Garam Masala Recipe

Find out what's in garam masala and try our simple recipe to make your own! No need to buy it pre-mixed!

Used frequently in Indian cooking, garam masala is mix of ground spices, but there is no standard recipe for it. This tends to beg the question - just what’s in garam masala?

Let’s first of all understand exactly what garam masala is.

‘Garam’ means hot and ‘masala’ means spices, although the term garam does not necessarily refer to hot as being spicy hot.

Instead, it is the rich warmth provided by the blend of spices.

North vs South

In North India you will typically find garam masala used as a powder, whereas in South India it is more of a paste in which the spices are mixed with either coconut milk, vinegar or water.

Furthermore, the garam masala that you will find in the northern parts of India tend to only use black pepper as the sole spicy ingredient, with the other spices being more aromatic and sweet.

The further south you go, you will find that dried red chilli is often added, making it spicier than the garam masala you will find in the north. 

How Do You Use Garam Masala?

Using garam masala helps to balance flavors within your dish and can reduce the need for too much salt.

Not only is it a delicious spice blend to add to your dishes, but it also has a range of health benefits such as boosting your digestion and metabolism.

Many of the spices found in garam masala are full of antioxidants and can help reduce inflammation. It  also helps to reduce bloating and gas and can even tackle bad breath!  

What Is in Garam Masala?

The typical spices used in garam masala include:

• Coriander
• Cumin
• Cardamom
• Cloves
• Black pepper
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg 

However, you can also find some garam masala recipes that include: 

• Turmeric
• Saffron
• Fennel seeds
• Ginger
• Garlic
• Mustard seed
• Mace
• Star anise 
• Tamarind
• Fenugreek
• Bay leaves
• Malabar leaves
• Dried red chilli  

As there is no standard when it comes to garam masala, you can create it as spicy or as warm as you would like.

We prefer more of a warm garam masala and then spice up our dish with the addition of hot peppers as we go along.

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