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Garam Masala

Recipe by Connie Veneracion
Tweak according to your preference. And that means you have to familiarize yourself with the flavor and aroma of each and every ingredient. When you've done that, you'll understand that "spicy" and "hot" shouldn't be used interchangeably when describing spices.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Course Spice Blend
Cuisine South Asian
Servings 4 tablespoons
Garam masala and the various spices that make up the blend

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
  • 1 tablespoon coriander seeds
  • 1 tablespoon cardamom seeds
  • 1 tablespoon peppercorns black or white, or a combination
  • 1 half-inch stick cinnamon broken into small pieces
  • 1 dried chili optional
  • ½ teaspoon whole cloves
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ¼ teaspoon grated nutmeg

Instructions
 

  • Place all the ingredients, except the bay leaf and nutmeg, in a thick-bottomed skillet.
  • Over medium-low heat, toast the spices, tossing often, until they turn twice (or even thrice) as dark as their original colors (see notes after the recipe).
  • Cool the toasted spices.
  • Grind the toasted spices and bay leaf using a mortar and pestle, or a mini-food processor. How fine or coarse the grind should be depends entirely on how you intend to use the garam masala.
  • Stir in the grated nutmeg.
  • The garam masala is ready to use.

Notes

When toasting spices, keep the heat low. You're toasting them to heighten the flavor and make them give off a smoky aroma. There is, however, a thin line between darkly toasted and burnt. The best way to avoid burning the spices is to keep the heat low. 
Store excess garam masala in an air-tight jar at room temperature away from the sun. Use within a week or two.
Keyword Spicy