What Every Beginner Cook Needs: Look at my Indian starter pack

By: Safiyabegum Pirzada

July 6, 2025

Difficulty: Beginner Indian Cooking

Hashtags: Student kitchen, Indian Food tips, money-saving kitchen set, Masala Magic Kitchen

Learning to do Indian Cooking? You Do Not Have to Have a Great Kitchen-You Just Need These:

I came to live in my first student apartment in Canada, I had a pan, a spoon, and great ambitions (to cook like my mother did).

I have attempted the first curry of boiled egg.

The result? It's too spicy, too messy.

It was at that point that I recognized--I did not require 20 complicated things.

All I needed were a couple of sharp gadgets and some ingredients, and it did not feel like a lot of work.

This is my starter pack. Then, I have the things I cook in my little kitchen daily with ease and comfort to make Indian food at least once a day without stress.

1. Your New Best Friend, One Good Non-Stick Pan

Avoid the 5-piece cookware sets. It will only require getting a single robust non-stick cookware.

I can even fry eggs with mine, make tea and roast masalas, use mine to make tadka, sabzi, everything.

Hint: Remember to buy a medium-sized lid. Later, you will be grateful when you want to cover and simmer your curry.

2. Spatula, Knife, and Peeler: the Essential Trio

These are 3 tools that make your life too easy:

a round wooden spatula (won't scratch your pan)

A pointy knife in the kitchen (cutting onions, tomatoes, potatoes)

A peeler (you will use it much more than you think)

Student Trick: Dollarama or Walmart are the best stores with budget solutions.

3. Masala Dabba (The Spice Box You Can Use Every Day)

Spice rack does not need to be Pinterest.

It is just an essential masala dabba (spice box) with a group of them:

• Turmeric

  
  

• Red chili (powder)

  
  

• Cumin seeds

  
  

• Coriander powder

  
  

• Garam masala

  
  

• Mustard seeds

  
  

• Salt

  
  

It is important because time-saving and can give you a cooking-is-organized sensation, even when you are in a rush to go to class or to work.

4. An Instant Pot or small pressure cooker (Not essential but life-changing)

Indian cooking consists of dal, rajma, chole, khichdi... and to make that, a pressure cooker is gold.

On a tight budget, a simple stovetop pressure cooker is nothing to sneeze at.

In case you desire an intelligent device, then an Instant Pot is the right one (and as a bonus, an Instant Pot works with rice and steaming).

5. Pantry Essentials (These Are Pantry Essentials!)

These are the things that I always stock in the small pantry drawer:

Rice

Wheat flour (aatta)

Moong dal or toor dal

Signed oil (sunflower/mustard)

Ginger garlic paste

Tomatoes, potatoes, onions

Green chilies

There are tea leaves (chai = life)

The places where I make purchases: Indian grocery stores, Walmart, or FreshCo with weekly offers.

6. Storage Containers (It Spills) (No Spices or Dal)

Believe me, store your masalas and grains in air-tight packets.

You do not have to get elaborate glass jars. Even recycled takeaway containers or a plastic dabba in Desi stores will do.

It even makes your kitchen sanitary and free of ants, too!

On the real: You can begin with little and then cook big tastes

I envisioned a large fridge, a branded mixer, 10 utensils, and everything must be perfect when I started.

This time I am smart.

It takes only some good things and a few ingredients mixed with a little patience and a fragrance of garlic frying in oil to make magic Indian food.

Your kitchen may be tight, but your taste can be broad.

Let me know what one thing you can not live without in the kitchen?

Let me know in the comments or tag the friend who needs this spring starter list!

I want to make Indian cooking not so frightening and more enchanting, and so I urge you to spread the word to each other.