For anyone interested in cooking authentic Indian dishes in their home kitchen, The Spice Collective offers easy-to-follow recipes and delicious pre-blended spices that, when combined with a few simple ingredients, result in tasty meals that will rival your favorite Indian take-out restaurant.
Sourced directly from India and found at your Market of Choice, The Spice Collective’s vegan spice blends include four varieties: Makhani Masala, Chana Masala, Tikka Masala and Chai Masala.
“Each blend contains all the spices you need to make a specific Indian dish,” explains Poonam Bhavan, owner of The Spice Collective in Lake Oswego. “We’ve taken the guesswork out of preparing home-cooked Indian dishes.”
Try the Chana Masala blend to make the classic chick pea-based stew or combine the Tikka Masala blend with your favorite meat to create a sensational spicy dish. The Makhani Masala blend is perfect for butter chicken, also called Murgh Makhani. Vegetables, tofu or paneer cheese work well with all these spice blends, depending on one’s diet preferences.
Finish your Indian meal with a delicious cup of hot, milky tea. “Our Chai Masala blend is best enjoyed in a cup of hot, milky black tea – always a perfect finish to any of our other dishes,” Poonam says.
Poonam launched The Spice Collective in early 2021, founded on her desire to pass down her rich Indian culture to her daughter. With a healthy entrepreneurial spirit, Poonam sought out high-quality ingredients and developed simple recipes for home cooks to create popular Indian dishes; see more of Poonam’s recipes here.
“Making delicious Indian food at home can be simple, and there is no need to search for and stock dozens of spices,” she says.
Poonam relies on her whole family to pitch in at her business, whether taste-testing, marketing, packaging or fulfilling orders. “I am lucky to have such a supportive and loving team that is my family. Their constant encouragement is what has helped my business to grow.”
She also relies on the support of Market of Choice, which she says is a true community partner focused on supporting local and giving back. “From the mentoring and the feedback we received to providing us the opportunity to broaden our reach by offering our products at their stores, they are a real partner in every sense of the word.”
The Spice Collective recognizes the importance of sustainability and prides itself on minimizing waste, encouraging home cooks to use fresh, unprocessed ingredients rather than premade or packaged foods. The Spice Collective is also committed to giving back, supporting Feed the Children in its work to address childhood hunger around the world.
“It is a cause near and dear to us,” Poonam says.
