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Garam means hot in Hindi, so garam masala means hot masala. Masala basically means a mixture of spices. A masala can either be a combination of dry roasted spices or a paste (such as tandoori masala) made from a mixture of spices and other ingredients like ginger, garlic, onions etc. It is used to add spice and flavor. Garam masala is mostly used in Northern Indian cooking. The name is misleading since the recipe does not contain any chillies. The heat in the name refers to spices that generate internal heat in your body – namely black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon and cloves. The theory of heating and cooling food is ascribed to Ayurveda, an ancient form of Indian medicine.
I was under the assumption that garam masala was only used in Indian Cooking. Searching on the internet, I found that garam masala is also used in Iranian cooking. It is linked to a Persian spice blend known as advieh, which means “medicine” in Arabic and presumably originated as a mixture intended to improve the medicinal qualities of food, as well as the flavor, according to Margaret Shaida, author of The Legendary Cuisine of Persia
Garam masala has its own interpretation in every northern state. Julie Sahni’s cookbook Classic Indian Vegetarian and Grain Cooking
Garam Masala
Garama masala is always added at the end of cooking to enhance the dish with a gentle aroma. I encourage you to make the spice mixture at home instead of buying it in a store. The one in the store is tasteless and stale. It does not have any aroma either. The recipe below is very easy and well worth it to make it at home. It can be stored in a cool, dry place in an airtight container for a 2-3 months.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup cumin seeds
1/4 cup coriander seeds
1 1/2 tablespoons cardamom seeds (back or green cardamom pods)
2 whole cinnamon sticks, 3 inches long
1 1/2 teaspoons whole cloves
3 tablespoons black peppercorns
4 bay leaves, broken up
1/2 teaspoons ground mace (optional)
Directions:
Heat a heavy frying pan fr 2 minutes over medium-high heat.
Combine all the spices (except the mace) and add them to the frying pan. Dry-roast them, stirring and turning them constantly, until all the spices are several shades darker. They should be done in approximately 10 minutes or so. They will exude a spicy and fragrant aroma.
Transfer the roasted spice mixture to a plate to cool it down. After the spices are cooled, grind them into a fine powder using a spice grinder or coffee grinder.
Add the mace to the mixture and mix well. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. It can be stored for up to 3 months or so.
Makes 3/4 cup
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Evil Evan Sep 4, 2009
great background information. so is this a hot as in spicy dish?
Sanjay Sep 6, 2009
No, this is not a hot or spicy masala. It is used more to give a dish aroma and taste without overpowering the dish. It is used in various dishes such as Pulao and Biryani (rice dishes), Lentil soups, or any other dish that you fancy.
Tasty Cuisines with Indian Spices » Blog Archive » Aloo Gobi (Braised Potato and Cauliflower) Oct 16, 2009
[...] Ingredients: 1/4 cup vegetable oil 1 large onion, peeled and cut into small pieces 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds 1/2 cup of cilantro stalk, roughly chopped 2 teaspoons Turmeric 1 teaspoon Salt 1 serrano chili, chopped (use 2-3 for a spicier dish) 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled and grated 1 tablespoon fresh garlic, finely chopped 3 large tomatoes, finely chopped (or one 28oz can of diced tomatoes with juice) 1 large cauliflower, leaves removed and cut evenly into eighths 3 large potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes 1 cup of fresh cilantro leaves, roughly chopped 2 teaspoons Garam Masala [...]