Dries herbs are important in Indian cuisine, but so are sprightly fresh herbs, including cilantro, parsley, mint, basil, ginger, garlic, and chiles--all readily available at your local co-op. It's easy to incorporate some of the great Indian flavors into your home cooking.

While some spices such as garlic, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and black pepper are generally familiar in the West, the delicately balanced blends of regional spices are what give Indian food its distinct depth of flavor.