalp, add a teaspoon of crushed black pepper to a bowl of curd, apply it to your hair, and leave for 30 minutes. Just remember to wash it off, or you could end up with a burning head. Ouch!

Dried mint

Mint is amazing and is used in so many delicious treats, from chocolate to tea to mojitos, but there’s more to it than just making things taste awesome. Next time you have a bath, try adding some mint to take your relaxation to the next level. Not only does it smell incredible but it has loads of benefits for your skin, including fighting acne, unclogging pores and loosening dead skin cells. Forget candles and rose petals: all you need is mint.

If you’re not feeling brave enough to use these Indian herbs and spices in these ways, why not cook up a storm? Check out our avocado and coconut curry - it's a real crowd pleaser!

Avocado Coconut Curry

An easy to make coconut curry with the added goodness of avocado and a burst of flavours.

Recipe servings – 5

Cooking time – 25 mins

Ingredients - click the ingredient to find it in our shop

2 tbs coconut oil

2 dried red chillies (Kashmiri Chillies)

1 tbs Fenugreek Seeds

1tbs Mustard seeds

1 onion

4-5 garlic cloves

1 piece of ginger

1 green chilli

2 stem curry leaves

1 tbs turmeric powder

1 tbs red chilli powder

1 tbs Coriander powder

1 tomato

1 cup coconut milk

1 tbs rice flour

1 avocado

1 tbs tamarind paste

Method

1) Heat oil in a pan

2) Add dry red chillies, fenugreek seeds & mustard seeds

3) Sauté onion, garlic cloves, ginger, green chilli & curry leaves, for 1-2 minutes

4) Add turmeric, red chilli, corianderpowder, tomato & coconut milk

5) Add some water to avoid burning the spices

6) Take rice flour in a bowl, mix with water and add to the curry (Mix with enough water to make it thick but not too runny)

7) Now add tamarind paste in to pan. Cover with lid and cook for 4-5 mins

8) Place chopped avocado in a plate and pour the curry over it

9) Serve hot