Homemade Garam Masala Spice Mix – Indian Cooking Basics

Name: Homemade Garam Masala Spice Mix - Indian Cooking Basics
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 1 min
Total time: 6 min
Yield: 31 grams
Ingredients: 12 corns Peppercorns; 2 pods Brown cardamom; 4 pods Green cardamom; 4 med Bay leaf; 20 Cloves Cloves; 6-inch stick Cinnamon; 2 tsp Caraway seeds; 1 star Star anise; 2-inch piece Mace; 2 tsp Pepper powder; 2 tsp Cardamom powder; 1 tsp Bay leaf powder; 2 tsp Clove powder; 2 tsp Cinnamon powder; 1 tsp Caraway seeds powder; 1 tsp Star anise powder; 1 tsp Mace powder

A Garam Masala Spice Mix is a blend of warm spices used in Indian cooking. Often you add it to dishes such as tandoori, tikkas and curries. This simple, easy and effortless recipe for homemade garam masala spice mix will turn your every day cooking to a gourmet masterpiece with just a pinch of this warm spice.

A Pinterest Optimized Image for Homemade Garam Masala Spice Mix - This Indian garam masala is used commonly in Indian Cooking.

Homemade Garam Masala Spice Mix – Indian Garam Masala Spice Blend

What Really is Garam Masala?

First of all, it’s pronounced as gah-ram mah-sah-lah. While there is no ‘h’ in the spelling, it’s very much in the pronunciation. In Hindi, which is the national language of India, the word garam means ‘warm or hot’ and the word masala means ‘spices’. So, basically, garam masala is a blend of warm spices.

Hence, it’s a blend of warm spices commonly used in Indian cooking. While garam masala is an Indian spice, there are many versions and variations of it depending on the region. For example, the garam masala in north India will be a little different from that from the south of India. Also, many families have a secret recipe for their garam masala. Typically, this recipe is passed down over the years, from one generation to the next, and guarded as a family secret.

If you like spice mixes like pumpkin spice and gingerbread spice, you will probably love garam masala. Because a lot of these spices are quite similar, such as cinnamon and cloves, etc.

Garam masala adds tons of flavor to an Indian dish. Same as gingerbread spices can pep the gingerbread dough, or pumpkin spice adds depth of flavor to an apple pie.

A Top Angle shot of the warm Garam Masala Spice Mix - scattered with the whole spices around it.

Make your own spice mix – Homemade Garam Masala Spice Mix – aka Garam Masala Spice Blend

Is there a difference between curry powder and garam masala?

Yes!! A huge difference. Curry powder consists of basic ingredients that contribute to the taste of the curry, like, coriander, cumin, chilly, cayenne, etc. While garam masala consists of ingredients that add more in terms of flavor such as cardamom, cloves, and nutmeg. As a result, it does add a little taste but not as much as curry powder does to your curry.

Also, you can make a delicious curry with only curry powder and no garam masala. And yet, not the other way around. So, if you had to pick just one – pick the curry powder first because you need the spices in the curry powder as the base for your curry. The garam masala will enhance those flavors and take your curry to the never level.

Therefore, if made correctly, the spices in curry powder and garam masala will not be the same. These days you get curry powders that include some of the garam masala spices in there and vice versa. The problem with this is that when you use both together sometimes these spices get doubled in the curry which ends up with your curry being over powdered with one particular spice. For example, if you have cumin in curry powder and garam masala – guess what now you have too much cumin in your curry. One way to deal with this would be to buy the same brand of curry powder and garam masala. Since they usually pick the ingredients that balance the two together.

A Garam Masala Spice Mix is a blend of warm spices used in Indian cooking. Often you add it to dishes such as tandoori, tikkas and curries. This simple, easy and effortless recipe for homemade garam masala spice mix will turn your every day cooking to a gourmet master piece with just a pinch of this warm spice

Homemade Garam Masala Spice Mix, Indian Garam Masala, DIY Garam Masala

Garam Masala Spice Mix has Health Benefits Too!

There are plenty of health benefits to garam masala! Remember my 5 spice ginger tea for cold and sore throat? All these spices apart from adding flavor and warmth to our body have been used for thousands of years by our ancestors for medicinal purposes. Therefore, you can learn about it in the Indian literature. And there is a long history of the uses of the garam masala spices in Ayurvedic medicine. Due to the fact that these spices are full of antioxidant properties.

Also, a little goes a long way with them. Just add a sprinkle of garam masala in your next cookie dough to see what I mean. And while there are many different variations of the garam masala – the most common spices used are black pepper, cinnamon, cardamon, cloves, mace, and bay leaves.

While some people add other spices such as coriander, cumin, fennel, and turmeric. I personally think these do not belong in garam masala. Rather they belong in curry powder or can be put in the specific dish separately, depending on the dish. For example, fennel goes really well with lamb, and yet not necessarily with fish or chicken.

Today, I’m going to share with you my mom’s secret recipe for homemade garam masala. The best part of this recipe is you can use it not just in Indian cooking but also in pies, and cookies dough just as you would use pumpkin spice or gingerbread spice. These warm spices will warm you up in winter or add depth of flavor to your next comfort food.

A Close up of the Homemade Garam Masala Spice Mix - made with a blend of warm spices for Indian cooking

Make your own spice mix – Homemade Garam Masala Spice Blend aka Garam Masala Spice Mix

Tip to buying store bought garam masala spice mix

I’m crazy about making my own spice mixes. And yet, I don’t expect everybody else to be the same. Still, I recommend that you make your own garam masala at home. But what if you don’t have all those spices? Yes, you can buy a store-bought garam masala. Which one should you choose? Here are a few things to take note. Now, this is my opinion and it’s not meant for or any particular brand.

