# Indian Spice Pantry Guide Spice tiers for building an Indian cooking pantry, organised by accessibility in Milan. ## Core Spices (Supermarket) Available at any Italian supermarket (Esselunga, Carrefour, Lidl): - **Cumin** (seeds and/or ground) - **Garam masala** - **Turmeric** - **Chilli powder** - **Coriander** (ground) These five spices cover most basic Indian recipes and are reliably stocked. ## Advanced Spices (Asian Grocery) Require a trip to an Asian grocery (e.g., near [[Porta Venezia]]): - **Amchoor** (dried mango powder) — adds sour tang - **Kasuri methi** (dried fenugreek leaves) - **Asafoetida** (hing) - **Black cardamom** - **Curry leaves** (fresh) ## Accessibility Note [[Meera Sodha]]'s recipes are designed for UK supermarket ingredients, making them a good starting point when local specialty shops aren't convenient. Her cookbook *Made in India* and Guardian columns prioritise accessibility without sacrificing authenticity.