Garam Masala recipe – What is Garam Masala?

Garam Masala recipe – Homemade Garam Masala recipe.

The question often pops up – what is Garam Masala actually made of? The answer is simple. Garam masala is the concoction of exotic Indian spices which are ground together to get an exemplary mix of spices. Now the entire goodness of Garam Masala depends on the right proportion of the spices used. Here it’s imperative to mention that every region in India has its own version of Garam Masala and also every household has their own style of Garam masala recipe. One thing remains unchanged and that is the beautiful aroma that it imparts. The spices used in Garam Masala recipe have their own distinct qualities and taste and it makes Garam masala quite savory. The spices which are mostly used in the Garam masala are as follows:-

1. Cumin
2. Coriander seeds
3. Black peppercorns
4. Green cardamom
5. Black cardamom
6. Cloves
7. Cinnamon sticks
8. Bay leaves
9. Nutmeg
10. Fennel seeds

These are the most famous spices that are used in Garam Masala recipe, but as every region and households have their own ways of making it there could be an addition or omission of the spices in the above mentioned list. With these spices one can make the best homemade Garam Masala.

How is the taste of Garam Masala?

Garam Masala is the amalgamation of the above mentioned spices, hence the taste of Garam Masala is the combination of hot, sweet and savory. The spices used in Garam.
Masala recipe have distinct taste. Coriander seeds and black cardamom have very earthy smell and taste. These impart a very rustic aroma in Garam Masala. Green cardamom and cinnamon helps bring in a little sweetness. Peppercorns and cloves are hot spices and they bring the much needed pungency in Garam Masala. Now these spices can very well be adjusted according to one’s own preference.

How to use Garam Masala?

While cooking Indian dishes, usually Garam

Masala is used towards the end as a finishing touch. This sprinkle of Garam Masala at the end enhances the flavor and the aroma of the dish. Some people use the powdered Garam Masala over the whole garam Masala. For a simple reason that they don’t like the whole garam Masala coming in their mouth. In order to replace the whole garam Masala by the powdered Garam Masala, the powdery form is added in the dish with the other spices. No matter at what stage one adds the Garam Masala in the dish, it only going to enhance the flavor. Mostly all the vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes in Indian cuisine are incomplete without the Garam Masala. Here are some examples of dishes where you can add Garam Masala either at the end as a finishing touch or during the frying of spices :-

1. Chana Masala
2. Butter chicken
3. Shahi paneer
4. Mutton Korma
5. Chicken biryani

Preparing spices for Garam Masala.

Everyone has a different Garam Masala recipe. This means that everyone has a unique way of preparing spices for making easy homemade Garam Masala. The making of Garam Masala needs only one step and that is grinding all the spices together in the grinder. It’s the preparation which creates a different taste in Garam Masala. For instance, the taste of Garam Masala prepared by grinding all the spices raw will be totally different from the Garam Masala prepared by first dry roasting the spices and then grinding. I personally prefer to dry roast the spices on a pan and then grinding them. It enhances the aroma a lot.

Also make sure to clean the spices for the hygienic purposes. The whole spices that we would be using to make the Garam Masala needs to be thoroughly cleaned. The cleaning part is not at all hard, but is a must as it ensures that no worms or any insects are mixed in the powdered form. Here are some of the easy steps which can be kept in mind while preparing the whole spices:-

1. Spices like bay leaves can be easily wiped with damp cloth.
2. Nutmeg can be broken into two pieces to make sure that they are not infested with worms.
3. Even the cinnamon sticks can be broken to see any infestation.
4. Cumin seeds and coriander seeds and fennel seeds can be taken out in a dish and you can check for any worms by running the fingers through them. Any infestation can be removed there.

Make sure to open the green cardamoms and black cardamom and take the seeds out. This step ensures that the cardamoms are clean.

Tips of making Garam Masala.

1. Make sure to dry roast the spices in a pan before grinding. This enhances the flavor and aroma a lot.
2. Choose the spices according to your own taste. The Garam Masala should be balanced- not too spicy and not too bland.
3. As spicy food is not good for health, one can easily reduce the heat of Garam Masala by decreasing the amount of peppercorns in it.

Health benefits of Garam Masala.

The health benefits of Garam Masala are numerous. Let’s see the top 5 benefits of Garam Masala.

1. Helps in Digestion – Garam Masala helps in reviving appetite and boosts digestion. Cumin and cloves doesn’t let indigestion and acidity happen. Fennel and cardamoms also helps in digestion.
2. Enhances Metabolism – Garam Masala helps one in boosting the metabolism. Peppers used in making Garam Masala helps improve the metabolism.
3. Rich source of Antioxidants – The spices used in making Garam Masala are rich source of antioxidants. It helps in preventing skin problems.
4. Reduces Bloating – Garam Masala not only enhances the digestion but also helps in reducing bloating, flatulence and nausea.
5. Helps in Oral Hygiene – The spices used in Garam Masala like cloves, cardamom and fennel have shown potential in maintaining oral hygiene.

Though consumption of Garam Masala is not done consciously by people, but adding it in the food definitely helps one in certain ways. Using it in small amounts not only enhances the flavor of the dish but also gives health benefits. Though it doesn’t bring a drastic change in one’s life but surely it is a healthy spice mix which should be used in moderation while cooking.

Why Homemade Garam Masala should be used?

These days readymade spice mixes are readily available in the market. Garam masala is also one of those spice mixes. People do use readymade Garam Masala because of the lack of time. But I prefer homemade Garam

Masala because this way I know the ingredients going in it. From the store bought Garam Masala the right quantity of the spices used is not known. Some readymade Garam Masala have so much pungency that the real aroma and taste is lost. The homemade Garam Masala has an edge over the store bought as the right proportion of each and every spice is known to you. Secondly, the shelf-life plays a vital role. The store bought Garam masala will not be as fresh as the homemade because once the spices are ground their shelf life decreases. The aroma and flavor won’t be the same.

How to make Garam Masala at home from scratch?

Making Garam Masala at home is the easiest. Here is the ingredients list in the right proportion:-

1. Cumin – 1/2 tsp
2. Coriander seeds – 1tbsp
3. Fennel seeds – 1tsp
4. Peppercorns – 8/10
5. Cloves – 8/10
6. Cinnamon stick – 1 (2inch)
7. Green cardamom – 2/3
8. Black cardamom – 1
9. Nutmeg – 1( whole) break it into two
10. Bay leaves – 2

Dry roast all the above mentioned whole spices in a pan.
Let it cool for some time, and then in a dry grinder transfer the roasted spices.
Grind them in a fine powder. Use it right away or it can also be stored in an airtight jar for further use.