Indian ingredients and their Polish names: a dictionary for expats
This dictionary gives common Indian ingredients with their Hindi (or Nepali) name, the English name and the Polish name you will see on a label in Poland. Use it to read a Polish recipe, ask a shop assistant or search a Polish online shop. Where Polish labels use the English or Hindi name, we say so.
Spices (przyprawy)
| Hindi / Nepali | English | Polish |
|---|---|---|
| Haldi | Turmeric | Kurkuma |
| Jeera | Cumin | Kmin rzymski |
| Saunf | Fennel seeds | Nasiona kopru włoskiego |
| Methi | Fenugreek seeds | Kozieradka (nasiona) |
| Kasuri methi | Dried fenugreek leaves | Suszone liście kozieradki |
| Dhania | Coriander (seeds, powder) | Kolendra (nasiona, mielona) |
| Rai, sarson | Mustard seeds | Gorczyca (nasiona gorczycy) |
| Kalonji | Nigella seeds | Czarnuszka |
| Ajwain | Carom seeds, ajwain | Ajwain, kminek koptyjski |
| Hing | Asafoetida | Asafetyda |
| Elaichi | Green cardamom | Kardamon zielony |
| Laung | Cloves | Goździki |
| Dalchini | Cinnamon | Cynamon |
| Kali mirch | Black pepper | Pieprz czarny |
| Lal mirch | Red chilli powder | Chili mielone |
| Tej patta | Indian bay leaf | Liść laurowy indyjski |
| Kesar | Saffron | Szafran |
| Jaiphal / javitri | Nutmeg / mace | Gałka muszkatołowa / kwiat muszkatołowy |
| Chakri phool | Star anise | Anyż gwiazdkowaty |
Note: kmin is not kminek. Kmin rzymski is cumin (jeera). Kminek is caraway, the seed in Polish rye bread. They look alike but taste very different. For Indian cooking, buy kmin rzymski. The Indian tej patta is also a different leaf from the European liść laurowy. The European bay leaf works, but the aroma is not the same.
Flours and grains (mąka, kasze, ryż)
| Hindi | English | Polish |
|---|---|---|
| Atta | Whole wheat chapati flour | Mąka atta, mąka pszenna pełnoziarnista |
| Maida | Plain white flour | Mąka pszenna (typ 450 or 500 is closest) |
| Besan | Gram flour | Mąka z ciecierzycy |
| Sooji, rava | Semolina | Semolina; kasza manna is close to fine sooji |
| Chawal | Rice | Ryż |
| Poha | Flattened rice | Płatki ryżowe |
| Makki ka atta | Maize flour | Mąka kukurydziana |
Polish wholemeal flour (mąka razowa or pełnoziarnista) is coarser than atta. Rotis made with it are heavier, so most people buy atta.
Pulses (strączki)
| Hindi | English | Polish |
|---|---|---|
| Chana, kabuli chana | Chickpeas | Ciecierzyca |
| Kala chana | Brown chickpeas | Ciecierzyca brązowa |
| Chana dal | Split chickpeas | Ciecierzyca łuskana, połówki |
| Masoor dal | Red lentils | Soczewica czerwona |
| Toor dal | Pigeon peas | Gołębi groszek |
| Urad dal | Black gram | Often labelled biała soczewica (split) or czarna soczewica (whole) |
| Moong | Mung beans | Fasola mung |
| Rajma | Kidney beans | Fasola czerwona |
| Lobia | Black-eyed beans | Fasola czarne oczko |
| Bhatmas (Nepali) | Soybeans | Soja, ziarna soi |
Bhatmas in English is soybeans. Khairo bhatmas is the brown variety that Nepali cooks roast and mix with spices. Urad is a bean, not a lentil, but many Polish labels still call it soczewica.
Dairy, fats and sweeteners
| Hindi | English | Polish |
|---|---|---|
| Ghee | Clarified butter | Masło klarowane, ghee |
| Paneer | Paneer, Indian cottage cheese | Ser paneer |
| Dahi | Plain yoghurt | Jogurt naturalny |
| Malai | Cream | Śmietana |
| Gur | Jaggery | Cukier trzcinowy nierafinowany, jaggery |
| Cheeni | Sugar | Cukier |
Polish twaróg is not paneer. Twaróg crumbles and melts into a dish, but paneer keeps its shape when you fry it.
Vegetables, herbs and fruit
| Hindi | English | Polish |
|---|---|---|
| Adrak | Ginger | Imbir |
| Lehsun | Garlic | Czosnek |
| Pyaz | Onion | Cebula |
| Hari mirch | Green chilli | Zielone chili |
| Dhania patta | Fresh coriander | Kolendra świeża |
| Pudina | Mint | Mięta |
| Kadi patta | Curry leaves | Liście curry |
| Bhindi | Okra | Okra |
| Baingan | Aubergine | Bakłażan |
| Lauki | Bottle gourd | Tykwa |
| Karela | Bitter gourd | Gorzki melon, momordyka |
| Arbi | Taro | Taro, kolokazja |
| Mooli | White radish | Rzodkiew biała |
| Palak | Spinach | Szpinak |
| Gobhi | Cauliflower | Kalafior |
| Matar | Peas | Groszek |
| Imli | Tamarind | Tamaryndowiec |
| Amrood | Guava | Guawa |
| Nariyal | Coconut | Kokos |
Taro (arbi) must always be cooked before you eat it. Do not eat it raw.
Nuts, dried fruit and sweets
| Hindi / Bengali | English | Polish |
|---|---|---|
| Kaju | Cashews | Orzechy nerkowca |
| Badam | Almonds | Migdały |
| Pista | Pistachios | Pistacje |
| Kishmish | Raisins | Rodzynki |
| Khajoor | Dates | Daktyle |
| Makhana | Fox nuts | Makhana, nasiona lotosu |
| Seviyan, semai | Vermicelli | Wermiszel (makaron wermiszel) |
Semai in English is vermicelli: very thin wheat noodles. Semai is the Bengali word, seviyan the Hindi one. For sweet semai, buy the fine, often pre-roasted Indian or Bangladeshi kind.
Two more words that people search
- Wata cukrowa in English is candy floss (British) or cotton candy (American).
- Grzyby mun in English are wood ear mushrooms, also called black fungus. They are dried mushrooms from East Asian cooking. Soak them in water before use.
Where to buy
Little India stocks most items in this dictionary, with English and Polish names on the website. Examples are brown soybeans (khairo bhatmas) from Nepali Mato, lachcha semai, toor dal and grzyby mun. Little India has shops in Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław and Gdańsk and ships orders from its online shop. Our guide to the Indian shop in Poland lists the shops and what they sell.
FAQ
What is bhatmas in English?
Bhatmas is the Nepali word for soybeans. Khairo bhatmas means brown soybeans. In Polish they are soja.
What is semai in English?
Semai is vermicelli, thin wheat noodles used for sweet dishes such as sheer khurma and semai payesh. In Polish shops look for "wermiszel" or "makaron wermiszel". Polish "nitki" are a different noodle, usually made with egg.
What is cumin in Polish?
Cumin is kmin rzymski. Do not confuse it with kminek, which is caraway.
What is gram flour in Polish?
Gram flour (besan) is mąka z ciecierzycy.
For more on two words from this list, read Bhatmas in English and Semai (vermicelli): a simple sweet recipe.