Garam Masala

by Kiran on January 13, 2015 · 46 comments

in How-To, Indian

We all love my mother-in-law so fiercely. She’s an awesome mom, a loving grandmother, an amazing sister and the list can go on and on.

She’s also an amazing cook.

Her cooking style is simple but filled with so much love and flavor. I swear, Mother’s touch always produce the most delicious flavors.

Garam Masala | @KiranTarun http://kirantarun.com/food
There’s no secret how much mom LOVES entertaining. She could literally cook feasts after feasts every single day for anyone, really.

Not only she loves cooking meals from scratch, she also makes her own blend of masala’s (ground spices).

Every mother has her own take on a garam masala recipe. There’s no rule of thumb when it comes to homemade spice blend. Sprinkle in your favorite spices, lightly toast and ground finely.

Garam Masala | @KiranTarun http://kirantarun.com/food
The most important rule that she has when making her own masala’s are making it with the freshest of ingredients you can find. That would ensure the tastiest and the long shelf-life.

I’ve learnt so much from her all through these years and something that I can’t wait to share is her homemade garam masala recipe.

I don’t know why I’ve waited so long, but here it is:

Garam Masala | @KiranTarun http://kirantarun.com/food

Print This Recipe Print This Recipe

Makes about 1 cup of garam masala

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup cumin seeds
  • 1/3 cup coriander seeds
  • 2 tbsp whole peppercorns (reduce to 1 tbsp for heat)
  • 2 tbsp whole cloves
  • 2 tbsp green cardamom
  • 6 whole mace
  • 6 cinnamon sticks
  • 6 whole bay leaves
  • 4 black cardamom, seeded
  • 1 small whole nutmeg, crushed

Directions:

  1. Heat a large dry skillet on medium-high. Add all spices (excluding whole nutmeg & black cardamom seeds) and toast for a minute or until fragrant. Be careful not to burn spices. With a spatula, keep stirring and tossing until every spice is nice and lightly toasty.
  2. Remove spices onto a large sheet pan to cool before adding into a spice blender. Blend spices (including nutmeg & black cardamom seeds) until powdered.
  3. Store garam masala in an airtight bottle and place it in your spice cabinet. Homemade garam masala literally lasts forever, if made with the freshest of ingredients.
  4. A little sprinkle of this garam masala goes a long way in so many dishes. Best sprinkled at the end of cooking.

 

Garam Masala | @KiranTarun http://kirantarun.com/food
We can’t wait to visit my in-laws soon, or have them visit us — either way, it’s going to be delicious!

Have you made any homemade ground spices before? What is your favorite?

 

Tagged as: garam masala, ground spice, indian spices, spices, toasted spice

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1 Shibi@FlavzCorner January 13, 2015 at 10:42 AM

Loved the clicks and the blue plate with the dots!!
Shibi@FlavzCorner recently posted..Corn Flake Cookies

2 Kiran January 20, 2015 at 11:08 PM

Thanks Shibi 🙂

3 Manali @ CookWithManali January 13, 2015 at 11:43 AM

Beautiful clicks! 🙂 nothing beats the aroma and flavor of homemade garam masala! Thanks for sharing this!
Manali @ CookWithManali recently posted..Banana Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins

4 Kiran January 20, 2015 at 11:10 PM

Thanks Manali 🙂

5 Rosa January 13, 2015 at 1:21 PM

I love garam masala and will have to try making my own someday… Great pictures!

Cheers,

Rosa

6 Kiran January 20, 2015 at 11:13 PM

Thanks Rosa! Homemade garam masala is life-changing 🙂

7 Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl January 13, 2015 at 1:54 PM

Loving your pictures! Just by looking at them I can smell all those great spices!
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8 Kiran January 20, 2015 at 11:23 PM

Thanks Pamela. Spices does that to me too 🙂

9 Amy @ Elephant Eats January 13, 2015 at 2:12 PM

I’ll admit I’m a little too lazy to make my own spice blend…but I bet it’s so flavorful! I wish I could taste one of your MIL’s feasts 😉
Amy @ Elephant Eats recently posted..Pasta with Sausage and Chickpeas (I cooked!!!) and a baby update

10 Kiran January 20, 2015 at 11:24 PM

Amy — this makes a good batch that will lasts very long. And yes, my wish is to feed you and everyone my MIL’s cooking. A wishful thinking, I know 🙂

11 Jen L | Tartine and Apron Strings January 13, 2015 at 3:22 PM

thanks for sharing your mom’s recipe! Now I know the secret to your delicious food! Hehe
Jen L | Tartine and Apron Strings recently posted..Carbonara Pasta

12 Kiran January 20, 2015 at 11:40 PM

Jen — lol, you are too cute 🙂

13 Denise Browning@From Brazil To You January 13, 2015 at 6:56 PM

This is one of my fave spice blend. And the food styling is so pretty! Pinned!
Denise Browning@From Brazil To You recently posted..No Bake Tropical Energy Bars (With Coffee Crunch)

