Cinnamon is another important spice used widely throughout the world and plays a prominent role in Indian cuisine as well.
Cinnamon is light brown, and it is the tree's inner bark. This has been used for thousands of years across the continents. It is also believed to have originated from South Eastern countries like India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.
This beautiful, rich-flavored spice is great for baking, cooking, and grilling. It adapts to the main ingredient's taste and flavor and enhances it. Whether it is curry pie or apple chips, this ingredient plays its part well.
In India, cinnamon is used mainly in non-vegetarian / meat recipes. It is generally used to combat the raw flavors of the meat. Vegetarians use it less, as it may be overpowering for certain vegetables. But there are some exceptions, like this Potato Kurma.
Though it is used less in vegetarian recipes, this ingredient would be at the top of the list when making a vegetarian version of meat recipes. Like,
As with other spices, I buy them in bulk and store them for a few years. I usually refrigerate them in Ziploc bags for longer storage.
Buying them in bulk is budget-friendly, and if stored properly, they can stay good for a couple of years without losing their flavor and taste.
How to use cinnamon
According to the recipe's requirements, you may use cinnamon bark and ground cinnamon in cooking. In Indian cuisine, these barks are generally used compared to the ground version.
Since I follow the real food diet, I make my own powders. I do not buy ready-made powders from outside, like garam masala curry powder or spice mixes.
Why buy them from the stores and waste your money when you can bring all those flavors with the whole spices at a lesser cost? You do not need to be an advanced-level chef to do this task. If you know and understand the spices' properties and taste, you can customize any recipe to your preference.
If you're using cinnamon bark, you may fry it with cooking oil before adding it to the recipe. The fragrance of this spice multiplies when it is fried in clarified butter; this is my personal choice, and most Indian also agrees with this.
If you're using ground cinnamon, you need not fry it in the oil and add it according to the recipe's directions.
Where to get
Cinnamon is available in many grocery stores. And you may find it cheaper in Indian stores or Asian stores, on the other hand, you may also get it from the online stores.
The regional names
Cinnamon is lavangampattai in Tamil, lavanga patta in Telegu and Dalchini in Hindi
Recipes made with cinnamon
Semiya Kichadi, is an easy Breakfast made with Vermicelli.
Blueberry breakfast casserole, an easy make-ahead breakfast
Bagara rice, is an easy rice dish perfect for lunch boxes
Methi Rice, a flavorful, easy lunch recipe
Soya chunk rice is a perfect fit for the lunch menu.