Why We Love This Classic Indian Spice Blend
Vibrant and delicious Indian flavors are a comfort to me, warming the belly and soul… The smell of dark earthy spices conjures up hazy memories of rickshaws, colorful markets, and old friends from my time spent in India when I was younger. The colors and rustic fragrance of Indian cooking awaken the senses and complement many fall fruits and veggies such as pumpkin, butternut squash, apples, and root vegetables. And the not-so-secret ingredient that is the cornerstone of South Asian recipes is a quality garam masala seasoning blend! Now, this is traditionally called “roasted” spices; however, there is no actual oven roasting. Instead the spices are dry toasted in a skillet on the stovetop. It is a super easy method that takes only a few minutes to prepare.
What is Garam Masala?
Garam Masala is a northern Indian spice blend that literally translates to “hot mix.” That’s not to say that Garam Masala is always spicy hot. There are many variations of Garam Masala, however, the base generally consists of cinnamon, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, cloves, and cardamom. The emphasis on “hot” is completely optional. I like to add a little heat to mine, but not so much that it takes away from the other flavors. In this batch, I used tiny Piquin peppers for an extra punch! (But be sure to serve a refreshing lassi or berry nimbu on the side!) While you can easily find bottles of the seasoning mix at the store, really nothing beats this homemade blend of spices… Not only do you get to have complete control over the quality and quantity of ingredients, this recipe is also super cost-effective!
Ingredients You Need
Coriander Seeds Cumin Seeds Peppercorns Dried Ginger Green Cardamom Pods Whole Star Anise Cloves Cinnamon Sticks Bay Leaves Small Whole Nutmeg Dried Cayenne Chile – or 1 teaspoon Piquin chiles (optional)
How to Make Garam Masala
Get the Complete (Printable!) Homemade Garam Masala Recipe Below. Enjoy!
How to Use Homemade Garam Masala
Use the seasonings to make traditional Indian food recipes, like:
Instant Pot Butter Chicken Chicken Madras Curry Paneer Tikka Masala Crockpot Chickpea Curry Instant Pot Tandoori Chicken Drumsticks Spicy Roasted Chickpeas
But that’s not all! People are often perplexed by how to incorporate this spice blend into their non-Indian meals. Garam Masala, I believe, is the most versatile of Asian spice blends because of the strong reliance on cinnamon. This bold spice blend can add intriguing flavor to SO many dishes… For kicks, try Garam Masala in:
Spiced Nuts Cookies Pumpkin Spice Cake with Maple Frosting Curried Apple Turnovers Roasted Butternut Squash Chicken Sausage Apple Squash Sheet Pan Dinner
Looking for More Great Spice Blend Recipes? Be Sure to Also Try:
Easy Adobo Seasoning Recipe How To Make Italian Seasoning Recipe Best Ever Blackened Seasoning Recipe The Best Steak Seasoning Recipe Cajun French Fry Seasoning
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