Like the cuisine of many cultures, it is the spices in Indian food that make its dishes distinctive. Italian and Mexican food is instantly recognizable. So it is with Indian food, and the native spices are a major factor.
Ginger has a strong, piquant and spicy flavor. Used worldwide. Europeans use ginger essentially in sweet dishes. Ginger is added in Indian cuisine to almost every savory dish. Chinese and Japanese cuisines prefer adding it to meat and fish dishes.
It has a sharp, biting aniseed flavor. - Star anise is used in Chinese cuisine; frequently added to stews and other long cooked dishes of pork, duck and chicken, in stocks and soups. It is one of the ingredients in the Chinese five spice powder.
Fenugreek has a strong, harsh flavor. It is an important ingredient in many commercial curry powders and other Indian spice mixes. It is widely used in India.
