Authentic Garam Masala Recipe

This authentic garam masala recipe makes a flavorful aromatic Indian spice blend. No need for store bought; just make this recipe at home!

Making your own seasoning in small batches guarantees freshness and the maximum amount of flavor.

Plus, homemade spice blends are easy to make! All you need for this recipe is a hot skillet and a spice or coffee grinder!

You probably already have many of the ingredients in your pantry. What you’re missing can be found at international markets or at stores like Sprouts, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe's.

Authentic Garam Masala Recipe

One of the most widely used Indian spice blends, garam masala in English means “hot mixture of spices.”

Despite the name, the spices add heat without being too spicy. There are also sweet and floral notes that create a nice overall balance.

This garam masala spice recipe was given to me while I was in India several years ago, so it's definitely authentic.

However, the blend of spices used can vary by region and family recipe, so feel free to experiment and make adjustments based on your flavor preferences.

Uses

I use the garam masala recipe when I make butter chicken and chickpea masala, but it can be added to a wide variety of Indian dishes.

I also use this spice blend in my recipe for rajma masala as well. Be sure to read my next post to get that recipe!

Ingredients

Note: This is just a partial list of ingredients for the purposes of notes. For the full ingredient list, see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

• Cardamom - I use a mix of black and green cardamom pods in my garam masala spice recipe because they create different flavors and aromas.
  
  Green cardamom has sweet floral and herbal notes, while black cardamom has a deep smoky flavor with a hint of menthol.
  
• Nutmeg seed - Whole seeds are used for this garam masala recipe. I like using whole spices because they have a fresher taste than ground.
  
  Also, whole nutmeg seeds have a much longer shelf life, so the flavor will be bolder when combined with the other spices.
  
• Ground mace - Surprisingly, mace has a close relationship to nutmeg. It’s the red substance the covers the nutmeg seeds and has a spicier flavor, often described as a mix of cinnamon and pepper.
  
  The color of mace can range from red to yellow depending on the origin, and it often lightens once dried and ground.

Variations - Other commonly used spices include turmeric, saffron, mustard seeds, ginger, fennel seeds, or tamarind.

Health benefits of garam masala

So often the focus of nutrition is on the whole foods used in a dish, but spices can play a large role as well.

The individual spices in this homemade masala blend boast a range of benefits, but as a whole, garam masala is often used to improve metabolism and digestion.

Video: Making the garam masala recipe

To see how easy it is to make this homemade spice mix, just watch the video in the recipe card at the bottom of this post!

Simply toast the spices to release their oils, then grind them together into a powder. It will only take you about 10 minutes!

Instructions

1. Toast the spices: Add everything but the ground mace to a dry skillet and toast over medium heat. Be sure to stir frequently so nothing burns, and turn off the heat when the spices become fragrant.
   
2. Grind: Cool the spices before grinding, otherwise the heat will create steam and cause clumping. Then, add the toasted spices and the ground mace to the grinder and blend until it makes a fine powder.

Authentic garam masala recipe notes

• Storage - Store your homemade seasoning in an airtight container, and keep it in a cool pantry. Use within 2 months for best flavor and quality, or store in the refrigerator to keep it fresh up to 4 months.
  
• More uses - While often used in curries and soups, it can also be added to meat marinades or sprinkled on fish and eggs. Add it towards the end of cooking so it doesn’t lose its potency and aromatic quality.

Other homemade spice blends

It’s easy to make your own blends at home, and the flavors are often bolder and more intense. Plus, the ingredients are fresher and there are no added preservatives.

• Chana masala powder - This is a traditional Indian spice blend, for seasoning chickpea dishes. 
  
• Egyptian duqqa - This dukkah recipe makes a seasoning blend from toasted nuts, seeds and spices. The flavor is warm and earthy.

Authentic Garam Masala Recipe + Video

This authentic garam masala recipe makes a flavorful aromatic Indian spice blend. No need for store bought; just make this recipe at home!

5 from 4 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Pantry Staples

Cuisine: Asian, Indian

Prep Time: 7 minutes

Cook Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Servings: 10 ounces

Calories: 59kcal

Author: Kevin

Ingredients

• ½ cup cumin seeds (or 10 tbsp ground cumin)
• 3 tbsp coriander seeds (or 11 ¼ tsp ground coriander)
• 2 tbsp black peppercorns (or 9 tsp ground back pepper)
• 12 green cardamom pods (or 1 tsp ground green cardamom)
• 6 black cardamom pods (or ½ tsp ground black cardamom)
• 6 bay leaves
• 6 whole star anise
• 4 cassia cinnamon 3-inch sticks (or 8 tsp ground cinnamon)
• ½ nutmeg seed (or 1 tsp ground nutmeg)
• ½ tsp ground mace

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• Toast all the spices EXCEPT ground mace in a cast iron skillet or other non stick pan over medium heat. Stir often and turn off the heat after spice gives off aromatic fragrance. Several minutes should do the trick. Don't burn!
• Allow to cool and grind in spice/coffee grinder or blender along with the ground mace. Store in an airtight container.

*The information shown below is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice.

Nutrition

Calories: 59kcal | Carbohydrates: 9.8g | Protein: 2.5g | Fat: 2.8g | Saturated Fat: 0.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1.7g | Sodium: 5.5mg | Fiber: 4.1g | Sugar: 0.2g