14 Kiran January 20, 2015 at 11:45 PM

Thanks Denise! Garam masala is so versatile 🙂

15 Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health January 13, 2015 at 10:24 PM

my mom sends me or brings me garam masala…i like it on some dishes but not all the time. your photos are just gorgeous, those lighting!!
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16 Kiran January 20, 2015 at 11:48 PM

thanks love! and yes, garam masala is not suitable for all recipes. It’s a little too strong 🙂

17 Ash-foodfashionparty January 13, 2015 at 11:37 PM

Your feelings and words for you mum in law sounds so sweet.
This garam masala recipe, I’m trying for sure.
Ash-foodfashionparty recently posted..BROWN BUTTER PUMPKIN CAKE with CARDAMOM AND SAFFRON

18 Kiran January 20, 2015 at 11:49 PM

Thanks Ash — let me know how it tastes 🙂

19 Shashi @ runninsrilankan January 14, 2015 at 10:12 AM

Kiran – those scalloped spoons in that first photo are so gorgeous – loved how you used a variety to show what goes into your mom-in-law’s garam masala

20 Kiran January 20, 2015 at 11:51 PM

Thanks Shashi 🙂

21 Angie@Angie's Recipes January 14, 2015 at 12:14 PM

I love garam masala too. Saving this for the later reference. Thanks for sharing!
Angie@Angie’s Recipes recently posted..Black Quinoa, Anchovy and Quail Egg Salad

22 Kiran January 20, 2015 at 11:57 PM

You are welcome and hope you get to try it soon 🙂

23 Kitchen Belleicious January 14, 2015 at 2:09 PM

you bet I am going to do this. I mean to have a homemade garam masala at my disposal anytime i need it I would love it. It looks awesome and she sounds like one amazing and blessed lady!

24 Kiran January 21, 2015 at 12:00 AM

Thanks Jessica — let me know how it tastes 🙂

25 Alice January 14, 2015 at 5:44 PM

This Garam Masala would be worth it’s weight in gold! Those spices and fragrant scent make this truly the king of all cuisines. Hope 2015 has been an exceptional year thus far & that the year looks brighter ahead!
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26 Kiran January 21, 2015 at 12:03 AM

Thanks Alice 🙂 xo

27 Carol at Wild Goose Tea January 14, 2015 at 8:07 PM

What beautiful things to say about your mother in law. To have a fab cook in the family is a treasure. I am glad you did get around to sharing this important spice combo to us, your readers!
Thank you
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28 Kiran January 21, 2015 at 12:07 AM

There’s nothing more precious than family heirloom and treasured recipes 🙂

29 Choc Chip Uru January 14, 2015 at 10:50 PM

Garam masala is the best, we make ours at home too 😀
YUM!

Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Choc Chip Uru recently posted..A Party To Remember

30 Kiran January 21, 2015 at 12:08 AM

Yum, indeed!

31 mira January 15, 2015 at 11:15 AM

Beautiful and inspiring pictures! Great idea to make homemade garam masala! I’m sure it is full of wonderful flavor!
mira recently posted..Spinach And Feta Pie (Spanakopita)

32 Kiran January 21, 2015 at 12:12 AM

Thanks Mira — homemade masala’s are intoxicating 🙂

33 Lail | With A Spin January 15, 2015 at 4:50 PM

Ah, Garam masala. A desi kitchen staple. Beautiful photos, Kiran.
Lail | With A Spin recently posted..Spiced Roasted Chicken With Clementine – A weeknight favorite

34 Kiran January 21, 2015 at 12:15 AM

Thanks Lail 🙂

35 Carolyn Chan January 15, 2015 at 11:29 PM

I can almost smell those wonderful spices from your gorgeous photos !
Carolyn Chan recently posted..Classic Chocolate Mousse

36 Kiran January 28, 2015 at 3:39 PM

Lol, I wish it was that easy 🙂

37 The Squishy Monster January 16, 2015 at 3:45 PM

I vow to make this in the new year and NOT use homemade. Thanks for sharing!!
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38 Kiran January 28, 2015 at 3:53 PM

You meant, not use store-bought? 😀

39 Parita @ myinnershakti January 19, 2015 at 9:45 AM

So glad you shared this! I know my mom and I were looking forward to the recipe. And as we’ve talked about before, having loving MIL’s is one of the biggest blessings 🙂
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40 Kiran January 28, 2015 at 4:08 PM

I hope you and your mom would enjoy this recipe 🙂

41 Daniela @FoodRecipesHQ January 20, 2015 at 5:33 AM

I would love to make my own masala blend! Your words made me want to make this from scratch and get rid of my store bought blend. I love everything “handcraft” because there always a story of love and family affection behind.

42 Kiran January 28, 2015 at 4:09 PM

Get rid of the store bought, ASAP 😀

43 Cheynelle May 7, 2017 at 11:39 AM

Thank you so much for sharing your this garam masala recpie. Love the beautiful pictures to go with it as well, very creative.

44 Cheynelle May 7, 2017 at 11:41 AM

thank you so much for sharing. I loved the great photos to go with the recipe as well.

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