Making authentic Indian food takes a lot of experience and a practiced hand, though starting out with the right tools can help make the process more manageable. However, when choosing the best blender for Indian food, there’s a wide range of options to consider. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, it helps to narrow down your choices a bit.
To help you on your quest to perfect your tikka masala, we’ve narrowed down all the top blender models to our five favorites. Take a look at the pros and cons of each one and study-up on exactly what features go into the best blender for Indian cooking.
| Photo | Product | Accessories Included? | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
  | NutriBullet ZNBF30500Z | Yes | |
  | Ninja BL770 Mega Kitchen System | Yes | |
  | Vitamix E310 | No | |
  | Nutribullet Personal Blender | No | |
  | KitchenAid Hand Blender | No |
The Top Five Blenders for Making Indian Food
See what makes each of these top blender models ideal for cooking Indian food.
Nutribullet 1200W
What we liked:
- Nice wide pitcher
- Smaller pitchers are great for blending spices
- Powerful motor
What we didn’t like:
- Plastic pitcher scratches a bit more easily
- Runs quite loud
One of the factors we looked at when choosing the best blender for making Indian food is pitcher size and shape. The Nutribullet 1200W is one of the best options in this category, as it offers a wide 64 oz pitcher, which is the ideal size when cooking curry for a family of four to six. The volume markings on the side are also handy when you’re adding ingredients in specific quantities.
The blender also comes with a 32 oz and 24 oz cup, which drastically improves its versatility. These can be especially useful when blending dry ingredients, giving you full control over the grind as you go.
Our main complaint is that the pitcher is made of plastic which, while durable, does tend to scratch after a few uses. It won’t affect the quality of your food, though it will ruin the nice transparent look of the plastic. Overall, we would recommend this blender to anyone looking for a versatile low-to-mid range option.
Ninja BL770
What we liked:
- A wide range of attachments
- Easy to clean in the dishwasher
What we didn’t like:
- Blades dull more easily
- No milling blade attachment is available
If you’re looking to spend a bit more than on the Nutribullet model above, the Ninja BL770 offers a bit of extra power, attachments, and features for only a slight increase in price. It’s a good option to consider for anyone who wants to make the extra investment in quality.
The model is referred to as the Mega Kitchen System, which highlights its wide range of attachments that maximize its versatility. It includes a 72 oz total crushing pitcher, a food processor bowl, a dough blade (perfect for dosa batter), and two mini Nutri ninja cups. Together these will allow you to cook all the Indian classics, from chapati dough to fresh curry.
However, it’s worth keeping in mind that Ninja blender models do have a reputation for having blades that dull a bit faster than other models. This means you may have to replace them more frequently. Still, it’s a quality machine that can tackle a wide range of projects. Give this blender a try if you’re looking for something that can really embrace the full diversity of Indian cooking.
Vitamix E310
What we liked:
- Durable design
- Blade is well suited to wet and dry ingredients
- Self-cleaning function
What we didn’t like:
- Is more expensive than other options
- Smaller pitcher
If you’re looking for a blender that gives you the most for your money, you’ll want to choose a model that is built with durability in mind. The Vitamix E310 is the perfect choice as it comes from a brand that is known for its long-lasting hardware. In fact, this Vitamix blender even comes with a five-year warranty!
Both the blade and the motor base are made to last out of durable materials. The blade is constructed of thick, hardened stainless steel, ensuring that it can stand up to tough blends like dry ingredients repeatedly. This makes the blender especially useful when cooking Indian cuisine.
Of course, the quality build comes with a higher price tag, so you’ll want to make sure you’re going to get plenty of use out of it before making the investment. Though, after years worth of use, you’ll find that it’s one of the smartest buys around.
Nutribullet Personal Blender
What we liked:
- Compact size
- Plastic cups are exceptionally durable
- Dishwasher-safe
What we didn’t like:
- Small capacity limits its uses
- Hand blenders take a bit of finesse to use
If you’re cooking for the whole family, it pays to have a big blender on hand. Though if you’re looking to make a meal for one or find a machine that can help grind spices for curry, a more compact bullet blender may be the better option. The Nutribullet Personal Blender fits a surprising amount of power and performance into a small package.
For such a small blender, 600 watts of power is plenty, letting you tear through dry ingredients with ease. You can also use it to make curry, though it’s only suitably sized for single servings. Either way, it’s designed to be easy to clean, and its jar is 100% dishwasher safe.
Give it a try if you’re planning on working with small portions or you are looking for a compact and portable kitchen helper to speed up some extra tasks when making Indian food.
KitchenAid Variable Speed Hand Blender
What we liked:
- Convenient variable speed trigger switch
- Added blending jar for versatility
- Comes in a wide range of colors and styles
What we didn’t like:
- Still not great at working with large quantities
The best hand blender can be a worthwhile option to consider, especially when working with hot dishes. Since most countertop blenders don’t mix well with hot liquids, it’s nice to have something that can blend food right on the stovetop. The KitchenAid Variable Speed Hand Blender gives you much of the same control as a countertop blender in an alternative form.
