What is a good substitute for garam masala seasoning? The most asked question while making Indian Dishes.
Garam Masala has a unique, sweet, spicy, and Flavorful taste and smell. It is added to enhance the recipe’s taste like Chicken, Curry, any gravy type dishes.
What happens when you make some recipe that requires garam masala, but you don’t have it! That’s why I bring some Garam masala substitutes with me.
What Is Garam Masala? What is garam masala made of?
Garam masala is a spice blend that is commonly used in Indian cookery. The exact ingredients vary, but black pepper, cloves, cumin, coriander, and cardamom are common.
Garam masala is a spice that is used to flavor cuisine. It is suitable for both savory and sweet meals.
What is a substitute for garam masala? (9 Alternatives for Garam Masala)
1. Garam Masala Substitute CURRY POWDER
Add curry powder as a substitute for garam masala in your recipe. Curry powder is a British creation, simply an English shortcut to the delicious garam masalas that Indian cooks make daily.
Curry powder contains turmeric, which is absent from Garam Masala. Turmeric has a rich yellow color that is visible in the overall appearance of a meal. The addition of curry powder to a meal will also alter its appearance.
2.CUMIN+ALLSPICE A Decent Substitute for Garam Masala
While you don’t have anything, just use cumin and allspice altogether. Blend the two spices and use them as Maram masala replacement in curry.
3.CHAAT MASALA- A Sweet Aternative To Garam Masala
As a replacement, try chaat masala. It’s yet another Indian spice blend of amchoor, cumin, coriander, ginger, black pepper, asafetida, salt, and chile.
It is a spice blend that is distinct from garam masala. Use it sparingly and gradually to avoid overpowering your food with the spice.
When substituting garam masala, use the same amount of chaat masala. However, all varies on your dishes, such as vegetarian soups or other hot sauces.
4. An easy Garam Masala substitute- Mix Cardamom + Cloves + Cinamon + Nutmeg
Mix 4 cloves, 1 medium stick cinnamon, 2 cardamoms, and nutmeg- Blend all spices, then use instead of garam masala the same amount.
5. CHINESE FIVE SPICE is another Good Replacement for Garam Masala
In historical data, the Chinese Five Spice components are fire, water, wood, earth, and metal.
Chinese five-spice is a five-spice blend, including clove, cinnamon, Star anise, fennel seeds, and Szechuan Peppercorns. Use Chinese five spices instead of garam masala in any recipe.
6. INDIAN CHICKEN CURRY POWDER – Similar Substitute for Garam masala
Unlike curry masala, Chicken curry powder is similar to garam masala. It has a unique taste and uses savory dishes. Use a 1:1 ratio of chicken curry powder; the recipe calls for garam masala.
7. Try CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA for Garam Masala Alternative in Chicken Recipe
Chicken Tikka Masala is usually used for Chicken items in Indian Cuisine. Still, it is a good replacement for garam masala. 90% of ingredients are the same. Use a 1:1 ratio.
8. PUMPKIN SPICE All Rounder Garam Masala Replacement
Try Pumpkin spice alternative to garam masala, although you will most likely want to make a few adjustments. (source)
Originally, the pumpkin pie spice blend was created with cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and ginger, most common in Garam masala except ginger.
Since it is commonly used in sugary cooking, it can also be present in savory foods.
What is the difference between garam masala and curry powder?
Curry powder is a British invention that combines various spices, including turmeric, cumin, coriander, ginger, and fenugreek.
Garam masala is a more complex spice blend that uses whole spices, including black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, cumin seeds, and more.
Curry powder can be used in place of garam masala if the British recipe calls for curry powder, but please understand that you are not creating an authentic Indian dish with the substitution.
How to make a substitute for garam masala (Homemade Garam Masala)
Garam masala is simply a mixture of dry spices put together and then added to dishes for flavor.
It’s important not to substitute ground spices or curry powder in place of garam masala because they won’t give the same taste to your dish.
To make your own garam masala,
You will need cumin seeds, coriander seeds, cardamom pods, black peppercorns, and cinnamon sticks.
First, roast the cumin and coriander seeds in a skillet until fragrant.
Then, add the cardamom pods, black peppercorns, and cinnamon sticks and toast them for a few more minutes.
Finally, grind the spices together and store them in an airtight container.
