North Indian Garam Masala | Homemade Garam Masala
Homemade Garam masala made from whole spices has a lot of flavour.The spices for garam masala are usually toasted first to bring out more flavour and aroma, then ground. Coriander seeds are not used in some garam masala recipes but it is mostly included in North Indian Garam Masala. Coriander is a cooling spice, so adding it to the masala helps to cool it down.
Ingredients
- 1/2 Cup Coriander seeds
- 1/4 cup cumin seeds
- 1 tablespoon Black peppercorns (10 gram)
- 1½ tablespoon Cloves (Aproximately 12 cloves)
- 1 tablespoon fennel seeds
- 11 Black cardamom (10 gram)
- 5 gram Green cardamom (Approximately 28-30 cardamom pods)
- 10 gram Cinnamon (5, 2 inch pieces of cinnamon)
- 8 Bay leaf / tej patta
- 5 gram Mace (6 blades mace, top covering of nutmeg)
- 2 Star Anise
Instructions
Preparation
- To make garam masala, gather all of the ingredients.
- Cut Bay leaves in to small.
- Break Cinnamon stick in to small pieces
Making Garam Masala
- Heat heavy pan over medium heat and dry roast coriander seeds for 4 minutes on low heat. Keep stirring to roast evenly. Transfer this to a plate and allow it to cool.
- Now in the same pan add cumin seeds and roast them lightly on low heat. Remove from the heat and keep it aside to cool down.
- Dry Roast all remaining spices (except coriander seeds, cumin seeds, and bay leaf) together in the pan on low heat for 5 minutes, stirring often to roast it evenly. If the spices are burnt, they will turn quite bitter.
- Add bay leaves, continue to dry roast for 1 more minute over low heat, just until the spices are aromatic. Remove from the pan to a plate and spread it out to cool down.
- Mix all spices together and grind the roasted ingredients into a fine powder using a grinder.
- Store in a clean, dry, and airtight jar and use it as required.
Notes
You can use this garam masala powder in a wide range of Indian dishes. Garam masala is also used in samosas, a typical Indian treat.
Keep the jar in a cabinet away from direct sunlight. In Ayurvedic medicine, each of these warming spices is thought to provide different health benefits.