Visit To The Indian Grocery Store!

We have discovered an Indian Grocery Store close by to where we live. The Tikka Masala Recipe is the reason I had originally looked for an Indian Grocery Store in our area. I needed Garam Masala, a spice blend that I could not find at a typical grocery store.

There are so many interesting things at the Indian Grocery Store. Most of which, I have never seen before, and have no idea how to use or cook. I need someone to help me get started.

That "Someone," so far, has been the Owner of the store. Mr. In the Mid-west started up a conversation with the Owner one day when we were in his store. Once he heard that I eat gluten free he was showing us all around the store to many kinds of non wheat flours and products that are used in traditional Indian cooking. 

We bought a bucket of Dosa batter from the refrigerated section. The Owner Gentleman said it was for making pancakes. I read up on how to cook Dosa on the internet once we were at home. 

Dosa batter is a thin, fermented batter made from rice and lentils. You make pancakes out of it much in the same way you would cook a crepe. The batter bubbles up, kind of like a foam, once it hits the hot skillet. You use the back of a ladle to spread the batter in a circular motion starting in the center and spiraling out to the edge.

 The flavor is very much like real sourdough. I enjoyed the Dosa very much and so did our boys. You have to really like sourdough flavor to think that Dosa tastes good. Mr. in the Mid-west was not a big fan. :)

Their spice section is amazing at the Indian Grocery store! None of the prices were marked. I was very surprised at the checkout counter with how cheap the spices were ringing up. All the spices in the picture above cost about $12! That is nearly 50¢ per ounce. Compare that price to this little tin of Ground Ginger from Kroger: it cost over $3.00 for 1.5 ounces.

Not only are the prices of spices low at the Indian Grocery store, they have a huge selection! 

Another neat thing we have tried from the Indian Grocery store is coffee. The Owner Gentleman spoke with Mr. In the Mid-west about a few different coffee varieties. Some of the coffee selections were blended with chicory root. We picked out one that is 53% coffee and 47% chicory. 

Reading the brewing directions on the back of the package make me think that this coffee is used kind of like espresso. 

For one serving it calls for about 1/4 cup (50ml.)  of boiling water and 2 tsp. of coffee grounds. The coffee grounds are to be steeped 15 minutes and then strained and drank with milk. 

I don't have a French press to properly strain the coffee. But I do have a fine mesh tea strainer that has been working well. 

I heat some milk and foam it with a whisk before adding the coffee to the mug. I put about half and half, coffee to foamed milk.

I generally think coffee is nasty, but this kind of coffee is a real treat! With it being half warm, foamed milk it is not very strong. I can enjoy coffee fixed like this. :)

Do any of you know anything about Indian food? I am going to be learning all that I can.

If I find any good recipes I will share them here on my blog with you all!