This authentic North Indian recipe for Garam Masala can be made using either ground or whole spices – or any combination of the two. Use whatever you have on hand – no need to buy whole if you already have ground and vice versa. Ready in about 15 minutes, this Indian seasoning blend is as fragrant as it is flavorful! This Garam Masala spice mix is the basis of many Indian Street foods.
What is Garam Masala?
Garam Masala is an aromatic blend of spices that is very popular in authentic Indian recipes. Maybe you are wondering, “What does Garam Masala mean in English?”. Garam Masala is the Hindi term meaning “warm mixture” of spices. This dry-roasted blend of spices can be used in a variety of dishes and is most often used as a base to which more spices are added like tandoori chicken, for instance.
The “warm mixture” of spices refers to the metabolic warming and not the “hot spicy heat” for which Indian food has become well known. It seems there is some science behind the fact that the warming spices do raise your body temperature making you feel warm and even sweat while you eat Indian food! All joking aside, Indian food does not have to be super spicy-hot either. When you make your own seasoning blends at home, you can easily adjust the heat level to a level of spice you enjoy.
When you first get started in Indian cooking, you might notice that the splice blends call for a lot of seasonings you may not have on hand. Purchasing them in the grocery store can be quite costly too, that is if they even carry all the exotic spices you need. You’d be surprised though, with the worldwide boom in ethnic cooking, most stores are really trying to amp up their spice aisles. So be sure to check them out.
Even so, your best bet is to head up to the local Indian grocery store. You will find their prices to be much more affordable and they will have all the ingredients you need on hand and all in one place. If your store is anything like mine, the gentleman behind the counter is more than happy to point you in the right direction.
Where to Buy Garam Masala Spice Mix
If a trip to the Indian spice market to make this homemade garam masala doesn’t appeal to you, you can always opt for Amazon. They have everything you need to make this aromatic spice blend. If you prefer a pre-packaged Garam Masala spice mix [affiliate link], this one comes highly recommended and is a non-GMO-certified brand that I know and trust. The Amazon price is also very close to what I’ve seen in the brick-and-mortar storefront as well. When selecting a pre-packaged blend, look for one that sticks to the traditional ingredients listed in this recipe.
Garam Masala Ingredients And Tools
Garam masala powder recipes vary widely depending on the area of India you’re in and also between regional and family recipes. No two recipes are exactly alike as individuals and families adjust the seasoning to accommodate their personal preferences. This garam masala recipe incorporates the spices you will find in many of the traditional blends found on the market today. You can make it your own by adding a pinch or so more of the flavors you enjoy. This recipe, like any, is totally customizable and we encourage you to do just that.
** You can find the full recipe ingredients and instructions on the printable recipe card below.
What’s in Garam Masala?
This is a tough question. As we’ve mentioned before, Garam masala spice mixes vary widely but some common ingredients found in Indian Garam Masala blends are listed below. The basic spices are the five listed below. Then optional spices are listed below and are added in amounts according to individual tastes.
The Basic Spices
- Cumin – Rich and hearty, earthy and warm, with a hint of citrus, Cumin adds instant depth to any dish.
- Black Peppercorns – Black pepper enhances the flavor of meat, gives a spicy bite to soups and stews and brings layers of additional flavor to vegetables.
- Coriander – The flavor of coriander is warm and sweet with a hint of lemon, aromatic coriander is used to flavor sweet and savory recipes.
- Cinnamon – One of the world’s oldest spices, cinnamon is also one of the most popular. It brings deep, warm sweetness to the dishes.
- Green Cardamom pods – green cardamom has a complex mix of sweet, peppery, floral flavors used in both savory and sweet dishes and teas. Cardamom is known as the Queen of Spices because of its many uses, both medicinal and as an ingredient in cuisines all over the world. For some, cardamom can have an overpowering floral note, so it’s best to start with a small amount and flavor adjust as you go.
Optional Additional Spices
Based on flavor preferences, you may also add any of these ingredients.
- Nutmeg – Nutmeg adds distinctive sweet-spicy flavor to a variety of sweet and savory dishes.
- Cloves – Cloves bring an intense, warm flavor to spice blends.
