I’ve Been Cooking Indian Food for Over 10 Years, and These Are My 11 Essentials Worth Checking Out

People who love cooking know that it can be an extremely meditative experience, but as an Indian woman living in New York City, it also comes with unique challenges. I have lived on my own (away from my mother’s home-cooked food) for 14 years. It’s taken me about that long to curate a collection of kitchen essentials that recreate the eating and sipping experience I had — and admittedly took for granted — while growing up. 

These items aren’t just making my kitchen life easier, though — they’re making it more enjoyable. Some of them have been in my kitchen for years, like this Le Creuset Pan, which is essential for making naan. Others, like the Smeg Milk Frother, walked into my life recently for a true ‘love at first sip of chai’ experience. I put together my list of 11 Amazon kitchen gadgets and finds from brands like Our Place, OXO, and Caraway that I use every day, starting at just $13.

Best Amazon Kitchen Finds and Gadgets for Indian Cooking

• Our Place Dream Cooker, $199
• The Chai Box Chai Concentrate, $30
• OXO Good Grips Nonstick Rolling Pin, $21, originally $23
• Hawkins Tadka Pan, 1.5-Cup, $18, originally $22
• Le Creuset Essential Nonstick Frying Pan, $100
• Creative Co-Op Marble Cutting Board, $23, originally $35
• Vegan Richa’s Indian Kitchen Cookbook, $16, originally $28
• Ototo Nessie Ladle, $13, originally $19
• Smeg Milk Frother, $230
• Caraway 14-Piece Kitchen Prep Set, $395

Our Place Dream Cooker

Before moving to New York City, I had a lot of big cabinets to store my many pots and pans. After years of living here and trying to cram all those items into tiny spaces, I finally got a multitasking item that does it all. This cooker by Our Place is my go-to for cooking curry and rice dishes, and it’s the perfect size for my small kitchen. My rice never sticks when I’m cooking with it, and it doesn’t hurt that it looks super pretty on my kitchen table at dinner parties.

The Chai Box Chai Concentrate

I’ve been sipping on this concentrate from The Chai Box for years. I’ve tried many different concentrates, but this is the only one I keep returning to. The blend has cardamom, cinnamon, fennel, cloves, ginger, and black tea. I simply don’t have the patience to put a mortar and pestle to practice with a blend of fresh spices, but I feel pretty confident that even if I did, it wouldn’t taste as good as this. I pour a bit over ice and mix it with some milk in the summer, but now that it’s getting colder, I’m mixing it with some frothed milk every single morning.

OXO Good Grips Nonstick Rolling Pin

Naan and rotis are a regular part of my diet, so I’m extremely picky about the rolling pin I use. This nonstick option from OXO is especially useful because it has just enough weight to roll out dough without my having to apply too much pressure, but it’s not so heavy that it makes the dough too flat. After testing several options over the past decade, I’ve owned this for about three years, and it’s by far my favorite. It’s easier to clean than wood options, too.

Hawkins Tadka Pan, 1.5-Cup

I have an undeniable love for bold flavors, so this tiny pan has been a game-changer for making a tadka, or tempering, as the base for my dishes. I use it to fry my spices, onions, and tomatoes in ghee before pouring it into my cooker to mix with curries, soups, and rice or even to spread on top of some naan. Sometimes, I’ll use this handy pan to prep a batch of tadka to add to all my meals throughout the week. 

Le Creuset Essential Nonstick Frying Pan

If you’re making naan and roti as often as I am, you need a quality nonstick pan. Enter this pick from the beloved cookware brand, Le Creuset. The no-frills essential makes every piece of bread golden brown and soft, and at 8 inches wide, it’s also easy to store. My favorite part is that the ergonomic handle stays cool to the touch, and the nonstick surface leaves no crumbs behind. 

Creative Co-Op Marble Cutting Board

Yes, this is technically a cutting board, but I use it to roll naan and roti dough. The white finish compliments my all-white kitchen nicely, so I always have it on display. But the marble isn’t just pretty. It’s cool and smooth and helps prevent dough from sticking. I’ll admit that I also use it as a charcuterie board for guests. It’s a total bargain now that it’s on sale for just $23. 

Vegan Richa’s Indian Kitchen Cookbook

Is it just me, or are the cookbooks you have on display like a status symbol? If you’ve ever come across one of Richa Hingle’s recipes on Instagram, you know they look mouth-watering. This cookbook proved to me that they all taste as good as they look, and I love how the pretty cover looks on my counter. While all of the dishes are vegan, you can easily substitute your protein source if you’d like to.

Ototo Nessie Ladle

This ladle, complete with a hooked handle that prevents the utensil from falling into a pot or cooker, is adorable yet totally functional. I use this handy gadget any time I make soups or curries. It’s especially fun to whip out whenever I have guests over.

Smeg Milk Frother

I went through about a dozen milk frothers before receiving this as a gift a year ago, but this is the only one that’s lasted for more than two months in my kitchen. This frother by Smeg is made with a dishwasher-safe stainless steel jug and even has its own measuring cup. Some people use it to make hot chocolate because of the hot and cold frothing functions, but I use it twice a day for my morning and afternoon cups of chai. 

Caraway 14-Piece Kitchen Prep Set

I have limited counter space, so I’m picky about what gets to take up that precious real estate. This minimalist set is just too pretty not to put on display, though. It’s especially useful because it has high-quality knives and utensils I may need while cooking. I love using wooden tongs to flip and serve hot naan safely, and the perforated spoon is perfect for serving fried items fresh out of blistering oil.