First of all, I would not buy a garam masala that is not brown in color! No matter how many variations of garam masala I have seen over the years in India, almost all are brown.
Turmeric – I would not buy one that has turmeric powder in there. While it’s a wonderful spice, it does not belong in garam masala. Rather, it should be in curry powder.
In addition, for me, coriander, cumin, paprika belong in curry powder, not in garam masala. I often see a brand that tries to sell their garam masala as the one and only spice you will need for your next Indian curry. Nah, garam masala is used to enhance the flavor, not as the only flavor to curry powder. Furthermore, you can make a delicious curry with just curry powder alone but not the other way around.
The issue with this “one and only spice you will need” is that often garam masala is used in addition to curry powder, which again has coriander, cumin, turmeric, paprika! So, when you add both curry powder and garam masala in your recipe you now have an overdose of some spices which don’t necessarily work well.
So next time you buy garam masala read the label it will tell you what it has in it.

A close up of the homemade garam masala spice mix made with a blend warm spices used in Indian Cooking

Make your own spice mix – Homemade Garam Masala Spice Mix aka Indian Garam Masala Spice Blend

Here’s a look at what some of these spices look like

Brown cardamom hole 100g Brown Cardamon Whole big cardamom wild cardamom cardamom prototype spice spice business for Corby professional food [Parallel import]

List Price: $60.96

Price: $60.96

Price Disclaimer

Kerala Naturals Green Cardamon Pods Whole Cardamom Indian Arabic Food Spices 16Oz/ 1 Lb

List Price: $44.00

Price: $44.00

Price Disclaimer

Whole Cloves 3.5 oz

List Price: $4.69

Price: $4.69

Price Disclaimer

Caraway Seeds 7oz

List Price: $6.99

Price: $6.99

Price Disclaimer

Star Anise Seeds or Star Anise Pods (Anis Estrella) (2 oz, 4 oz, 6 oz, 8 oz, 12 oz, & 15 oz) (15 oz)

List Price: $16.25

Price: $16.25

Price Disclaimer

Mace Whole - 50g

List Price: $7.59

Price: $7.59

Price Disclaimer

Let’s talk ingredients and substitutes (Save/Pin)

Brown Cardamon – Often referred to as a queen of spices by many Indian chefs. Very different from the green cardamon. It adds a delicious strong smokey taste and flavor. As a result, it’s often used in meat dishes like chicken biryani as well as in Indian Chai Spice Mix. Also, it can be added to stews, slow cooked and braised dishes too. I highly recommend looking for this spice as it does add so much depth of flavor. Having said that, if you must substitute I suggest you add two more green cardamons.
Green Cardamon – Has a very strong pungent flavor. Very commonly used in middle eastern coffee. The cardamon has a number of seeds inside the pods which are usually what are ground and sold as cardamon powder. Here, we use the whole spice including the outside green cover.
Star Anise – Does actually look like a star with a seed in the middle and eight segments. It has a slightly bitter flavor and is very popularly used as medicine. I remember when we had the flu, mom would boil star anise in milk, then add a pinch of turmeric, pepper, and honey. We didn’t have a choice we had to drink it up! Now I do it with my babies too.
Mace – Unfortunately this wonderful spice is very rarely used. My mom used it often. Mace is the outer cover of the nutmeg which has a tan yellowish and red color. It has a nutty, sweet and warm flavor. You can use a pinch of mace powder in desserts just like you would use nutmeg.
I know mace can be hard to find so if you can’t find it you can omit it. Do not use nutmeg as a substitute as it is has a strong flavor and does not do with all dishes.
Bay Leaf and Cinnamon- these are very easily found in most supermarkets and are often used in cooking stews, soups, and pot roast. For garam masala spice mix, I prefer to use the dried variety as it blends to a powder more easily.

Homemade Garam Masala Recipe, DIY Garam Masala, All about garam masala.

Recipe – Homemade Garam Masala Spice Mix (Save/Pin for later)

Ingredients

From whole spices

Peppercorns – 12 corns
Brown cardamom – 2 large
Green cardamom – 4 pods
Bay leaf – 4 medium
Cloves – 20 cloves
Cinnamon – 6-inch stick
Caraway seeds – 2 tsp
Star anise – 1 star
Mace – 2-inch piece

From ground spices

Pepper powder – 2 tsp
Cardamom powder – 2 tsp
Bay leaf powder 1 tsp
Cloves powder 2 tsp
Cinnamon powder -2 tsp
Caraway seeds powder – 1 tsp
Star anise powder – 1 tsp powder
Mace powder 1 tsp

Method

For the whole spices

Have all your ingredients measured out
Place a frying pan on low heat for a minute.
Once hot – add all the whole spices in hot pan.
Keep the heat on low and light shake the pan to toast them.
You will start to get the spices to give out a beautiful aroma.
Take it off the heat and let cool until barely warm.
Place all the whole and powder spices in a spice blender (yes you need a spice blender).
Pulse it a few times until finely ground.
Pour them into a spice jar.
Your curry powder is not ready for use.

For the ground spices

Measure all ground spices.
Combine them all in a small jar.
Close the lid and give it a good shake.
Voila – your homemade curry powder spice mix is ready to use.

Storage

Always store in an airtight jar to ensure the flavor of the spices is sealed in well.
Ideally, these spices have a long shelf life as stated by the supermarkets – but it’s best to make a note on the jar so you know when its time to make a new batch.
Finally, read the expiry date on the powders you used – choose the one with the earliest date as a guide.

Don’t forget to save this recipe on Pinterest for later.
You can find a collection of my tutorials and recipes here on Pinterest.

A Pinterest Optimized Image for Homemade Garam Masala a warm blend of spices used in Indian cooking.

Homemade Garam Masala Spice Mix – Best Indian Garam Masala.