Glossary of Indian Cooking Ingredients

Most of the ingredients are available at the grocery stores or supermarkets. Some, though, are
special and have to be obtained from the Indian stores. Substitutes may change the character of
the dish. It is better to omit an ingredient if not available than to substitute for it. If whole spice is
not available , you may use the ground form, but the ground form is less pungent.

Asafoetida (Hing): Dried gum resin from the root of various Iranian and East Indian
plants. Has a strong fetid odor - definitely an acquired taste.

Besan (Besan): Flour of dried chickpeas.

Cardamom (Elaichi ): Dried fruit of a plant. Mostly the seeds are used. Seeds of 4 pods
measure approximately 1/4 tsp.

Coriander (dhania): Aromatic herb of the parsley family. Sold as cilantro or Chinese
parsley. Also sold as seed or dry powder.

Cumin (Jeera): Very aromatic and reminiscent. Sold whole or ground.

Dals (Dal): Hindi name for all members of the legume or pulse family. Commonly used
are: Arhar, Channa, Masur, Mung, Labia (black-eyed peas), Rajma (red kidney beans).

Fennel Seed (Sauf): Has an agreeable odor and licorice flavor. Available whole or
ground.

Fenugreek (Methi): Has a pleasant bitter flavor and sweetish odor.

Garam Masala (Garam Masala): A mixture of spices; details come later.

Chat Masala (Chat Masala): A variation of Garam masala. Available in Indian stores.

Ghee (Ghee): Fat for frying. Pure ghee is clarified butter.

Mustard oil (Larson): Pungent oil made from black mustard seeds.

Mint (Pudina): Aromatic herb. Fresh and dried leaves are used in the preparation of
chutneys. Dried leaves are much less fragrant than the fresh ones.

Pomegranate (Anar dana): A flavoring agent. Has some scent.

Saffron (Kesar): Made of stigmas of a flower grown in Kashmir and Spain. It is aromatic
and yields a yellow color.

Turmeric (Haldi): An aromatic powdered root. Used as a flavoring, and for flavoring
curries.
 Tables of Indian Ingredients in various Indian languages and dialects

PULSES AND LEGUMES

ENGLI URD MARAT BENGA GUJARA TELE MALAYAL KANNA
HINDI TAMIL
SH U HI LI THI GU AM DA
Bengal Chan
Kothu Senagu
Gram Chana a Harbara Chola Chana Kadala Kadale
Kadalai lu
(Whole) Sabut
Bengal Chan
Chana Harbar Cholar Kadalai Senga Kadala Kadale
Gram e ki Chana Dal
Dal dal dal Parippu Pappu Parippu Bele
(Split) dal
Bengal
Kadalai Senaga Kadala Kadale
Gram Besan Besan Besan Beshun Besan
Mavu Pindi Mavu Hitu
(Flour)
Black Mass Uluthe Minapp
Urad Uddachi Mashkal Uzhunnu Udina
Gram h ki Alad m a
dal dal ar dal Parippu Hittu
(Split) dal Parippu Pappu
Green Sabut
Moon Muger Pasipay Hesarekal
Gram Moon Moong Mug Pesalu Cherupayar
g dal ar u
(Whole) g
Green Payathu
Moon Mung Mugachi Moong Pesara Cherupayar Hesara
Gram Moong dal m
g dal dal dal dal Pappu Parippu Bele
(Split) Parippu
Maso
Masur Masurda Moshro Masore Misur Masur Masur
Lentil or ki Masur dal
dal l ori dal Parippu Pappu Parippu Bele
dal
Tuvara
Split Tuwar Arhar Tuberni Kandi Thuvara Thugar
Arhar Tur dal m
Gram dal dal dal Pappu Parippu Bele
Parippu
Soya
Soyabea Bhatm
ki - - Garikalai - - - -
n as
Binje
 CONDIMENTS AND SPICES
ENGLI HIN URD MARA BENG GUJARA MALAYA
TAMIL TELEGU KANNADA
SH DI U THI ALI THI LAM
Asafoeti Perungay Perungaya
Hing Hing Hing Hing Hing Inguva Hingu
da am m
Cardam Elayc Elich
Veldola Elaichi Elaychi Ellakai Ellkai Elathari Yellakai
om hi i
Mirc Mirc Mirapaka Menasinakay
Chili Mirchi Lanka Marchu Milagai Molaku
h h ya i
Lava Loun Labang
Cloves Lavang Lavang Krambu Lavangalu Krambu Lavanga
ng g o
Coriand Dhan Dhan Kothama
Dhane Dhone Dhania Dhaniyalu Kothamalli Korthambari
er ia ia lli
Cumin Zira Zeera Jira Jire Jiru Jeeragam Jeelakarra Jeerakam Jeerage
Saun Perum
Fennel Saunf Sheopa - - - Sompu -
f Jeerakam
Fenugre Meth Meth Venthiya
Methi Methi Methi Menthulu Uluva Menthe
ek i i m
Lessa Lehs
Garlic Lasoon Roshun Lasan Poondu Velluli Velluli Belluli
n an
Adra Adra
Ginger Ale Ada Adu Inji Allum Inji Shunti
k k
Javit Hjotr Jayapatr
Mace Jayitri Jaypatri Jathipatri Jayapathri Jathipatri -
hri i i
Jaiph Jaiph
Nutmeg Jaiphal Jaiphal Jaiphal Jathikkai Jajikayi Jathikka Jajikayi
al al
Oregan Ajwa Ajwa
Onva Joan - Omum Vamu Ayamodak Onia
o in in
Kali Kali
Golmor Kurumulag
Pepper Mirc Mirc Mire Mari Milagu Mirriyalu Karimenasu
ich u
hi h
Tamarin Chinthapa
Imli Imli Chinch Tetul Amli Puli Puli Hunise
d ndu
Turmeri
Haldi Haldi Halad Holud Haldhar Manjal Pasupu Manjal Anashina
c
 Nattua Nattua
Akhr Akro
Walnut Akrod Akrot Akrot Krot Krot Akrothandi -
ot t
Kottai Vitthu

