Store-Bought Ginger Garlic Paste Is The Key To Quicker Indian Meals At Home

Ginger and garlic are at the heart of many popular Indian dishes. You'll find these flavors in nearly everything, from the marinade used to make Tandoori chicken to the base for vegetarian meals such as chana masala and aloo gobi. While these ingredients are essential to Indian cuisine, they do involve a lot of prep work, and that's not always easy to pull off on a busy weeknight. Both ginger and garlic need to be peeled and diced or grated before they hit the pan.

Fortunately, there's a handy shortcut that will help you make your favorite Indian dishes at home. You may have even already seen it on your supermarket's shelves — ginger garlic paste. Anytime you want to make your favorite curry, start by simply opening a jar of ginger garlic paste. Just spoon some into a pan and sauté it, and you're well on your way to creating a delicious meal.

There are several brands of ginger garlic paste to choose from. Laxmi, Rani, and Taj are just a few of the companies that sell this handy ingredient. You can generally expect to pay around $15 for 26.5 ounces. This is pretty economical considering that one jar will be good for about 50 tablespoons. If you can't find ginger garlic paste in your local supermarket, try a specialty market or buy it online.

Another option is to buy ginger paste and garlic paste separately. This is a nice alternative if you can't find the combined paste or if you want to have more control over the ratio of the ingredients. It's a perfect solution for those who like ginger more than garlic or vice versa. And, if you have a bit of free time some weekend, you can even make your own ginger garlic paste. All it takes is an equal amount of peeled garlic and ginger pureed in a food processor with a bit of water or oil. Some like to add a touch of acid — either vinegar or lime juice. You can also freeze your paste in an ice cube tray so you'll have it on hand whenever you want it.