This blog post covers a basic Indian pantry checklist, that you need to start your Indian kitchen. This post is in collaboration with Laxmi Food Brands. Before Laxmi Foods approached me, to work with them, I loved the quality of the brand and their price point. Laxmi food brands is a South Asian-owned brand, that serves North America, their greatest quality products, are all made and sourced in India.

I am so excited to share my list of pantry essentials with you guys. I usually go to an Indian grocery store every week religiously. I feel like a kid at the candy store. Picking up not only essentials but memories of your childhood. Isn't it? I not only pick up Indian groceries on my checklist, but also pick up chips, frooti, and chocolates.
The list I am sharing today are my personal favorite things to pick up from the Indian store. I am also listing a few recipes, that I make using the pantry staples I am sharing today.
I am very happy to collaborate with Laxmi Food Brands for this blog post because today I get to share not only the things I use in my kitchen but a brand that I truly believe in.
I need my ingredients to not only taste and smell good but also look fresh and perfect. I have found in my experience amongst many brands in the Indian store that Laxmi Foods always nails it, with packaging, the perfection of how their whole spices look, and the affordable price range they offer.
Basic Indian Pantry Checklist
Dry Spices x Laxmi Food Brands
South Asian cooking involves cooking with a lot of dry whole and ground spices. The spices are the key ingredients of South Asian recipes, that not only brings flavors to the plate but also have medicinal reasons as to why they are added to the recipe. So choosing the right brands whose quality and source of ingredients you trust becomes very important. Shop Laxmi's Food Brands Spices here.
Ground Spices
- Kashmiri Red Chili Powder
- Turmeric
- Coriander Powder
- Cumin Powder
- Garam Masala
- Asafetida
Whole Spices
- Cumin Seeds
- Mustard Seeds
- Fenugreek Seeds
- Asafetida
- Cumin Seeds
- Mustard Seeds
- Carrom Seeds
- Fennel Seeds
- Cinnamon Sticks, Green, Black Cardamom, Bay Leaves, Mace, Cloves, Peppercorns
- Kashmiri Red Chilies
- Sesame seeds
Indian Frozen Favorites
I love the wide variety of refrigerator and freezer sections offered at the Indian Store. I love to buy Laxmi Food's frozen veggies, like Toovar Lilva, Surti Papdi, Shredded coconut, green peas and drumsticks.
I make Undhiyu using the products I listed above, and it is my nani's (grandma's) recipe. So you must check it out.
My husband is a naan connoisseur and he loves Laxmi's Bullet Naan.
Indian Pantry Staples
I trust Laxmi's quality of products, and I have been buying their products for years now. Check out all Laxmi's Pantry Staples here
Lentils
Dals are an essential part of South Asian cooking, so I am listing a few basic Indian lentils that will come in handy for you to start the Indian kitchen.
- Yellow Toor Dal to make Gujarati Dal
- Yellow Moong Dal to make Moong Dal Chilla and Fry Dal
- Orange Masoor Dal to make Instant Dosa and Fry Dal
- Urad Dal
Beans
Beans are a great source of plant-based protein, add them to your salad,sprout them, and add it to your chillas, etc.
Flours, Rice and Nuts
- Whole Wheat flour to Make Rotis and Parathas
- Maida
- Besan
- Sooji/ Rava
- Basmati Rice
- Sona Masoori Rice
- Brown Rice
- Peanuts, Almonds, Cashews, walnuts, and Pistachio
Sweeteners, Ghee, Oil
- Ghee
- Peanut Oil
- Sesame Oil
- Kolhapuri Jaggery
Ready Pastes and Snacks
It is important to stock up your pantry for emergencies, and just have a back up to fix yourself a meal. In my kitchen, I always have garlic paste, ginger paste handy, along with tandoori paste from Laxmi is so good.
I also like to keep coriander chutney and tamarind date chutney on hand, to make sure I can whip up a quick chaat, or sandwich and put a meal on the table on busy days.
There are more products that Laxmi Food Brand offers. Please go to their website and check them out. I hope this basic checklist will help you start your Indian kitchen and stock up your Indian Pantry!
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