If this is your first time cooking with garam masala—or trying to find an equivalent replacement—it helps to know exactly what this aromatic Indian spice blend is.
Garam masala literally translates to warm spices in Hindi. The interesting thing about this blend is that there is no set recipe to make it. However, there are specific warming spices that will go into any given garam masala to achieve a deep, sweet, warming, pungent flavor profile. You’ll find all or most of the following spice mix in garam masala:
Cinnamon
Cumin seeds
Black and green cardamom
Coriander seeds
Nutmeg
Cloves
Fennel
Black peppercorns
Indian bay leaves