How To - the art of setting up basic in kitchen (Indian)

As a new modern age bride, realities of marriage struck home pretty early on. Life is not just the bed of roses one expects to be but packed with some (soft and bendable) thorns. 
Unlike the bolly movies, the brides do not wake up on rose petals scattered bed waiting to sip the freshly brewed tea or coffee by new groom. Most cases, it would be dragging yourself out of the bed trying to figure out the way to kitchen in the new home and then looking for basics. 
If you were fortunate to spend a few days with your in laws or parents to help you out initially then maybe this was not case for all. However setting up a new kitchen may come upon you at any point in your life, when you move in to your own home or change city or country. Most indian families provide this basic kit as part of the bride's trousseau. In maharashtra they call this as the "Rukhwat" . Brides bring from their mother's home the culture ,background and values that she has been raised with...

A look at what the basic items should have for one to setup or start a new Kitchen





Utensils
6/12 Serving Plates                                6/12 - small and large bowls
12/24 - table spoons                              6/12 - Drinking Glass
6/12- tea cups                                      1 tea pan, 1 tea strainer / coffee filter
1 Milk Cooker/ Pan                               1 griddle /tawa (Non stick) 
1 rolling pin and base                            4 sauce pans of different sizes with lids
2 Woks/Kadai  with lids                        5 Storage tins of different sizes
Masala Dabba (Spice Rack)                    mortar pestle
Cooking Spoon Set (Slotted Spoon, Spatula, Serving Spoons etc.)
Knife Set, Sugar, Tea, Salt Containers
1 large basin/ bowl to knead the dough










Staples
Sugar, Salt, Tea Powder, Rice, Dal, Flour, Cooking Oil
Masalas - Red Chilli Powder, Turmeric Powder, Garam Masala, Mustard Seeds, Cumin Seeds, Asafoetida






Other Essentials
Liquid/ Powder Soap for utensils, Scrubs, Kitchen Towels, Mops

Good to have
- Family Special Masala (Kanda lasun tikhat, garam masala, goda masala, sambhar powder etc.)
- Pickles , Preserves and other sundried goodies that stay well without refrigeration
- Dry Snacks and Sweets

First Day Shopping 
Milk, Bread, Vegetables, Fruits, Jam and Ketchup, Onion, Garlic, Ginger, Fresh Coriander, Green Chillies, Lemon

Comments

Suma Gandlur said…
Totally agree with you. :)
I would add a pressure cooker to that list being a south Indian who eat rice/dal daily.
Priya Suresh said…
Lolz you are rite Pradnya,i still remember how i struggled to organise myself in my kitchen earlier,wonderful post again..
Chef Mireille said…
like the new header
Harini R said…
Good one! I had made a similar list for my sister when she had to set up her new home :)
Srivalli said…
Lol on bolly brides!..luckily for me, it was a gradually transition, so never realized it...good list.
Rajani S said…
When I was with my in laws, it was the bollywood way. Everything taken care of and I was like a princess! When we moved out too, MIL took care of setting the kitchen (utensils and all), so never had to do it myself. But this list is a practical one, great for someone to get started with their new kitchen
oh dear!..tht's a good one..always lived in a joint family so never ever given this a thought..but interesting and useful as well!!
Pavani said…
Another awesome post. I'm sure newly weds will find it very helpful.
Suma Gandlur said…
The order in South is little different. In many of the states down here, we start from left to right beginning from salt as you mentioned. I think this is followed only during weddings nowadays.
Archana said…
This is a great list when you set up a new home. Love the post Pradnya.

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