Garam Masala is popular in Indian recipes/dishes. It gives a nice aroma and flavor to the recipe. If you are cooking an Indian recipe or any other recipe or you just want to try how it tastes when used in curry dishes, stews, and soups, You can use it simply by sprinkling a pinch of Garam Masala unless you run out of it or you don’t have it. Don’t worry! we are going to explore the Garam Masala substitute that would give a similar taste to the Garam Masala without ruining your dish.
Before knowing its substitutes, you have to know what is Garam Masala actually so that it would be easy for you to choose the perfect substitute for your recipe.
Table of Contents
What is Garam Masala?
Garam Masala is basically a blend of multiple spices including hot spices as well. It enhances the flavor and aroma of the recipe. You can see its popularity in Indian cuisines.
Nutrient Profile of Garam Masala:
| Serving | Ingredient | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| 0.22 g | cinnamon | 0.5 |
| 0.1 g | nutmeg | 0.5 |
| 0.29 g | black pepper | 0.7 |
| 1/2 g | cumin | 1.9 |
| 0.09 g | clove | 0.2 |
| 0.24 g | cardamom | 0.7 |
| 0.04 g | coriander | 0.0 |
Health Benefits of Garam Masala:
- Garam Masala is a strong antioxidant.
- It helps with digestion.
- It also promotes heart health and regulates blood pressure.
- Garam Masala helps to lower cancer risks.
- It defends against diabetes.
What can I Substitute for Garam Masala?
We know how it feels when you run out of the main ingredient or you don’t have it at the moment. Sometimes, it’s difficult to find the main ingredient and visit multiple stores in a hurry. What can we do then to save time? Every spice or ingredient has its substitutes. We just have to explore. Here, we have listed the best substitute for Garam Masala so that your recipe won’t be ruined and give a similar taste as you expected to use the original ingredient.
1. Curry Powder:
The first thought that comes to everyone’s mind is to use Curry Powder instead of Garam Masala when you run out of it. Curry Powder wouldn’t give you the perfect taste still, but it’s worth it to use. Curry Powder is a common spice in many Indian cuisines. You can’t use Curry Powder at the end of your cooking process as same as Garam Masala, but you have to use it during the cooking process.
2. Blend of Cumin and Allspice:
This blend replicates the overall effect of Garam Masala more closely. This blend gives a great flavor to the recipe that calls for Garam Masala. Allspice is a blend of different spices alone whereas Cumin is flavourful and aromatic. Your dish will be delicious and aromatic. Take 1 part of Cumin and 1/4 part of Allspice for the right balance and perfectly work as a substitute for Garam Masala.
3. Chaat Masala:
Chaat Masala is popular in Indian dishes. It can be eaten raw with salads, fruits, corn, etc. It is a bit different from Garam Masala and still gives the perfect flavor to the recipe. Some brands use excess salt in Chaat Masala so don’t overuse it and maintain the salt in a recipe/dish. Use an equal amount of Chaat Masala when replacing it with Garam Masala.
4. Sambhar Masala:
Sambhar Masala is a combination of various spices. It is popular for different cooking styles in South India. This includes cumin, coriander seeds, dry red chilies, mustard seeds, etc. It can be made easily at home and stored in a jar for later. Use accordingly how you like your meal to taste and smell.
5. Chicken Tikka Masala:
Chicken Tikka Masala is very popular in meat Indian dishes. It is a sauce that contains tomato, chicken, cream, and traditional Indian spices. It also contains a little bit of Garam Masala which makes it an ideal substitute. The flavors are quite earthy and sweet which makes it very delicious.
6. Ras el Hanout:
Ras el Hanout is a mixture of spices from South Africa. The name Ras el Hanout is an Arabic name that means “head of the shop”. This works really well as a Garam Masala in Indian recipes/dishes. It is used more frequently in Morocco. There is no fixed combination of spices that made Ras el Hanout. Each and every shop and family have its own blend of spices that works pretty well as an alternative to Garam Masala.
7. Cinnamon, Fenugreek, and Cloves Mixture:
You can use a mixture of Cinnamon, Fenugreek, and Cloves as a substitute for Garam Masala. You just need to put them in a pan on low heat and afterward into a blender so that you can make a fine powder. The aroma of all spices will be blended as well as the mixture. You can use it with vegetables, meat stews, chicken, and other cuisines where Garam Masala is called for. This mixture can replicate the flavor and works as a good replacement for Garam Masala.
8. Cumin, Coriander, and Cardamom Mixture:
The perfect blend of Cumin, Coriander, and Cardamom can be used as a replacement for Garam Masala. Take 1 teaspoon of cumin seeds with 2 teaspoons of coriander seeds, and 1/2 teaspoon of green cardamom pods, and put them on a pan on low heat. Now, put them into a blender and make a fine powder. Your Garam Masala substitute is ready for use in stews, soups, curries, vegetables, and meat dishes/recipes.
9. Mustard Seeds, Curry Leaves, and Coconut:
Use Curry Leaves, Mustard Seeds, and Coconut to replicate the flavor of Garam Masala. Take a teaspoon of shredded coconut, a teaspoon of mustard seeds, and around 10-12 curry leaves. Put all of them in a pan on low heat and blend well to make a powder. You can use it easily with fish, sauces, curries, meat recipes, etc.
10. Vadouvan:
Vadouvan is a French derivative of Masala which is a ready-to-use blend of spices. It is an Indian curry blend with added aromatics such as shallots and garlic. Vadouvan is a blend of pounded onion, garlic, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, and fenugreek. This mixture is prepared with a unique method. First, all these spices are dried in sunlight then crushed and mixed with castor oil to preserve for many days. This paste is rolled into balls which are dried for several more days.
11. Pumpkin Pie Spice:
Pumpkin Pie Spice is a British mixed spice. It is a blend of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and sometimes allspice. This blend can be used as a seasoning in general cooking recipes.
FAQ:-
Is Garam Masala the same as Curry Powder?
No, they are two separate spice mixtures. Curry Powder is used during the cooking process whereas Garam Masala is used both during the cooking process and after completely cooked of a dish to give a finishing touch with an intense aroma of spices.
What does Garam Masala taste like?
Garama Masala is a warm, fragrant spice blend with lots of flavored layers. Garam Masala is unique and no other blend will taste the same. You'll like the hint of cinnamon, peppercorns, or cloves. Just sprinkle a pinch of Garam Masala on roasted vegetables. You'll really like its taste.
Now, you know the best Garam Masala Substitute. You can choose according to what you have in the kitchen or you can also buy from amazon. Please! comment down below your questions, and let us know how much informative is this article for you. 🙂
