Garam Masala, a North Indian Spice Mix

Masalas are spices blended together into a special blend and can be either dry or used as a paste.  The flavors can be either more mild and fragrant, or contain more spices.  It varies and depends on the particular cook and what they like.  The other thing that makes the difference is the dish itself.  To enhance the flavor, these spices are often dry fried before they are ground up.  This brings out an even greater depth of flavor. 

There are a few different kinds of Masala.  You wil find Garam Masala, Kashmiri Masala, Chat Masala, Madrasi Masala, and Green Masala and maybe more.  Today I am focusing on the wonderful Garam Masala.

The word garam means hot, or warm, and garam masala means hot or warm spices.  This is a North Indian spice mixture, that is truly wonderful and worth trying sometime.  Often, spices are used during cooking, but garam masala is able to be sprinkled on the finished product.  It would be like sprinkling salt or pepper, but you are adding all these wonderful spices.  It adds its amazing aroma of roasted spices.  It is versatile though and can really be used any way you wish, including adding on food before it is cooked to enhance flavors throughout the cooking process.

*Here is just one recipe for Garam Masala.

6 tablespoons coriander seeds

10 cardamoms, green

4 tablespoons cumin seeds

11 cloves

1, 2 inch piece of cinnamon stick

1 tablespoon black peppercorns

3 dried bayleaves

1 tablespoon ground mace

** The video I have here, shows the recipe using black cardamoms, so if you only have those, you may want to use that recipe instead.

First, in a heavy pan, warm it up without adding any oils.

Second, you will want to bruise the cardamom pods but leave the seeds inside.  Put the cardamom in the pan with coriander, peppercorns, cinnamon, cumin and cloves (all but the mace).  Gently toss the spices over low heat until they really begin to smell really good. 

Last, remove the seeds from the cardamoms and break up your cinnamon stick into small pieces.  Finely grind all the spices together, and then add your ground mace.

Now you have a wonderful spice mixture that will really liven up your food!