Often in Indian recipes, there is a recommendation to add a mixture of garam masala to the dish. Of course, not every our country housewife has heard of this, and there is no question of having such a mixture in her kitchen. How to replace seasoning?
Translated from Indian, “garam” means “hot” and “masala” means spices. That is, garam masala is a mixture of hot spices that are used to season Asian dishes. First, the mixture is fried to reveal its aromas and then grind for convenience. Moreover, it is garam masala that is used not in the cooking process, but immediately before serving the dish to the table.
There is no single recipe for a mixture of these spices. Its composition varies in different regions of India. The main ingredients in garam masala are cumin, coriander, cloves, black pepper, cardamom, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
In some regions of India, garam masala looks like a powder, in others, mixed with vinegar, water and milk, like a paste. There are four substitutions for the garam masala spice.
Curry powder
Garam masala can be substituted with curry powder, although curry does not give the same flavor and aroma. Curry powder contains fenugreek, cumin, coriander, turmeric and chili, as well as the leaves of the curry plant, which has a strong spicy aroma.
Allspice
Jamaican peppers are harvested green and dried in the sun, after which they become similar to black peppercorns. When ground fresh, Jamaican peppers have a very strong and pleasant aroma.
Tandoori-matter
This mixture is not “hot”, but rather “refreshing”. It is also spicy like a garam mixture, but at the same time has a salty-sweet taste. It is a good substitute for gm-masala when you need to marinate poultry or seafood. Tandoori masala consists of turmeric, cinnamon, cumin, cloves, fenugreek, fennel seeds, bay leaves.
Aromatic mixture with your own hands
To achieve similar flavors and aromas, mix 3 parts coriander and cinnamon powder, 1 part cumin and clove powder, and half of cardamom and pepper powder.
With the help of Indian spices, you can prepare one of the most spicy dishes in the world, which we wrote earlier.