Sarina Kamini on the Language of Masala

Masala is the backbone of South Asian cooking, and for Kashmiri-Australian author Sarina Kamini, understanding it has established her as a scholar of spice. In her new book 'What We Call Masala', she unpacks the layered alchemy of Indian food and invites readers to explore its transportive power. Sarina joins Suhayla Sharif to share the magic of a masala dabba, why eating with your hands is the only way, and how Indian recipes carry generations of resilience. Listen now on SBS Spice, wherever you get your podcasts.

Poet of Indian spices Sarina Kamini sits down with SBS Spice to unravel her map of masala. Photo by Lauren Trickett.

Spice savant Sarina Kamini dishes up her butter chicken. Photo by Patricia Niven.

The chemistry in masala, and that alchemy, is really fascinating to experiment with and to experience.

Sarina Kamini on exploring the world of South Asian spices.

SBS Spice is your go-to for South Asian Australian culture, exploring what makes us tick—or ick. Catch us on your favourite podcast platforms: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and the SBS Audio app. Or tap the audio player to listen to the full episode.

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