Garam Masala
Spice is the life, the soul of any dish. Without spice, food is only left with the basic flavors like salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and umami. And even then the basic flavors will lack any sort of depth or complexity, just bland tasting basic flavors.
Nowadays we take spice for granted, but even a few hundred years ago the British sailed halfway across the world, conquered land, and spent an insane amount of gold just to get their hands on some Indian spices. And today we are going to talk about one of the most famous of those spices – Garam Masala.
What Exactly Is Garam Masala?
Garam Masala is not one spice, it is a carefully balanced blend of several whole spices. The exact number and quantity of spices used vary from region to region, it could have five ingredients or even up to thirty ingredients.
The name Garam Masala translates into “hot spice mix” where the word “Garam” means hot, and “Masala” means spice mix. The name is indicative of Garam Masala’s flavors, but there is so much more than just “hot” in it.
What kind of flavor profile you will get depends on the ingredients present in the Garam Masala. But generally Garam masala offers a complex flavor profile, combining sweet notes from cinnamon and cardamom with a bit of sharpness from peppercorns. It also has tanginess and citrus notes from coriander, and a hint of bitterness from cumin and clove.
What Is The Origin of Garam Masala?
The exact origin of Garam Masala is unclear, but it is surmised that the spice blend was first used in Northern India.
Written records of using spices in Indian food can be traced back to the 1st century (CE) in the Ramayana, an Indian holy book. And we are sure about the Mughals using Garam Masala powder in their royal kitchens. So Garam Masala was probably first used somewhere between these two time frames, exactly when and where – nobody knows.
Is Garam Masala Good For Health?
We know that garam masala is good, no great for your food. But it is also good for your health. There are several health benefits of Garam Masala. Here are some of the benefits of cooking with Garam Masala:
- Helps with digestion: Garam Masala improves the digestive fire in your stomach. It helps with digestion and relieves gas and bloating.
- Good for your oral hygiene: Studies say that spices, including Garam Masala is good for preventing oral bacteria, and tooth decay. The nutmeg, cloves, cardamom present in Garam Masala could be why.
- Helps manage blood sugar: Garam Masala aids in blood sugar control. This can be attributed to the cinnamon present in it.
- Improves immunity: The cloves and black pepper present in Garam Masala can help improve your immune system. And as already mentioned, garam Masala helps with your gut’s health too.
- Provides antioxidants: Each of the spices used in Garam Masala powder contain powerful antioxidants. And when these antioxidant rich spices are mixed together, they are even more potent.
- Helps reduce inflammation: The spices present in Garam Masala powder help reduce the symptoms of inflammation.
- Good for your heart: Garam Masala can help lower the total cholesterol level in your blood. This helps keep your heart and blood flow healthy.
What Is Garam Masala Used In?
Garam Masala is used for cooking all sorts of dishes, most popularly cuisines from the Indian subcontinent. Here Garam Masala is used to make curries, biryani, stew, vegetables, and everything in between. It is also used for marinating meat, or seasoning your salad.
You can get creative with your use of Garam Masala as well. It may seem peculiar, but garam Masala powder can add a twist to sweet dishes as well. Try it yourself if you don’t believe me!
How To Make Garam Masala At Home
What is garam masala made of? – is a question with a complicated answer because the exact ingredients vary from region to region. But here is a garam masala recipe that we use and you can make at home. It’s simple and everything you need is commonly found, or available in our spice box.
Garam Masala Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground coriander
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cardamom
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Directions
- In a bowl, combine the cumin, coriander, cardamom, pepper, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Use a grinder to create the mixture.
- Transfer the mixture to a sealed container and store it in a cool, dry place.
Tools Needed
You need a good, dedicated grinder to blend your spices, this is true for grinding any whole spice not just Garam Masala. A good grinder can effortlessly crush dried whole spices, and create a consistent grind size. This releases the essential oils and aroma of the spices, unlocking the full flavor of mixture.
There are plenty of good spice grinder available, any one of them can be used to make Garam Masala at home. But if you are looking to get one, we recommend the Hamilton Beach Fresh Grind Electric Coffee Grinder for Beans, Spices and More. The grinder has good performance, making a consistent grind every time. It is also easy to use, and clean. And it is a great value for money.
FAQs
Is garam masala just curry powder?
No, Garam Masala is not just curry powder. It is used to make curry, but it is not what you would call curry powder. Garam Masala can have different ingredients, but does not include turmeric – a key ingredient for curry powder.
What does garam masala consist of?
Garam Masala can consist of any number of different spices, the ingredients used vary from region to region. But in general you can expect that Garam Masala will have cumin, coriander, cardamom, black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
What’s the difference between garam masala and regular masala?
Garam Masala is a specific blend of spices, used in many popular Indian dishes like Biriyani, curries etc. Regular Masala is a broader term that can represent any singular spice mix, or a blend of different spices.
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