What is it?

Garam masala, which means “hot spice” in Hindi, is an Indian spice blend usually used for finishing dishes throughout northern India. Despite the name, garam masala is not especially spicy, and the “hot” may refer to the fact that the spices are toasted before grinding. The recipe changes from region to region, with each household adding its own touch. However, some of the common elements are peppercorns, cumin, cinnamon, cardamom, coriander, cloves, and bay leaves.

As a rule, garam masala is added at the last step of cooking, almost like a fresh herb. If cooked too long, it becomes bitter.

Garam masala is available on some grocery store spice racks as well as in Indian markets, but for the best flavor,trytoasting and grinding your own.

How to choose:

If you’re buying ready-made garam masala, buy from a source that has steady turnover, and only buy what you’ll use in a couple of months.

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Recipes

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  Recipe

  Samosa Mashed Potatoes

  All of the delicious flavor from your favorite Indian restaurant samosas, but none of the laborious shaping and frying.

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  Recipe

  Tandoori Lamb Kebabs

  The lamb itself is wonderful, fragrant with classic Indian spice. But what makes this a wow is the accompanying onions, which add the perfect amount of sweetness and char. Most…

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  Recipe

  Chicken Saag

  My husband and I were saddened when our favorite Indian restaurant switched from making their saag with chicken thighs to making it with chicken breasts. What had been a deeply…

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  Recipe

  Cauliflower Tikka Masala

  Canned fire-roasted tomatoes are an easy way to add slow-cooked depth to this quick weeknight dish, but regular tomatoes can be substituted. Garam masala, an Indian spice mix, is available…

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  Recipe

  Tofu Saag

  A creamy yogurt-spinach sauce surrounds spiced, crisped cubes of tofu in this aromatic, satisfying dish. If you like hot foods, leave the serrano chile seeds in. Serve with rice or naan.

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  Recipe

  Baked Eggs with Spiced Creamed Spinach

  Eggs and spinach are often paired together for baked eggs, but here, the spinach is flavored with fresh ginger and garam masala (a spice mix available at most supermarkets) for…

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  Recipe

  Grilled Tandoori Chicken Wings with Mango-Chile Raita

  Mixed with fresh mango and spices, thick Chobani Greek Yogurt makes a refreshing accompaniment for spicy grilled chicken wings.

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  Recipe

  Indian Chicken Tikka

  Not to be confused with chicken tikka masala, the creamy tomato-and-chicken curry beloved (and claimed) by Brits and Indians alike, chicken tikka refers to yogurt-marinated grilled chicken kebabs, native to…

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  Recipe

  Spinach and Chickpea Curry

  This hearty side tastes as if it’s been simmering for hours, but it comes together quickly with canned tomatoes and chickpeas. Serve it with chicken and some warm naan.

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  Recipe

  Roasted Indian-Spiced Vegetables and Chickpeas with Raisins

  This quick and easy vegan entrée is economical and crowd-pleasing. Seek out garam masala (Indian spice blend) without salt, and prep the other ingredients while the potatoes roast.