Garam Masala: Interesting Facts About The Spice

The spice garam masala is a spice mixture originating from India. We will show you how you can best use it in your kitchen and how you can easily make it yourself in just a few steps.

Garam Masala – The spice simply explained

Garam Masala is an Indian spice mix. According to Ayurvedic medicine, this should give the body a warming effect. The mixture always consists of the same basic ingredients, but these are combined with other spices depending on the region.

• The original variant consists of cinnamon, caraway, black pepper, cloves, nutmeg, and roasted cumin. Star anise, ginger, turmeric, garlic, chili, or mustard seeds are also added to many mixtures.
• The ingredients are usually roasted in a pan or wok so that the aromas and essential oils can develop. The spices are then left to cool and crushed in a mortar until a fine powder is formed.
• Garam Masala is often used to season fish, meat, vegetables, curries, dips, and rice. The spice mixture is added to the hot fat either at the beginning (e.g. before searing meat) or usually at the end of the cooking process.
• The tobacco brown color is typical of spice. If you decide to make the mixture yourself, be sure to store the spice mixture in a cool, dry, and airtight place to prevent moisture build-up and clumping. In this way, the spice can be preserved for months and is always ready to hand in the kitchen.
• Fun Fact: The term “garam” means “hot” and “masala” means “spice”.

Recipe ideas with garam masala

Here we show you suitable dishes for which you can use garam masala:

• “Tandoori chicken breast” Ingredients: 1 tsp garam masala 1 tsp coriander 1 tsp turmeric 1 tsp cardamom 1 tsp paprika powder 1 tsp freshly grated ginger 2 freshly pressed cloves of garlic salt and pepper 250 g yogurt 4 chicken breast fillets To prepare, mix all the ingredients together and brush with it the chicken breast fillets. The pieces of meat are then fried in the pan for a few minutes. You can serve this with rice, for example.
• “Vegetarian cauliflower curry” Ingredients: 1 cauliflower 1 can of chickpeas 2 tsp garam masala 250ml coconut milk 200ml water oil or fat for frying salt and pepper a few leaves of fresh coriander To prepare, wash and chop the cauliflower and drain the chickpeas. Then briefly fry the vegetables over medium heat and deglaze with water and coconut milk. Add the spices and simmer for about half an hour over low heat and with the lid closed. If the taste of the fresh coriander seems too intense, you can add it five minutes before the end of the cooking process so that the taste is milder.