Spice It Up, Indian Style! | OpenRice Singapore

Most of us appreciate that bowl of viciously spicy Chicken Curry once in a while. But while reaching desperately for that glass of water (food note: milk is way more effective) to put out the fire in your mouth, have you ever wondered what exactly makes Indian food so darn spicy? Good guess if you said “Indian spices”, but not all spices are hot in nature. Here are some of the main culprits responsible for creating the heat. Culprit #1 Curry Powder

Photo courtesy of dan

Curry powder is a piquant mixture of roughly 20 different basic herbs and spices, collectively known as ‘garam masala’. One huge misconception about curry powder is that it’s present in all types of Indian dishes, thanks to its name. Some people prefer to make their own garam masala as they can add, tweak, and modify the dosage of secondary spices to make their version of curry powder unique. Culprit #2 Paprika

A bright red powder made from ground peppers – either bell peppers or chilli peppers, or even a mix. Paprika is generally considered to be milder than most hot spices and is usually used to enhance flavours and colours of food rather than the spice level. Culprit #3 Red Chilli Powder

Photo courtesy of Paul

Many Indian dishes rely on this spice to heat things up. Made from the dried ground seeds of chilli (the element which makes chilli hot in the first place), red chilli powder goes by many names and can come in many different variations. Culprit #4 Peppercorn

Used to flavour food before, during and after preparation, peppercorn is the fruit of black pepper and is known for its aroma and pungency. It is said that peppercorn helps relieve stomach upsets and is used to treat fevers and chills. Culprit #5 Cayenne Pepper

Photo courtesy of Paul

The high level of capsaicin in cayenne pepper ranks this spice pretty high up there on the Scoville scale. It’s used to intensify the spiciness of a dish, rather than flavour. Cayenne pepper is also recognised as a sort of ‘health food’, as it boasts various health benefits, such as immunity-boosting properties and even aids in weight loss. So, whether you love or hate these culprits, you have to admit – without these spices, Indian food wouldn’t be what it is today! See also: More Indian food options for you Satisfy that Roti Prata craving