Important tips on cooking Indian food

Here are some things to remember when cooking Indian food:

• Hot pan, hot oil.

• Spices go in first to release their flavors — especially important with mustard seeds (they should start popping as soon as they hit the pan).

• Have everything prepped in advance, because it goes fast (high-heat cooking), and keep stirring.

• Cook with the window open: The smells are wonderful, but a snootful of chili can cause a bit of coughing!

— The Washington Post