8 Ingredients for Mastering Priya Krishna’s Indian-Ish Recipes — and Where to Buy Them

Mark Marino
Mark MarinoExecutive Director of Commerce at AT Media
I’ve been working in the media world since the days before the internet existed, starting my career as an assistant for a small publisher at Time Inc. Eventually, I went on to hold editorial roles at Martha Stewart Living, InTouch, and OK! magazines, and contributed to titles such as Travel + Leisure and Brides. On the digital front, I oversaw content for the websites for The Oprah Winfrey Show and The View, and managed People.com’s day-to-day operations as deputy editor. While at People.com, I had the opportunity to join the parent company’s first commerce team, spearheading the shoppable content strategy for brands including People, InStyle, Essence, and Entertainment Weekly. I was excited by this new world of e-commerce and loved providing readers with the best products to suit their lifestyle. That ultimately led me to Apartment Therapy Media, where I currently oversee a team dedicated to testing and writing about products that can help anyone create a healthy, happy home on any budget. (I’m a bargain hunter and never pay full price.) Whether you’re looking for a new sofa, a nonstick frying pan, or a dreamy comforter, we’ll tell you which ones are worth your money.
updated Oct 3, 2019
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As you may already know, we launched the Kitchn Cookbook Club in September, kicking things off with Samin Nostrat‘s best-seller, Salt, Fat, Acid Heat. This month we’re all about Priya Krishna‘s Indian-ish, which was named one of the Best Cookbooks of spring 2019 by The New York Times and Bon Appétit. Priya, who co-wrote Indian-ish with her mother, says the recipes are a reflection of her mom’s cooking: 60 percent Indian and 40 percent “Indian-plus something else.”

“This book comes from the perspective of having an immigrant mother, addresses first-generation and second-generation tensions, and speaks to someone who’s a working mom who doesn’t have time to spend all day standing over a stove,” she told Kitchn’s Lauren Masur earlier this year. “It has this nice blend of relatability and accessibility and introduces people to simple Indian home cooking at the same time.”

Of course, in order to these master recipes, you’ll want to make sure you have a few key spices and pantry staples on hand. Below, we’ve listed out a few that Priya mentions in her book, which are all available on Amazon (the brands recommended are our own). So pick up a few (and the book, of course), then try whipping up a new recipe or two, and let us know how it goes! Share your comments in our Facebook group, or post a photo of your dish on Instagram, with a short review of the recipe in the caption, and use our #kitchncookbookclub hashtag to be featured on our Cookbook Club hub page.

Asafetida: Like MSG, this oniony spice enhances a dish’s flavor. In the book, Priya suggests first mellowing it out by toasting it in oil or butter to make a chhonk (more about that below), then using it as the finishing touch for recipes like Priya’s Dal (lentil stew) and Spinach and Feta Cooked Like Saag Paneer.

Chaat Masala: This spice blend works with everything, Priya says in Indian-ish, and can be used for her Indian-ish Baked Potatoes. It can also add depth to stews and sautés and enhance the flavor of fresh or grilled fruit.

Cumin Seeds: Warm and nutty, these seeds are the basis for many North Indian vegetable dishes and can be sprinkled on stews like Priya’s Dal.

Ghee: Similar to clarified butter but with a higher smoking point, ghee has a nutty flavor and is used for sautéing, or making a chhonk. This technique involves tempering spices in ghee or oil and using the resulting chhonk as a topping for dishes.

Red Chile Powder: This fiery spice, also known as Kashmiri red chile powder and cayenne, adds extra heat to any dish and is an essential for making Krishna’s Spinach and Feta Cooked Like Saag Paneer.

Green Cardamom Pods: Crush these herbaceous pods to add a subtle sweetness to tea, tomato-based gravies and sauces, and dairy-based desserts.

Ground Turmeric: A common ingredient in Indian cooking, turmeric is a bitter, yellow-orange spice that gives depth and color to a dish.

Masoor Dal: These quick-cooking lentils can be used to thicken broths and dips, and are the staple of Priya’s Most Basic Dal recipe.

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