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Setting up a first Desi home: what to buy, in order
Moving out, moving country, or starting again. Here's the order that gets you cooking and feeling at home fastest, without buying things you'll never use.
Week one — you can cook
- Pressure cooker (3–5 litre) — the single highest-value purchase.
- Kadai and one saucepan.
- Tawa for roti.
- Masala dabba + the four core spices — see the spice guide.
- Pantry basics — rice or atta, one dal, oil, salt. Full list at pantry staples.
Month one — it works properly
- Mixer-grinder — for masala pastes and chutneys; Western blenders struggle.
- Steel dabbas for storage, in graded sizes.
- Thali, katoris and tumblers — see steel & utensils.
- Tiffin, if you carry lunch.
- A dedicated chai pan — small, and never used for anything else.
When you're settled — it feels like home
- A puja shelf: lamp, incense, images.
- A tulsi or curry leaf plant — see kitchen garden.
- Textiles: a dhurrie, cushion covers, a razai. See textiles.
- Pickle, papad and a bag of good tea — the three things that make a kitchen smell right.
- The good crockery, for guests. See hosting.
What to bring back in a suitcase
The things that are expensive or bad abroad: a masala dabba, a good pressure cooker, steel dabbas, a tawa, homemade pickle, and whatever spice blend your family makes. Everything else can be bought locally, usually at a Desi grocery store.
Last updated: 2026-08-11
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