Bangladeshi spices include a variety of spices that are grown across South and Southeast Asia. Many of the spices are native to the region of Bangladesh, while the others were imported from similar climates and have since been cultivated locally for centuries.
Spices are typically heated in a pan with ghee or cooking oil before being added to a dish. Lighter spices are added last, and spices with strong flavor should be added first. Curry is not a spice, but a term which refers to any side dish in Bangladeshi cuisine. It could be with a sauce base or a dry item. A curry typically contains several spices blended together.
List of Bangladeshi spices Below is a list of spices and other flavoring substances commonly used in Bangladesh.
ImageEnglish name Bangla name Comments Gingerআদা AadaUsed as fresh and also dried powder form.Amchoorআমচুর Aamchur Dried green mango powder that gives fish curries tartness. Celery / radhuni seed রাধুনী Raadhuni Ajwain জোয়ান Jowaan Indian gooseberry আমলকি AamlokiUsed as pickle, green and ripe fruits. dried and powder fruit are used to treat damage hair. Pomegranate seed ডালিমDalim Used in cake and desserts, and to decorate food Tulsi or Basil তুলসী Tulsi Leaves are used to treat cold Almond কাঠবাদাম Kaath-Baadam Green cardamom এলাচ ElaachUsed in cooking food and desserts to increase flavor. Black cardamom বড় এলাচ Boro elaach Very earthy and darkly aromatic. Cinnamon দারচিনি DaarchiniGive aromatic flavor in food. Coriander seed ধনে Dhone Garam masala গরম মশলা Garam Mashla Blend of spices which varies between regions and households. Rose water গোলাপ জল Golap Jol Flavors desserts. Used more often in dishes with origins in the middle east. Gurh (Jaggery) গুড় Gurh from the sap of the sugarcane, coconut palm or date palm Turmeric হলুদ HoludSource of "yellow color" in many dishes. Coriander leaf ধনিয়া পাতা Dhoniya Pata Fresh green leaves, also called cilantro. Give flavor. Used as pickle. Terminalia chebula হরিতকি Horitoki Green chili pepper কাঁচা মরিচ/ কাঁচা লঙ্কা Kancha morich/Kancha lonka Coriander powder ধনিয়া গুঁড়া Dhoniya Gura Tamarind তেঁতুল TetulUsed as pickle. Nutmeg জায়ফল Jaifol Mace জয়িত্রি Joyitri Mace is outer covering of nutmeg nut with similar aroma. Cumin seed জিরাJeera Give flavor to dishes. Have some medicinal uses like used to lose weight. Whole Cumin গোটা জিরে Gota Jire Curry Leaf কারিপাতা Karipata Only used fresh.Neem Leafনিম পাতাNim Pata Cashew nut কাজুবাদাম Kaju BadamKaju Badam is widely known as Cashew Nuts. Black salt বিট নুন / বিট লবণ Bit Noon / Bit Lobon Black cardamom কালো এলাচ Kalo Elaach Earthy fragrance used in Mughal inspired dishes. Black pepper গোল মরিচ Gol Morich Powder pepper is used widely in different dishes. Nigella seed কালো জিরা Kalo Jeera Fenugreek leaf মেথি পাতা Methi Pata Cubeb কাবাব চিনি Kabab Chini Saffron জাফরান Jafran Dry saffron is used as food color. Dates খেজুর Khejur Poppy seed পোস্ত Posto Garlicরসুন Rosun Dry Red Chilli শুকনো লঙ্কা / লাল মরিচ Shukno Lanka / Lal Morich Cloves লবঙ্গ Labongo Fenugreek leaf মেথি পাতা ..Methi Pata Fenugreek seed মেথি দানা Methi Dana Salt নুন / লবণ/ Noon / Lobon Citron লেবু Lebu Used fresh and ripe as Juice and with food.. Source of Vitamin C.Gandharaj Limeগন্ধরাজ লেবুGandharaj Lebu Makrut Lime কাগ্জি লেবুKagji LebuSweet Lemon শিরিন লেবু Shirin Lebu Mint পুদিনা Pudina Shallot পেঁয়াজ কলিPeyanj KoliScallionপেঁয়াজ পাতা Peyanj Pata Panch Phoron পাঁচ ফোড়ন Panch Foron This is a Bengali spice mix that combines fennel, cumin, fenugreek, mustard and nigella Long pepper পিপুল Pipul Bell pepper কাপ্সিকুম/ক্যাপসিকাম Kapsikum Brown mustard seed রাই/ সর্ষে / সরিষা Raai/Shorshe/Shorisha White pepper সাদা সর্ষে / সাদা সরিষা Saada Sorshe/ Saada Shorisha Mustard seed সর্ষে Shorshe Mustard oil সর্ষের তেল Shorsher tæl Fennel seed মৌরি Mouri Black Cumin কালো জিরে Kalo Jira Sweet, floral and smoky cumin and anise-like flavor. Smaller than regular cumin. Often mistaken for caraway seed. Though English translation is black cumin, the term black cumin is also used as English translation of Nigella sativa, kalonji Vinegar সির্কা Shirka Dried ginger শুকানো আদা গুড়ো Shukano Ada Gura Mostly powdered Indian bay leaf তেজ পাতা Tej pata Sesame seed তিল TeelHeeng (Asafoetida)হিঙHeeng
See also Bangladeshi cuisine Spice trade
References