“Whenever we would go, we’d stock up on the basics,” says Mamta, 38. “Of course, there would always be something we’d forget.”
This isn’t a problem she has to worry about anymore. A few weeks ago, she and her sister-in-law, Jaya Punjabi, 46, opened Masala Mahal at the Southside Plaza in South Portland. Their business venture gives Maine it’s first Indian grocery store.
Inside the tidy shop, the shelves are lined with Indian brands and packaged foods.
“We specialize in Indian lentils and different kinds of flours,” Mamta says. “People from different regions of India are used to different lentils.”
In addition to the wide range of lentils, the store stocks dried red kidney beans, chickpeas, black eyed peas, mung beans and green peas. Flour varieties include jawar, bajri, moong, rice and gram. Pre-made breads, such as naan, roti and paratha, can be purchased frozen or fresh, and there’s a wide selection of ready-to-eat entrees, such as Veg Biryani, Dal Tadka and Rajma Masala.
Once the sister-in-laws find a local supplier, they intend to expand their offerings of fresh produce. A section of the store not in need of expansion is the comprehensive selection of spices. Here you’ll find no shortage of things like dried red chilies, coriander, turmeric and garam masala.
For $3.75, you can pick up an assorted bag of whole spices that can be ground to create your own garam masla. These spices include cumin seeds, coriander seeds, bay leaves, black cardamon and red chilies. Other notables include whole turmeric roots ($1.99), oregano seeds ($1.29), onion seeds ($1.25), whole tamarind pods ($1.49) and pomegranate seeds ($2.50).
And if spicy cooking is not your thing, you may want to check out the selection of Bollywood DVDs available to rent from the store. When asked for a recommendation, Mamta points to “Om Shanti Om” starring Shahrukh Khan. She describes the actor as “the Tom Cruise of India,” and a poster of a shirtless Khan above the counter provides all the explanation you’ll need.
So whether you’re looking for hot food or hot DVDs, Masala Mahal has got you covered.