Garam Masala is one of the most widely used spices in Indian cuisine. For years, I used to buy it at Indian groceries, until I realized I was consuming additional chemicals my body did not need. In fact, I would stock different masalas for different recipes thinking it would enhance the flavor of the dish. More masalas, more chemicals! A few years ago, I decided I’d just make this at home, thanks to my mom. I also realized the basic masala is good enough for a wide range of dishes.
What Spices are in Garam Masala?
In general, spices used in garam masala recipes vary by region. Personal taste also plays a huge part in how it is made. The most common ingredients include white and black peppercorns, bay leaves, cloves, cumin seeds, black cumin, green, brown, and black cardamom, star anise, nutmeg, long pepper and coriander seeds. There are many regional versions of garam masala, but no combination is considered “more authentic” than another.
Whole Spices
Make-Your-Own Garam Masala
Because of the limited ingredients, I like to think of this garam masala as the basic homemade version or the ‘vanilla’ version. All you need is 3 spices – cinnamon bark, clove, and coriander seeds. That’s it! It is important to dry roast them in a pan to ensure there is no moisture. Then cool and blend. Now, how difficult can this be?!
Other Indian Spices
While we’re on the subject of Indian spices, here are a few you might want to have handy (in addition to Garam Masala), if you’re interested in cooking Indian food.
- Turmeric Powder
- Red Chili Powder (or cayenne pepper)
- Cumin Seeds and Powder
- Asafetida
- Dry Chili Peppers
- Green Chili Peppers
- Curry Leaves
- Bay Leaves
- Mustard Seeds
- Coriander Seeds and Powder
- Fenugreek Seeds and Powder
- Ginger & Garlic Paste
- Fresh Garlic
- Fresh Ginger
With these in your kitchen, you would be able to cover most of the popular recipes.
Some Recipes With Garam Masala
- Instant Pot Rajma Masala
- Dal Makhni
- Aloo Gobi
- Yummy Green Beans Potato Curry
- Easy Mung Sprouts Masala
- Cabbage & Carrot Masala
- Bhindi (Okra) Masala
- Baingan Bharta – Roasted Eggplant Curry
- Chana Masala- Spiced Chickpeas Curry
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Make-Your-Own Garam Masala
Ingredients
- 1/2 Cup Cinnamon - Bark
- 1/4 Cup Cloves
- 1 Cup Coriander Seeds
Instructions
Instant Pot (IP)
- Set Instant Pot (IP) to 'sauté' mode, wait for 'hot' sign. Roast cinnamon, cloves and coriander seeds in a pan on medium flame to get rid of any moisture.
Stove Top
- Set pan on stove top with medium flame. Roast cinnamon, cloves and coriander seeds in a pan on medium flame to get rid of any moisture.
- Allow the spices to cool and then transfer to a blender jar (make sure the jar is clean and dry).
- Blend to a fine powder. Store in an airtight jar and refrigerate to retain freshness.
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Thanks for the tip!