I grew up on a very robust diet of Indian food, and it’s safe to say I wasn’t a huge fan. I would annoy my parents to take me out to new restaurants with exotic menus and I would avoid any kind of lentil curry, flatbread, or cauliflower dish like the plague. What is it they say about craving familiar flavors that taste of home? I guess it is true after all.

1. Stainless Steel Spice Container

When it comes to cooking Indian food, you will be packing in a ton of spices for even the simplest of dishes. Rather than store the spices in their original plastic bag, where they can tend to lose their freshness, or even emptying them in jars, which take up precious square footage in your cabinet, it’s preferable to keep them all contained in a spice box, aka masala dabba. A staple in every Indian household, the masala dabba is always pulled out when cooking, giving home cooks easy access to the most important spices at one go.

2. Stainless Steel Mortar and Pestle

The reason my mum prefers a stainless option is simply because you can easily wash off the pungent garlic and spices smell , unlike a wood or stone option where the food smells tend to seep into the porous texture. The small size also makes it easier to quickly grind pastes or the fragrant blend of spices for masala chai.

3. Tea Strainer

Speaking of chai , the deeply revered morning ritual is a staple in many Indian households. You boil a special tea powder in water and infuse it with a blend of freshly ground spices (ginger, cardamom, mint leaves, cinnamon stick, and cloves are a few of the main ingredients). Once the aroma of the spices and tea leaves fills the air, you add milk and sugar and bring the light-brown mixture to another boil. Then you use this little nifty tool to strain the liquid and pour yourself a strong cup of milky sweet chai.

4. Flat Bottom Deep Fry Pan

A kadhai is similar to a wok but deeper with steeper sides and a flat bottom, which makes it ideal for deep-frying savory and sweet treats. It’s traditionally made with cast iron. . Wondering what you can make in a kadhai? Samosas and pakoras are a few favorites.

5. Chapati Chakla and Belan

This little wooden round surface and rolling pin is another kitchen staple in every Indian household. It’s the surface on which flatbreads are rolled out to ensure that the dough is smooth and not clumpy. I have tried using the smooth surface of my countertop and a baker’s rolling pin for rotis before, and the end result just wasn’t the same. Since it’s made from wood, it gives you good traction for even rolling, and the sleek rolling pin allows you to nail the optimal thickness and consistency.