What is Garam Masala and its Origins?

Spices have always been the heart of Indian cuisine with garam masala crowning the list. Garam masala is a slightly sweet, peppery, and pungent blend of the most versatile, aromatic and flavorful spices. It originated in the Punjab region of northern India, where it was used to keep people warm during winter. Since then it quickly gained popularity and has been a staple recipe of various cultures in the world, mainly the Pakistani, Bengali and many Asian countries.

While garam means "hot" and masala is loosely defined as "mixture of spices." It does not mean that the spice is hot as raw chilies; it means that the spice raises the heat of the body by boosting the metabolism. Garam masala's taste is slightly pungent, and it usually goes well with people who normally can't eat too spicy food. Six to twelve spices are blended to create a difference in any meal: cinnamon adds flavor, pepper brings the heat, nutmeg incorporates complexity while coriander brings a lemony touch and texture. All the spices blend so well together.

Where to Buy Garam Masala?

Are you wondering where to buy garam masala? Different ready-made blends of Garam masala are now available in ethnic groceries, specialty stores and online too. For a better bargain, buy the garam masala spice on garammasala.ca. Here you will also find that it is fresher and can be sold in bulk for a lower price.

How to Make Your Own Garam Masala with Garam Masala recipe?

Garam masala can also be homemade to create regional, local, and personal tastes. Its components may vary, a traditional mix is based on cinnamon, cloves, cumin, nutmeg, and cardamom. Additionally, the spice mix may include black peppercorns, dried red chilies, ginger powder, coriander, mace, bay leaves, fennel, dried garlic and fenugreek seeds. There is no one particular recipe for garam masala, as every each mix brings out its own distinctive flavor and may differ among individual cooks.

Garam masala is best made fresh just before you begin cooking, but if you do not have the time, you can make a batch ahead and store for several months in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. Preparation takes just 10 minutes

To make Garam Masala, use the following ingredients:

1. Two cardamom pods, seeded

2. One teaspoon whole cloves

3. 30 whole peppercorns

4. Two teaspoons whole cumin seed

5. One 2-inch piece cinnamon stick

6. One teaspoon coriander seeds

7. 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

8. 1 1/2 teaspoons dry ginger

9. 3/4 tsp crushed bay leaves

Step by step guide to prepare Garam Masala

There are different methods to make garam masala, but one of the best techniques is toasting and then grinding the ingredients. This is accomplished by placing all the ingredients (leave cardamom in its pods till later) in a pan over medium-high heat. Stir occasionally till they turn a few shades darker, and they just begin to smoke, releasing their distinctive aromas. The entire procedure takes approximately one to three minutes. Do not be tempted to speed up the process by turning up the heat as the spices will burn on the outside and remain raw on the inside.

1. When the spices are roasted turn off the flame and allow them to cool.

2. Once the spice mixture has cooled down, take out the cardamom seeds from their pods and blend them together with all the other roasted ingredients.

3. Place the toasted ingredients in a clean, dry spice grinder, and grind to a relatively fine powder.

4. Store the freshly prepared garam masala in an airtight container.

How does Garam Masala Taste Like?

Garam masala brings a warm, sweet, floral taste, and a touch of heat from the black pepper. It is created to be a fragrant spice as well as flavorful. While coriander, turmeric, and cumin may remind you of curry, garam masala is generally not chilly hot.

How to store Garam Masala?

The garam masala should be stored in an airtight container, preferably in a cool, dark, and dry place - this will ensure that it stays fresh for longer. Ensure to use the spice blend within a few weeks as it loses its potency rather quickly although it won't spoil. Typically, it should last up to six months after which it tends to lose its distinctive flavor and aroma.

What are the health benefits of Garam Masala?

The health benefits of garam masala are very well known in alternative healing practices and have been used to promote well-being for centuries. According to Ayurveda, which is the traditional Hindu system of medicine, garam masala is said to "heat the body," meaning it raises body temperature. After eating it, most people say they feel warm. Without it, our bodies become sluggish and accumulate toxins

List of health benefits of garam masala

1. Boosts digestion

The main health benefit of spicing your food with garam masala is that it increases your appetite and boosts digestion by stimulating the release of gastric juices in the stomach. Cumin and cloves in the garam masala prevent indigestion. The cardamom to your garam masala also increases the ability to absorb vitamins, minerals, and proteins.

2. Boosts metabolism

Ingredients that make up Garam masala are rich in phytonutrients, which help in increasing the body's metabolism, especially, pepper. The other components are also rich in minerals, which aid in improving the functions of various body organs.

3. Full of Antioxidants

Garam masala works as a powerful antioxidant, which helps in preventing skin diseases, slows down the aging process, promotes weight loss and aids in detoxification. This is one more reason to add the exotic blend to your kitchen spice shelf.

4. Relieves gas

Garam masala has carminative properties that help reduce heart burn, bloating, and even nausea. The ingredients in the spice-blend also soothes an upset stomach and keep the gastrointestinal tract healthy.

5. Fights Bad Breath

The several components of garam masala fight oral bacteria, which helps get rid of bad breath and prevent tooth decay. It is also great at reducing toothaches and tooth cavity and thus have been used worldwide.

