Grocery Shopping for Curry in a Hurry for 30 Minute Recipes

I have made a list of typical items needed. Most of these items can be bought in regular American store. I have tried to keep the items that may only be available at Indian Grocery stores to a minimum. If you don't have an Indian Grocery store nearby, theses items are also available online.

Canned Foods

Most of these foods are available in 15oz cans. They can certainly save a lot in cooking time.

1. Chickpeas/Garbanzo beans: Garbanzo beans are slightly larger than Chickpeas, may be used as pre-cooked Kabuli Chana.

2. Red Kidney beans: Red kidney beans may be used pre-cooked Rajma.

3. Lentil soup: This is same as cooked Masoor Dal.

4. Mexican Black beans (Negro Frijol). These are closest to Indian Urad (black matpe) in taste and texture.

5. Mustard Greens: May be used to make Saag.

6. Spaghetti Sauce: You can buy Ragu Spaghetti sauce with Onions and Garlic as a general purpose tomato sauce. I still recommend to make your own Hurry Tomato Sauce .

Dry Foods & Oils

1. Instant Rice: Available in one pound boxes. The names vary by the manufacturer as Instant Rice or Minute Rice.

2. Instant Potatoes: Available in one pound boxes.

3. Canola Oil: I exclusively use Canola oil for cooking. It is healthy and adopts well to Indian spices.

Frozen Foods

The frozen items are available in 10 oz boxes or in large bags. These items can reduce prep time and spoilage of unused foods. My basic favorites are:

1. Chopped Spinach

2. Okra Cut

3. Peas: Baby peas are tender and need no cooking at all

4. Carrots Diced: I don't like canned carrots, canned carrots are overcooked and lack the texture.

5. Potato French fries: These potatoes are peeled, partially cooked and lightly coated with oil. They are optimized for cooking in 3 minutes in 350º F deep fryer from frozen state. I have given a recipe for a similar item you can make at home Hurry Potatoes .

Fresh Produce

1. Onions: In India, the common variety used is Red Onions. The red onions in India are not same as the red Bermuda onions available in United States. Indian onions are just slightly more pungent than the shallots used in United States. You can use the yellow Spanish onions for cooking. The 'Sambar Onions' are like a cross between shallots and red Bermuda onions

2. Garlic

3. Ginger

4. Cilantro (Hara Dhania)

5. Bell Pepper (Simla Mirch)

6. Serrano. This works well as a substitute for Hari Mirch.

7. Tomatoes

8. Idaho Baking Potatoes: Baking Potatoes and Russet potatoes are both close enough to potatoes in India in texture, though the Indian potatoes resemble the Red potatoes in shape and size. My personal choice is to use Idaho Baking Potatoes.

9. Summer squash (Torai)

10. Eggplant

11. Butternut Winter Squash: This works well as a substitute for Indian Pumpkin (Kaddu). American Pumpkin is not same as Indian Pumpkin

Dairy

1. Natural Regular Yogurt with live culture: This item is closest to Dahi yogurt. It is not difficult to make Dahi at home.

2. Cultured Butter: This item is closest to Makhan. If cultured butter is not available in your store, you will have to settle for 'un-salted Sweet Cream Butter'. If you want to get inventive, whip un-salted sweet cream butter with cultured sour cream. It will get very close to old style Makhan.

3. Ricotta Cheese: This item is closest to Paneer. It is not as dense as Paneer so it can not be formed as cubes. I have given a recipe to use Ricotta Cheese as Paneer in most of the Indian Curries Hurry Cheese .

Meats

Skinless boneless Chicken breast.

Spices

1. Kosher Salt The Pickling salt in United States is closest to salt normally used in India. I prefer Kosher Salt, it comes as large crystals.

2. Red Crushed peppers (Lal Mirch)

3. Cumin Powder

4. Coriander powder

5. Fenugreek Powder

6. Cinnamon powder

7. Ground Cloves

8. Amchoor: This item is not available in the American stores. At some of the American stores in the canning section, you may be able to buy the Citric Acid and use it as a substitute. Otherwise, you may have to use the lemon juice.