Textual Chef Textual Chef

Garam Masala Spice Blend

A fragrant North Indian whole-spice blend toasted and ground fresh at home, yielding a far more vibrant and complex flavor than any store-bought jar. Use it to finish curries, stews, and roasted vegetables.

15 minEasyServes 1620 cal/serving

IndianSauceStovetopVeganVegetarianPaleoWhole30Low CarbHalal-friendlyGluten-FreeDairy-FreeEgg-FreeNut-FreeSoy-FreeSesame-FreeLow-SodiumPork-FreeAlcohol-FreeCorn-Free

Cook this free in the appFree. No download, no account. The screen stays awake and each step can run its own timer.

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp whole coriander seeds
  • 4 tsp whole cumin seeds
  • 16 green cardamom pods
  • 2 tsp whole black peppercorns
  • 2 cinnamon stick, broken into pieces
  • 12 whole cloves
  • 2 dried bay leaves
  • 1/4 tsp whole nutmeg, grated

Instructions

  1. 1

    Place a dry skillet over medium heat. Add 2 tbsp whole coriander seeds, 4 tsp whole cumin seeds, 16 green cardamom pods, 2 tsp whole black peppercorns, 2 broken into pieces cinnamon stick, 12 whole cloves, and 2 dried bay leaves to the pan.

  2. 2

    Toast, shaking the pan frequently, for 2 to 3 minutes until the spices are fragrant and just beginning to darken. Do not walk away - they burn quickly.

  3. 3

    Immediately transfer the toasted spices to a plate and let cool completely, about 5 minutes.

  4. 4

    Grind the cooled spices to a fine powder in a spice grinder or clean coffee grinder. Add 1/4 tsp grated whole nutmeg and pulse once to combine.

  5. 5

    Sift through a fine-mesh strainer if you prefer a very smooth blend, discarding any fibrous husks.

  6. 6

    Store in an airtight jar away from heat and light for up to 3 months.

Cook this free in the appCooking it now? The app keeps the screen awake and times each step. Free, nothing to install.

Keep this recipe

Prints the ingredients and method only.

The Indian Kitchen 30 recipes from this kitchen in one printable PDF. $5, no account.

Questions

Why cook the spices first in Garam Masala Spice Blend?

Step 2 reads: "Toast, shaking the pan frequently, for 2 to 3 minutes until the spices are fragrant and just beginning to darken." Most spice flavor dissolves in fat, not water. The brief fry in step 2 wakes the spices up and spreads them through the oil. Keep them moving; they scorch in seconds.

Is Garam Masala Spice Blend keto-friendly?

A serving of Garam Masala Spice Blend carries 3 g of carbohydrate. Against a strict 20 g keto day that is 15 percent of the budget; against a moderate 100 g low-carb day it is 3 percent.

How many carbs are in Garam Masala Spice Blend?

One serving (the recipe makes 16) has 3 g of carbohydrate in about 20 calories, with 1 g protein and 0 g fat, plus 20 mg sodium. The figures are estimates computed from the ingredient list.

Can I make Garam Masala Spice Blend ahead?

Yes, it takes well to being made ahead. Refrigerate Garam Masala Spice Blend in a sealed jar and use it within four to five days. It also freezes flat in a bag for up to three months.

Can I halve or double Garam Masala Spice Blend?

Yes. As written it serves 16. Halved, the coriander drops from 2 tbsp to 1 tbsp; doubled, it is 4 tbsp. Every line in this entry carries its half and double quantity, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. When doubling on the stovetop, use your widest pan or work in two batches so the food sears instead of steaming.

Serve it with

Cook this free in the app

Textual Chef is 4,544 plain-text recipes, free to read and free to cook from. No account, no paywall, no ads, no life stories. Open this one in the app and each quantity sits inside the step that uses it, so you read once and cook.

Every recipe is curated or public-domain sourced, written to one template and checked before it publishes. Nothing here is a scraped blog post.

Cook this free in the appNo download needed. It opens in your browser. The kitchen tools (planner, shopping list, pantry, import) are $5.33 a month billed annually; the first 30 days are free.