What’s garlic doing in a list of Indian spices? Well, it’s not uniquely Indian (or technically a spice), but it is an essential Indian seasoning.

Using garlic cloves of the size you get in commercial garlic, between 4 and 10 cloves in a 4 person recipe will give you a good hearty garlic flavor. For a milder flavor, add it at the beginning when you start frying your onions, or for a sharper flavor, add it after your onions are soft, giving the garlic less cooking time.