This immersion blender deserves plenty of praise, but our favorite thing about it is its variable speed trigger switch. It lets you have precision control over blending speed while in use. That means it’s one of the only blenders that allows you to control the consistency of your food while it cooks. It’s easy to see why it’s an indispensable tool when cooking Indian food.
Our recommendation? If you think an immersion blender will be an asset in your kitchen, you can’t do better than this one for Indian cooking. However, you may want to consider getting a countertop blender along with it for extra versatility.
Best Blender for Indian Food – Buyer’s Guide
The fact is, there is a wide range of factors to consider when picking the best blender for Indian cooking. Some may be more or less important to you, but it’s worth the effort to consider all of the following before you buy.
Compatibility with Dry Ingredients
As any accomplished Indian chef can tell you, any good curry starts with the right spices. To get the most flavor into your garam masala as possible, it’s to start with whole spices that are ground fresh. That means having a blender that can work with dry ingredients.
A strong motor is definitely one piece of the puzzle here, but even more important is having the right blade. A milling blade is an alternative design that has a dull edge and downward-pointing tips to help ensure dry ingredients circulate properly and grind evenly. Some blender manufacturers sell milling blade attachments separately, while others have them built into their existing blade design.
If you’re going with a standard blade design, make sure it’s durable enough to hold its edge when chewing through whole spices.
Pitcher Size
One of the key differences between blending a batch of curry and some smoothies is quantity. When making sauce for your family dinner, you’re going to be working with much greater quantities of ingredients. That means you’ll want a pitcher that’s able to keep up.
Our tip would be to look for a pitcher size of at least 64 oz unless you know you’re only cooking portions for one or two people at a time. This size is large enough to allow you to serve big batches of curry while also staying small enough to remain versatile for other uses. Ideally, you can also look for blenders that come with a variety of different pitcher sizes, maximizing versatility even more.
Variable Speed
Indian cooking requires a wide range of different processes, from pureeing to grinding and everything in between. To ensure you get smooth and consistent results, you want to choose a blender that has the right setting for every job.
At the very least, you want to make sure you have three core settings:
- One low-speed setting that’s designed for evenly grinding dry ingredients
- One medium-speed setting that specializes in coarsely chopping vegetables
- One high-speed setting that can make smooth purees in a flash
While these three are enough, having additional speed settings will give you more control over the consistency of your food, which is crucial when making different curry recipes.
Power
Power isn’t as big of a concern when cooking with Indian food as it is with, say, making nut butter or hummus, but it’s still worth considering. Blenders with a high power output have an easier time grinding through tough ingredients without wearing down the motor. They also allow you to puree liquids faster while producing smoother results. Ideally, try sticking with blenders that run at least 1000 watts.
Ease of Cleaning
Keeping your blender clean will not only help prolong the life of your machine but will also improve the taste of your food. When not cleaned properly, flavors can cross contaminate, bringing the flavor of one dish into another. For more subtle flavors, this may not be the biggest issue, but when working with potent spices, it’s absolutely crucial.
Glass pitchers have an advantage here as they clean easier and won’t absorb flavors as well. However, many plastic pitchers have features like a self-cleaning function that simplify cleanup. This can also make multi-step blender recipes easier, letting you start each step with a fresh jar.
Finally, be sure to look for a blender that’s dishwasher safe. Even after using a self-cleaning feature, blenders often still need the occasional deep clean. Having the option of throwing yours in the dishwasher can save you the hassle of meticulously removing and cleaning the blade.
Budget
Ultimately, the most important factor is finding a quality blender that falls within your price range. In our opinion, you can expect to pay between $100 and $200 dollars for a quality blender to make Indian food. However, there are definitely more expensive blenders out there that are worth the money.
What you want to avoid are blenders that fall too far below the $100 mark. While these may seem tempting at first, keep in mind that they probably won’t last more than a year, especially if you use them regularly. When in doubt, check to see if the manufacturer offers a warranty on their product. A 1, 2, or 5-year warranty is a great sign that they have faith in the durability of their hardware.
The Right Blender for Every Indian Classic
In reality, we think that every cook is looking for something a little different in a blender, whether that’s power, capacity, or versatility. Though when it comes to choosing a reliable machine that can satisfy almost anyone, there’s one that stands a bit above the rest. The Vitamix E310 offers the quality and durability that makes it a clear winner for anyone cooking Indian food.
While its design may look simple, its ten-speed settings are more than impressive, giving you plenty of control whether you’re grinding spices or blending up a fresh batch of curry. That, combined with its easy-clean design, means it makes most recipes a joy to prepare. As long as you are able to make the extra investment, it’s well worth the money.