NUTS AND OILSEEDS

ENGLI URD MARA BENG GUJARA MALAYA KANNA
HINDI TAMIL TELEGU
SH U THI ALI THI LAM DA
Almon Bada
Badam Badam Badam Badam Badam Badam Badam -
d m
Cashew Hijlibad Mundiri Jeedi Parangi Geru
Kaju Kaju Kaju Kaju
nut am Parippu Pappu yandi Beena
Gingell
Til Til Til Til Tal Ellu Nuvvulu Ellu Acchellu
y
Coconu Nari Thengin
Nariyal Naral Narkel Nariyal Thenga Kobbari Thenga
t yal kai
Moo
Ground Moong ng Bhui China China Nillakad Verusenaga Kadalek
Nilakadala
nut Phalli Phall Moong Moong Moong alai kaya ayi
i
Avise Cheruchan
Linseed Alsi Alsi Juwas Tishi Alsi Alivirai -
Ginjalu a Vithu
Mustar
Rai Rai Mohori Sorse Rai Kadugu Avalu Kadugu Sasuve
d
Pistachi
Pista Pista Pista Pista Pista Pista Pista Pista Pista
o
Safflow Kara Kusuma
Kardi - - - - - -
er r Ginzalu
Suraj
Sunflo Suriamu Suryam Surajm Suryakant Suryaka Poduthiru Suryakhant
Muk -
wer khi uki uki i nthi Ginzalu i
hi
 CEREALS AND GRAINS
MALA
ENGLIS HIND URD MAR BENGA GUJAR TELEG
TAMIL YALA KANNADA
H I U ATHI LI ATHI U
M
Kambo
Millet Bajra Bajra Bajri Bajra Bajri Kambu Sajjalu Sajje
o
Barli
Barley Jau Jau Jau Job Jau Barli Arisi Yavam Barli
Biyyam
Gehoo
Buchwhe n ka Titapha
Kootu Kuttu - Kotu - Kootu -
at Bhoos pur
a
Milo Juar Juari Jwari Juar Juwar Cholam Jonnalu Cholam Jola
Makk Makka Mokka
Maize Makai Maka Bhutta Makai Cholam Kempu Jola
ai Cholam Jonnalu
Mund Nach Kizhvarag
Ragi Ragi Madua Ragi Ragulu Muthari Ragi
al ni u
Arwa
Rice Chaw Tand Atap Chokha
Chaw Pacharisi Biyyam Pachari Akki
(raw) al ool Chaal Chawal
al
Ubla
Rice Usna Ukda
hua Siddha Ukra Puzhungal Uppudu Puzhan
(parboiled Chaw Tand Kusubalakki
Chaw Chowl Chawl Arisi Biyyam galari
) al ool
al
Semolina Sooki Sooji Rawa Sooji Rawa Ravai Rawa Rawa Rawa
Gehoo Godhum Gotham
Wheat Gehun Gahu Gom Ghau Godumai Godhi
n alu bu
Gehoo Gotham
Wheat Kane Godumai Godhum
Atta n ka Atta Ato bu Godhi Hittu
flour ek Mavu a Pindi
atta Mavu
Wheat
Maid Maidu Maidi Maidam
flour Maida Maida Maida Maida Godhi Hittu
a mavu pindi avu
(refined)
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