In a recent column for the San Francisco Chronicle, food photographer and blogger Nik Sharma provides a guide for stocking the Indian pantry, listing the spices and ingredients he loves and uses most and why.

Photo credits: Nik Sharma

Most of the spices can be found at Oaktown Spice Shop, including the following:

• Indian red chiles (not available online)
• Cinnamon (Korintje or Saigon)
• Black Peppercorns (such as Tellicherry or Quang Tri)
• Brown Mustard Seeds (Sharma recommends black, but brown and black are very similar)
• Green Cardamom 
• Black Cardamom
• Asafoetida
• Kala Namak (also known as black salt)
• Turmeric
• Tamarind Paste (not available online)
• Amchoor 
• Saffron
• Rose Water (not available online)
• Bay Leaves
• Garam Masala
• Ajwain Seed (also known as Carom Seed)

Read the story here!