When it comes to cooking authentic Indian cuisine, the right cookware is essential. Indian cookware, known for its versatility and durability, ensures that your meals are prepared traditionally, bringing out rich, bold flavours. Whether you’re making a spicy curry or a fragrant biryani, choosing the right Indian cookware in the UK can elevate your cooking and bring authenticity to your kitchen. Let’s explore why investing in the right Indian cookware is a must!
Understanding Indian Cookware
Indian cookware is designed to suit the specific needs of traditional Indian cooking, which often involves complex cooking techniques, high heat, and various spices. In the UK, many people are rediscovering the joy of cooking with authentic Indian cookware, whether for everyday meals or special occasions. From non-stick tavas to heavy-bottomed kadhais, Indian cookware uk offers both functionality and aesthetic appeal, perfect for recreating Indian dishes at home.
What Are the Different Uses of Indian Cookware?
Indian cookware serves multiple purposes in the kitchen, ensuring versatility and ease for cooking a variety of dishes. Here are five common uses of Indian cookware:
- Cooking Curries and Gravies: The heavy, thick-bottomed kadhai is ideal for slow-cooking curries, gravies, and sauces. Its design ensures even heat distribution, which is key to developing the deep, rich flavours of Indian curries.
- Frying: A traditional Indian wok-like pan, or kadhai, is used for deep frying snacks like samosas, pakoras, and pooris. Its high sides prevent splattering and help maintain oil temperature.
- Sautéing and Stir-Frying: The tawa (flat pan) is perfect for making chapatis, parathas, and dosa. Additionally, it’s utilised for shallow-frying meats and vegetables.
- Baking and Steaming: Indian cookers, especially the pressure cooker and handi, are designed for steaming and slow-cooking stews, rice dishes like biryani, or even desserts like kheer.
- Tandoori Cooking: Special Indian cookware like the tandoor or tandoori pots is used for grilling meats, vegetables, and naan, imparting a smoky flavour that defines tandoori cuisine.
Benefits of Traditional Indian Cookware
Traditional Indian cookware comes with many advantages that help in the preparation of delicious and authentic meals:
- Even Heat Distribution: Heavy-bottomed pots and pans, like karahi and tawas, are designed to distribute heat evenly, ensuring consistent cooking and preventing burning.
- Flavour Retention: Cooking in traditional cookware, such as cast iron or clay pots, helps retain the natural flavours of spices and ingredients, resulting in richer, more vibrant dishes.
- Durability: Indian cookware is often made from materials like cast iron, copper, and brass, which are known for their strength and longevity, making them a worthwhile investment.
- Healthier Cooking: Many traditional Indian cookware options, like the handi, are made from natural materials that don’t leach harmful chemicals into your food, unlike non-stick pans.
- Versatility: Indian cookware can be used for a wide variety of cooking techniques—from deep frying to slow cooking, grilling, and even baking.
Types of Indian Cookware
Below is a table that details some common types of Indian cookware, along with their price ranges in British pounds. The costs can vary depending on the material, size, and brand.
| Cookware Type | Description | Average Cost (GBP) |
| Kadhai | A heavy, deep pan is used for frying, sautéing, and simmering. | £20 – £80 |
| Tawa | A flat, round pan is used for making chapatis, parathas, and dosas. | £10 – £50 |
| Pressure Cooker | Essential for fast cooking, especially for rice, lentils, and stews. | £30 – £100 |
| Handi | A traditional, round-bottomed pot used for slow cooking and biryani. | £25 – £70 |
| Tandoor | Meats are grilled and naan is baked in a clay oven. | £150 – £500 |
| Stone Mortar & Pestle | Used for grinding spices and making pastes. | £15 – £50 |
| Brass Pots | A traditional cookware made from brass, ideal for slow cooking. | £50 – £200 |
Maintenance Tips for Long-Lasting Usage
Proper maintenance is crucial to ensure your Indian cookware lasts for years to come. Here are a few tips:
- Cleaning: Use a soft cloth or sponge to clean your cookware. For cast iron and brass items, avoid using harsh chemicals. Instead, scrub with warm water and a small amount of salt to remove residue.
- Seasoning: Season cast iron cookware regularly to maintain its non-stick properties and prevent rust. Apply a thin layer of vegetable oil and heat it for a few minutes.
- Avoid Abrasive Materials: When cleaning your cookware, avoid abrasive scrubbing pads, as they can damage the surface and affect its cooking performance.
- Storage: Store cookware in a dry place to prevent moisture from causing rust, especially in metal items like kadhai and tawa.
- Handle with Care: While Indian cookware is durable, avoid dropping or banging it, especially if it is made of clay, brass, or other delicate materials.
Recipe: Kadhai Paneer
A common North Indian meal prepared in a kadhai (Indian wok) is kadhai paneer. Here’s how you can make it:
Ingredients:
- 250 grams paneer (cubed)
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 tomatoes, finely chopped
- 2 green chillies, chopped
- 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon red chilli powder
- Salt to taste
- Fresh coriander leaves for garnish
Instructions:
- Add cumin seeds to a kadhai with oil heated to medium heat. Add the chopped onions and cook until golden brown after they start to splatter.
- Cook the green chillies and ginger-garlic paste until the raw smell goes away.
- Cook until the oil starts to separate from the masala and the diced tomatoes are tender.
- Add the red chilli powder, cumin powder, garam masala, and coriander powder now. Cook for two more minutes after giving it a good stir.
- Toss the paneer cubes lightly to coat them with the masala after adding them to the kadhai. Add a little water if the mixture is too dry.
- Let the flavours blend by cooking for 5 to 7 minutes.
- Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and serve hot with naan or rice.
Our Approach to Indian Cookware at Popat Stores
At Popat Stores, we’re committed to providing high-quality Indian cookware that enhances your cooking experience. We offer a wide selection of authentic, traditional cookware that is perfect for making your favourite Indian dishes. From cast iron kadhai to stainless steel tawa, each product is designed to withstand high heat and provide excellent performance. Watch our customer testimonial video to see how our cookware has made a difference in kitchens around the UK!
Importance of Indian Cooker in Flavourful Cooking
The Indian cooker is essential for enhancing the flavours of Indian dishes. Its ability to cook food quickly while retaining moisture helps lock in the spices, creating rich, aromatic flavours. The sealed environment inside a pressure cooker allows the ingredients to meld together, intensifying the taste. Whether making dal, biryani, or stews, the Indian cooker ensures tender textures and deep, authentic flavours, making it a must-have in every Indian kitchen for quick, flavourful cooking.
Conclusion
Indian cookware is more than just a kitchen tool; it’s a gateway to bringing authentic, rich flavours to your meals. Whether you’re preparing traditional curries or trying your hand at tandoori cooking, investing in the right Indian cookware can transform your cooking experience. At Popat Stores, we offer the finest collection of Indian cookware in the UK, so you can prepare delicious, regional meals with ease. Let us help you bring the true taste of India to your kitchen today.