- Bay leaves – A member of the laurel family, bay leaves are indispensable to most cuisines, especially French, Mediterranean and Indian. They add robust flavor all kinds of meat and vegetable dishes, soups and sauces
- Fennel – Fennel seeds originated in the Mediterranean area. They enhance the flavors of sweet and savory dishes like Indian curries.
- Star Anise – This unusual looking spice gives a sweet, licorice-y flavor to dishes and is similar to clove and aniseed.
- Black Cardamom Pods – Black cardamom pods have a very pungent flavor and should be used sparingly.
Tools
- teflon, cast-iron, or stainless steel skillet for toasting whole spices – if used.
- spice grinder (affiliate link), mortal and pestle (affiliate link), food processor, or blender.
How to Make Garam Masala Spice Mix
Ready in just 10 minutes, first you will measure and toast the whole ingredients and then grind them together with the powdered ingredients. It’s really just that simple.
** You can find the full recipe ingredients and instructions on the printable recipe card below.
- Measure out the ingredients.
- Toast in a hot pan.
- Grind in a blender, food processor, or spice grinder.
- Sift to remove large pieces.
- Use in your next Indian recipe.
- Store in an air-tight jar or container for up to 6 months.
Can I Make Substitutions to the Recipe?
Yes, and we encourage that. There is no one single way to prepare a garam masala spice mix, so you can alter it according to fit your particular tastes. We feel any recipe is just a guideline and should be tweaked by you to achieve your desired flavor and spice level! Tweaking this recipe to your own individual tastes will pretty much guarantee that this is the best garam masala recipe ever! If you tweak this recipe, come back and let us know in the comments. We’d love to hear from you!
2 Common Substitutes for Garam Masala
If you’re short on some of the spices to make garam masala, you can always try these garam masala replacements:
- Curry powder: Use curry powder as a substitute and omit garam masala entirely from your recipe. So is garam masala the same as curry powder? In a word, no. In the flavor battle between garam masala vs curry powder, you won’t get the same warm spice flavors, but the flavor of curry powder will work well in most Indian dishes.
- Allspice and Cumin: Combine 1 part allspice with 4 parts ground cumin, for an easy substitute for garam masala. The depth of flavor will not be quite the same, but it will do in a pinch.
How long does DIY Garam Masala Last?
Store garam masala in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. Due to the natural oils found in some of the ingredients, garam masala will lose some potency over time, so it’s best to use it as soon as possible. That being said, Garam Masala will not spoil and will last up to six months in your pantry. For this reason, I date my glass spice jars using a marker or tape with the day I made the DIY spice blend to ensure its freshness.
Is this Garam Masala Gluten-Free?
Our Garam Masala Blend does not contain any gluten ingredients. However, for this to be true in your home kitchen, it is important that you read the ingredient statements on your spices at the time of purchase to ensure all ingredients you use to make the blend are also gluten-free.
Serving Ideas
Use this garam masala spice mix in your next Tandoori Chicken recipe.
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Garam Masala
Equipment
- Spice grinder or food processor to grind spices
- skillet to toast spices
- mesh sieve or cheesecloth to sift
Ingredients
The Basic Spices
- 3 tbsp whole black pepper corns [or 2 1/4 tsp ground black pepper]
- 8 tsp whole coriander seeds This is 2 tbsp plus 2 tsp coriander seeds but the recipe card will not allow it to be written this way [or 2 tbsp ground coriander]
- 4 tsp green cardamom pods [or 1 tsp ground cardamom]
- 2 1/2 tsp cumin seeds [ or 1 1/4 tsp ground cumin]
- 1 3-inch whole cinnamon stick [or 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon]
Optional Spices
- 2 bay leaves
- 8 whole cloves
- 2 star anise
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp fennel seeds
Instructions
- Place whole spices in a dry skillet and toast over medium heat for about 2 to 5 minutes. stirring frequently. The fragrance of the spices will bloom as essential oils are released. Be careful not to scorch the spices as they will become bitter tasting.
- Transfer toasted spices to the bowl of a food processor or spice grinder and allow to cool about 5 minutes before processing.
- Once the spices have cooled, blend them along with any reserved powdered spices. Grind into a fine powder, about 3 minutes.
- It may be necessary to sift the mix of any larger pieces. Do this with some cheesecloth that has been layered or a fine-mesh sieve. This step is optional.
- Store in an air-tight container or glass jar for up to 6 months.