This easy-to-make homemade garam masala is an incredible blend of spices that is used in a myriad of delicious classic Indian recipes. Try using this in my chana masala recipe.
Spice blends are a fantastic way to incorporate rich deep notes into foods to further enhance the taste. If you love bold flavors in food that use spice rubs and blends, then you must try my Hungarian Goulash or Souvlaki.
Garam Masala is a principal masala spice blend that is used throughout India in a wide variety of its traditional recipes. There are many variations of the spice blend that can be found, but the ingredients in this recipe are most used.
Garam masala is in all your favorite Indian dishes from tikka masala to tandoori chicken, to buttered chicken. It is very popular and extremely easy to make homemade.
Garam Masala Ingredients
- Cumin – Whole cumin seeds is best.
- Coriander– You can use crushed, but whole is best.
- Fennel – Whole fennel seeds will add some great licorice flavors to this.
- Anise – If you cannot find star anise, you can substitute for caraway seeds.
- Cinnamon – Use a whole cinnamon stick.
- Cloves – Whole dried cloves work great in this recipe.
- Nutmeg – Use whole nutmeg instead of ground.
- Cardamom – Whole black and green cardamom pods should be used.
- Bay Leaf – Any size dried bay leaf will work.
- Pepper – Black peppercorns are best to use.
How to Make Garam Masala from Scratch
Use these easy-to-follow instructions for making this garam masala recipe from scratch:
Add all the spices to a large sauté pan.
Next, toast the spices over low heat while constantly stirring until it becomes very fragrant and very lightly browned on some of the seeds.
Transfer the mixture to a spice grinder and grind until it becomes like a powder. Store until ready to use.
Make-Ahead and Storage
Make-Ahead: You can make this recipe up to 1 month ahead of time.
How to Store: Cover and keep in a cool dry place for up 3 months.
Chef Notes + Tips
- If you do not have star anise, substitute for 1 teaspoon of caraway seeds.
- Use a mortar and pestle if you do not have a spice or coffee grinder.
- If you cannot get a whole of whole nutmeg, use a 1” piece of dried mace.
More Spice Recipes
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Homemade Garam Masala Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup cumin seeds
- 2 tablespoons coriander seeds
- 2 tablespoons fennel seeds
- 3 star anise
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tablespoon cloves
- ½ whole nutmeg
- 10 green cardamom pods
- 4 black cardamom pods
- 4 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
Instructions
- Add all the spices to a large sauté pan.
- Next, toast the spices over low heat while constantly stirring until it becomes very fragrant and very lightly browned on the seeds.
- Transfer the mixture to a spice grinder and grind until it becomes like a powder. Store covered in a dark dry place until ready to use.
T Berry says
Nice recipe, thank you! But how do you cut a whole nutmeg in half?
Chef Billy Parisi says
it cuts in half very easily
Nicole Thuemmler says
Do the black and green cardamom pods go in whole or should they be hulled?
Chef Billy Parisi says
all the ingredients in this are whole.
Sanja says
Excellent,just what i need
Fran says
Do you sauté and grind the bay leaves too?
Chef Billy Parisi says
all of it together.