Indian cuisine has gone global in the last decades. The everlasting taste and unique flavours have captured the hearts of many worldwide. India has a wide range of spices, vegetables, and other resources used for cooking. Most Indians are vegetarian, and with increasing awareness, many are also converting to vegan.
If you love Indian cuisine and are either vegan or vegetarian, selecting the suitable options can be very frustrating as there are tons of options available. A newbie can quickly end up making some Indian grocery shopping mistakes, and to avoid that, we are here to help you.
We have curated a list of vegan and vegetarian options to explore while doing Indian grocery shopping and mistakes one should avoid while buying at Indian grocery stores.
Mistakes To Avoid At Indian Grocery Store
If you are unfamiliar with Indian products and when you go directly shopping, you will end up making some errors and picking up the wrong things in your cart. Here are some of the ways to avoid errors at an Indian grocery store:
Not Knowing What You Need
![Mistakes to avoid at Indian Grocery Store]](https://groceryharmonie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Mistakes-to-avoid-at-Indian-Grocery-Store.jpg)
Indian grocery stores are overwhelmed with a wide variety of options. Even in a single category, there are so many options that everyone needs clarification. So, it is very important to know what exactly you need before heading towards Indian grocery stores nearby. Avoid purchasing products you don’t need; this will save you money & time.
Check For Expiry Dates
Indian products have a limited shelf life, so it is very important to check the product’s expiry date before buying it. Look for the expiry date on the back of the packaging!
Know Your Spice Level
Indian grocery stores are full of spices. Indians love to keep their dish spice level high. The spice level of U.S. people can be different, and depending on your spice level, choose your products wisely.
Know The Types of Flours
There are a variety of flour options available in Indian grocery stores. You should understand that general flour is usually available in U.S. stores. India has wheat flour, maida, chickpea flour, multipurpose flour, and many more varieties to choose from.
Check for prices
Before purchasing any Indian Grocery item, it is important to check for the prices. The items come in different quantities and weights, and their prices vary from variety to variety and from store to store. You can find items with less quantity and value at a high price.
While on the other hand, you can get huge discounts on the bigger quantities and packets. There is an MRP labelled on every Indian grocery item, which means that the selling price of the product cannot be higher than the MRP. This is a very common mistake that most shoppers make.
Vegan and Vegetarian Options at Indian Grocery Stores
If you are vegan or vegetarian, it can be very challenging to find items from Indian grocery stores in the U.S. Luckily; desi Indian stores have a variety of options to choose from; you only need a quick list of plant-based vegan and other vegetarian products. There are so many options in these categories at any Indian grocery store that you end up picking up the wrong products. Don’t worry! We curated the list of options you try out:
Paneer:
The very famous one that is widely used in Indian kitchens is Paneer. It is made by curdling the milk with either lemon juice or vinegar, removing the whey, and pressing the curds. People outside India usually refer to it as cottage cheese or a family of tofu, but it is different. Paneer is rich in protein and has a blank canvas to fill with any flavor. You can make various dishes with it, such as palak paneer, paneer tikka, kadai paneer, and many other similar dishes. Paneer is not a plant-based product, so it is not recommended for vegan followers.
Soya Chunks:
Soya chunks are considered a desi source of protein. Fact says it is the only food with more protein than non-vegetarian food. These are made with soya flour and have a meat-like texture, so you can have this as an alternative to meat dishes.
You can add soya to almost all the dishes to uplift their overall taste and nutrients.
Lentils:
Lentils are one of the most versatile items in any Indian grocery store. These are rich in protein, fiber, and other nutrients necessary for the body. At the grocery store, you will find multiple options of lentils such as urad daal, chana daal, moong daal, etc. From a fundamental nutrient dish to flavour full spicy dishes, lentils can be a core ingredient every time.
Chickpeas:
Another rich protein and plant-based vegan product at Indian grocery stores are chickpeas. This versatile ingredient is used widely in India in almost every state in different styles from Cholas to humus; chickpeas are everywhere. You should try it out!
Roasted Channa:
If you want a quick bite, roasted Channa is a perfect choice. Indians enjoy roasted channa as their go-to snack in the evening. This quick snack is a simple roast of channa seasoned with some salt and spices, and you are good to go!
Ladoos:
Now it’s time for some sweets; in any Indian grocery store, you can easily find a sweet section. In every sweet area, there will be laddoos. This sweet dish is round in shape and comprises roasted chickpeas, sugar, ghee, and oil. It is a healthy vegan lovely option to try out.
Other Options
- Rice: It is a staple food of India. You can find multiple options of rice in any grocery store in the USA.
- Coconut Milk: It is a vegan option in replacement of dairy milk. It is easily available at any grocery store.
- Tofu: It is a plant-based vegan alternative paneer.
- Pickles: If you are looking for a taste enhancer for your dishes, you should try out Indian pickles to spice up even bland dishes.
- Papadum: It is a thin, crisp Indian cracker made from lentil flour. It is a popular snack and is often served as an appetiser.
Conclusion
Shopping at any Indian Grocery Store in the USA like a boss is a dream for many. The variety of options available at the store can easily mesmerise us. Follow our points on how to avoid mistakes while shopping at a grocery store.
Also, suppose you are a vegan or vegetarian. In that case, we have curated a list of options available at any Indian grocery store in the USA so that you don’t bump into buying the wrong products.
Shrey Chaudhary
Experienced freelancer in multiple domains such as content writing, digital marketing, and virtual assistant. Shrey's a learner and an explorer who keeps taking risks and always learns from them. If you are looking for a genuine, and experienced freelancer in the any of mentioned domains below, Get excited! You are reading the right profile. 1. Content Writing. 2. Social Media Marketing. 3. Shopify Virtual Assistant 4. E-Commerce Product Listings. Contact Shrey Now!
