Garam masala

गरम मसाला / garam masala

Flavor and role: A North Indian spice blend of toasted and ground cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, pepper, cumin, coriander seeds and more. It is warm and deep rather than hot, and is usually added at the end of cooking to keep its aroma.
Typical dishes and uses: Butter chicken, chicken tikka masala, biryani, dal, samosas. In this book: butter chicken and chicken biryani.
Substitutes: 1 tsp garam masala = ½ tsp ground cumin + ¼ tsp ground coriander + a pinch each of cinnamon, cloves and pepper. Curry powder can replace it but adds a turmeric flavour.
Storage: In an airtight container in a cool, dark place. Blends are best used within 6 months; home-toasted and ground blends are most fragrant for 1-2 months.
Main countries: India · Pakistan
Used in this book: Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)Chicken Biryani Aloo Gobi (Spiced Potato and Cauliflower)Aloo Keema Aloo Paratha (Potato-Stuffed Indian Flatbread)Bunny Chow (Durban Chicken Curry in a Loaf)Burmese Chicken Curry (Kyet Thar Hin)Chana Masala Chicken Karahi Chicken Tikka Masala Chole Bhature Egg Curry (Anda Curry)Haleem Malai Kofta (Paneer and Potato Dumplings in Creamy Tomato Gravy)Nihari Palak Paneer (Spinach with Indian Cheese)Paneer Tikka Rajma Chawal (Punjabi Kidney Bean Curry with Rice)Rogan Josh Aloo Samosa Seekh Kebab Sekuwa Tandoori Chicken Thukpa Dhaba-Style Aloo Gobi with Pan-Fried Florets Crispy Aloo Gobi Bites Tray with Lemon-Coriander Yogurt Lahori Bhuna Lamb Aloo Keema Aloo Keema Quesadillas with Green Chutney Crema (Pakistani × Mexican)Aloo Keema Puff Triangles with Mint Yogurt Dip Dhaba-Style Aloo Paratha with Homemade White Butter and Mint Raita Goan Coconut-Curry Seafood Rice (Portuguese × Goan)Butter Chicken Pie (Indian × Australian)Cheesy Keema Mini Bunny Rolls Chicken Tikka Burrito with Mint Raita Tandoor-Style Murgh Makhani Butter Chicken Rigatoni Butter Chicken Cheese Toast Bombay Potato Breakfast Hash with Masala Eggs (Indian × American)Pindi Chole Chana Masala Shakshuka Chana Masala Cheese Toastie Soaked-Rice Chatamari with Timur Keema and Roasted Tomato Achar Hyderabadi Chicken Dum Biryani Chicken Biryani Burrito Biryani Chicken Rice Bowl Desi Ghee Chicken Karahi with Charcoal Smoke Chicken Karahi Tacos Karahi Chicken Cheese Naan Melt Charcoal-Skewered Chicken Tikka Masala Chicken Tikka Masala Quesadillas Chicken Tikka Masala Cheesy Baked Rice Masala Chin Chin with Ajwain and Curry Leaves (Nigerian × Indian)Chole Lángos with Garlic and Sour Cream (Hungarian × Punjabi)Mini Bhatura Chole Sliders with Mint-Onion Slaw Dhaba-Style Double Tadka Dal with Coal Smoke Restaurant-Style Egg Masala with Cashew Tomato Gravy Masala Shakshuka (Indian × Middle Eastern)Masala Egg Puffs Egusi Chicken Korma (Nigerian x North Indian)Butter Chicken Enchiladas Smoked Sausage Snert Dal with Cumin Tadka Keema Escondidinho with Cassava Mash (Brazilian × Indian)Chana Chaat Fatteh with Tamarind and Mint Yogurt (Levantine × Indian)Black Bean Makhani (Cuban × North Indian)Shahi Haleem with Bone-In Shank and Ghee Baghar Haleem Shepherd's Pie (Pakistani × British)Chicken Haleem Rice Bowl Indian Tadka Hummus with Curry-Leaf Ghee Slow-Simmered European-Style Beef Curry Masala Kartoffelpuffer with Mint Raita (German x Indian)Pilau Masala Chicken and Chorizo Paella (Kenyan x Spanish)Pilau Masala Honey-Lime Wings with Kachumbari Yogurt Dip Kontomire Saag Paneer (Ghanaian × Indian)Khichdi-Style Koshari with Ghee Tadka Shahi Malai Kofta in Saffron-Cashew Gravy Malai Kofta Spaghetti in Makhani Tomato Cream (Indian × Italian)Malai Kofta Sliders with Makhani Mayo and Pickled Onions Tandoori Chicken Momo with Mint Yoghurt Nihari Ragù Pappardelle (Pakistani × Italian)Nihari Puff Pastry Pot Pie with Lemon-Chilli Yogurt Seared Paneer Palak with Garlic Tadka Palak Paneer Green Shakshuka Palak Paneer Cheese Melt Toast Charcoal-Smoked Paneer Tikka with Mint Chutney Paneer Tikka Tacos with Mango Salsa (Indian × Mexican)Paneer Tikka Loaded Fries with Mint Chutney Mayo Keema Pastel de Choclo (Indian-Spiced Beef under a Sweet Corn Crust)Keema Pastitsio with Garam Masala Béchamel Dhaba-Style Rajma Masala with Ghee Jeera Rice Creole Rajma Red Beans and Rice (Louisiana × Punjabi)Rajma Chawal Crispy Tikki with Mint Yogurt Tandoori-Spiced Roast Turkey Thighs with Cranberry-Mint Chutney (Indian × American)Slow-Braised Lamb Shank Rogan Josh Rogan Josh Keema Loaded Fries Masala Rösti with Mint-Yoghurt Chutney Halwai-Style Punjabi Samosas with Two Chutneys Samosa Toastie Charcoal Lamb Seekh Kebab with Fresh Mint Chutney Seekh Kebab Banh Mi (Pakistani × Vietnamese)Baked Seekh Kebab Scotch Eggs with Mint Yogurt Tandoori Chicken Shashlik with Mint Chutney (Uzbek × North Indian)Keema Shepherd's Pie with Bombay Mash Masala Buttermilk Fried Chicken with Mint Raita Saag Feta Phyllo Samosas Saag Aloo Stamppot with Tadka and Paneer Saag Stoemp with Masala Fried Eggs (Belgian × Indian)Charcoal-Smoked Tandoori Chicken with Mint Chutney Tandoori Chicken Tray Pizza with Mint Raita Drizzle Tandoori Chicken Caesar Salad with Naan Croutons Masala Toad-in-the-Hole with Curry Onion Gravy (British × Indian)Sukuma Saag Paneer with Ugali Milk-Dough Vetkoek with Cape Malay Mince

Updated 2026-10-10