Homemade Garam Masala Tips
Making your own garam masala is a great way to ensure that you know the ingredients and be fresh.
It is also a cost-effective way to make this spice blend. Here are a few tips on how to make your own garam masala:
1. Choose high-quality spices. This is especially important for the spices that will be the most prominent in your garam masalas, such as cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves.
2. Toast the spices lightly before grinding them. This will deepen their flavor.
3. Make sure to grind the spices to a fine powder. A rough powder will not mix well with other ingredients and will not be as flavorful.
4. Store the garam masala in an airtight container. It will keep for a few months this way.
Now that you know how to make your own garam masala, you can customize it to your liking.
Garam Masala substitute In Curry
There are a few different options for a garam masala substitute in curry.
One option is to use ground ginger, which has a similar flavor to garam masala.
Another option is to use a mix of spices such as cumin, coriander, and turmeric. These spices also have a similar flavor to garam masala. By mixing some of them together, you can create a similar flavor to garam masala that will taste great in your curry.
A third option is to use whole black peppercorns with cloves or ginger powder along with cumin and mustard seeds. This mixture will give your curry a strong garam masala-like flavor.
Garam masala substitute for butter chicken
Garam masala is a key ingredient in butter chicken, but it can have other uses too. So if you’re out of garam masala or lose the recipe, what’s the best substitute for butter chicken?
The explanation is dependent on where you ask it.
Recipes vary between locations and regions – especially with something as subjective as food.
However, there are a few common substitutes for garam masala that can be used in butter chicken recipes.
One popular substitute is cumin. Cumin is a seed that has a warm, earthy flavor. It can be ground to create a powder or used whole in dishes.
Another popular substitute is ground coriander. Coriander is another seed that has a slightly sweet, citrusy flavor. It can be ground to create a powder or used whole in dishes.
If you’re searching for a substitute that will give your butter chicken a similar flavor to garam masala, cumin and coriander are good choices.
They will make your butter chicken taste good but still different from when it has garam masala in it.
Garam masala substitute tikka masala
Tikka masala is a traditional Indian meal made with chicken or other proteins.
The key flavor in tikka masala is the garam masala spice blend. If you don’t have garam masala, you can make a substitute tikka masala spice blend with these spices:
Cumin, coriander, ginger, cinnamon, and black pepper.
To make the tikka masala sauce, you will need:
- · 1 tablespoon olive oil
- · 1 onion, chopped
- · 3 cloves garlic, minced
- · 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- · 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- · 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- · 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- · 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- · 1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
- · 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- · 1 cup heavy cream or canned coconut milk (if you are vegan or dairy-free milk)
- · To taste, sprinkle with kosher salt. Begin with 1 teaspoon and add more as desired.
What do I substitute for garam masala?
· Chicken Curry Masala
· Tikka Masala
· Homemade Garam Masala
· Chinese five-spice
FAQs Related to Garam Masala & Its Alternatives
Q1. Is garam masala the same as curry powder?
The answer to this question is a little bit complicated.
Garam masala and curry powder are spice blends, but they have different ingredients.
Curry powder typically contains turmeric, cumin, coriander, and chili peppers, while garam masala contains more warming spices like cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom.
Garam masala is a type of curry powder, but there are many different types of curry powders. Garam masala usually contains more spices than other types of curry powder, and the spices are ground more finely.
This makes garam masala a hotter, more intense seasoning.
Some people believe that garam masala is more authentic than other types of curry powder.
It is often used in Indian cuisine but can be used in other types of cuisine as well. If you are looking for spicy seasoning to add flavor to your dish, garam masala may be a perfect choice.
Q2. Can I substitute garam masala for curry?
Garam masala can be substituted for curry powder; however, the flavor will slightly differ.
Garam masala is a mix of ground spices that usually includes cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, and cumin.
It has a warm, spicy flavor that is perfect for dishes like chicken tikka masala or lamb curry.
Suppose you don’t have any garam masala on hand. In that case, you can make your own by mixing ground cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and cardamom.
Q3. Can i substitute tikka masala for garam masala?
Tikka masala is a famous Indian dish made with spices such as cumin, coriander, and cardamom.
While it may approximate the flavors of garam masala, it will not have the same intensity or depth of flavor.
Suppose you want to create a dish with similar flavors. In that case, we recommend starting with a small amount of masala adding additional spices to achieve the desired flavor profile.