6. Regulates Blood Pressure and Improves Heart Health

Cardamom, one of the essential ingredients of garam masala, is known to regulate blood pressure levels and improving overall heart health. Additionally, coriander has been known to lower blood cholesterol levels and controlling blood sugar levels. This makes garam masala a reliable source of heart-healthy compounds that can be easily included in your day-to-day life to reduce the risk of heart-related diseases significantly.

7. Reduces Inflammation

Bodily inflammation has increasingly become an issue in the present world. Whether it's subtle and low-grade or sharp and in-your-face, it can cause some severe damage over time. Still, we can profoundly diminish inflammation by having a healthy diet. Cardamom in garam masala has been shown to reduce inflammation in the body. Cumin, cinnamon and black pepper have also been found to have anti-inflammatory properties.

8. Protects Your Nerve System

Garam masala could be useful when it comes to preventing Alzheimer's and other neurological diseases. As mentioned above, all of the commonly-used ingredients in garam masala are high in antioxidants. This is important because natural antioxidants are protective against neurodegenerative disorders.

9. Defends Against Diabetes

Cinnamon is an essential component of garam masala because of its beneficial effects and most importantly, its a blood sugar regulator. This way, the spice blend improves insulin sensitivity, which defends the body against diabetes. Nutmeg has also shown to prevent diabetes.

10. Improves immunity

Garam masala is known to improve the immunity of the body. It also helps to cure diseases like fever and cold. If a person is suffering from common cold, a cup of garam masala tea flushes out mucus from the body and help to get rid of chest congestion.

How Garam Masala is used and on which dishes?

The garam masala is often used in the preparation of various dishes. Generally, it is added to the food very shortly before serving to enhance savor and preserve its aroma to the fullest. Garam Masala is also an excellent rub for roasted or grilled chicken and beef; the aroma and flavor are outstanding. Baked chicken baked will retain the superb flavor of the garam masala.

Since garam masala is versatile and flavorful, you can enjoy it to the maximum with different recipes. It will definitely add that exotic taste to any dish, not only Indian cuisines.

List of different uses for garam masala.

1. Mayonnaise

If you like taking your find mayo every day, shake some garam masala to add a tastier flavor to the mayonnaise and make it more enjoyable. Then, use your mayo in everything from sandwiches to aioli to deviled eggs. Then you can spice up those old mayo recipes with a dash of garam masala, and you will look like a cooking genius to your family and friends.

2. Coffee

For a great and richer coffee drinking experience sprinkle some garam masala to your coffee. Your coffee will taste better, spicier and fresher, not forgetting the sweet aroma of the garam masala will be amazing.

3. Popcorn

If you feeling your popcorn is a little boring, you can shake some garam masala on your popcorn popped or do without the butter entirely. In just a small amount of the spice-blend, can make your popcorn go from unexciting to brilliant.

4. Chicken Tikka Masala

The chicken tikka with garam masala is and easy to cook recipe as well as an excellent way to make a hearty meal without much work. Its simple, inexpensive dish and a fun option of utilizing different spices that add some fresh flavors and aroma.

5. Rice

Rice is a typical, tasty, and affordable side dish, but finding ways to spice it up can be difficult. Use garam masala to kick up your rice but do not overpower the side dish. Serve your garam masala rice with fish or beans for a lovely, sweet-smelling meal.

6. Pork

Pork rubbed in garam masala, makes an exceptional summer meal. Incorporating garam masala and other ingredients such as salad oil, raspberry juice, and chicken broth, this dish is a yummy way to make pork chops.

7. Gingerbread Cookies

Try including garam masala into your dessert dishes. You can make chocolate masala gingerbread recipe in a totally different way to bring a twist to the traditional flavor. This will be enough to suprise your family and friends.

8. Cupcakes

If you want to spice up your world of baking, adding garam masala to your cupcake recipes should be at the top of your spices’ list. You can sprinkle the garam masala while mixing the butter or on the the cream cheese frosting to perfectly complement to the cupcake's flavor.

9. Butternut Squash

There are plenty of great recipes that pair garam masala with butternut squash to create a great delicious dish. Adding garam masala to roasted butternut squash together with other components like shallots, white wine and apples will be delicious. To make the butternut squash even more tantalizing, you can blend all the ingredients to make soup or separate them for a roasted side dish. Butternut squash with garam masala is an easy-to-make, budget-friendly, and enticing dish you will never want to miss.

Nutritional in Garam Masala

Garam masala is extremely low in calories since it hardly contains any fat but it is high in fiber, which is almost 16%. It also contains vitamin A, Vitamin B and it is a rich source of manganese and potassium. There are 13 calories in one tablespoon (5.700g) serving size of Garam Masala. The calorie breakdown is 0% fat, 0% carbs, and 0% protein.

Therefore, Garam Masala is a blend of different ingredients with each ingredient playing an important role. Include garam masala in your meals while cooking to add a delicious exotic taste as well as for its numerous health benefits, Garam Masala has it all.

So, have you tried the Garam Masala? Shop for Garam masala at garammasala.ca, which is one of the finest brands in offering quality and tasty spices.