Spices are an indispensable part of Indian cuisine. Almost every other Indian dish is described as ‘Masaledaar’. After all, an Indian dish needs a variety of masalas, cooked to perfection to bring out the desired flavour and aroma. Although there are many other popular spices in Indian cuisine, Garam Masala is quite ubiquitous and popular. A fragrant and flavourful medley of seven spices, Garam masala is enough to elevate any Indian dish to a new level altogether. The heat from the peppercorns, tinge of sweetness from cinnamon, earthiness from the cumin, slight tanginess from the coriander and the fragrance from the mace, bay leaf and cardamom pods make Garam Masala the flavourful blend it is. Although the ingredients remain the same, the quantity of the ingredients varies from region to region in India. While the North Indian Garam Masala is aromatic and mild, the heat in the masala is more in the southern states. As winters are here, we know you can't wait to try some comforting curries for lunch or dinner. And if you are worried that you won’t be able to do so because you don’t have Garam Masala at home, then you need to keep your pecker up. We have got you covered with three alternative spice mixes that you can use instead of Garam Masala to revamp your curries.
1.Curry Powder
One of the most common spices used in India, curry powder has similar ingredients as Garam Masala and is an ideal substitute for it. Although the flavour and aroma might differ, you’ll get a delicious and aromatic dish by swapping Garam Masala with curry powder.
2.Sambar Masala
Using Sambar Masala instead of Garam Masala in curries will elevate the flavour and aroma of the dish. Needless to say, Sambar Masala is the one to make Sambar one of the most flavourful and popular South Indian curry. So, there is no doubt that it will fit perfectly in the curry you are planning to make. However, you can alter the quantity of the spice mix according to taste preferences.
3.Allspice And Cumin
Save yourself a trip to the market with this spice mix. Mix four parts of cumin and one part of allspice to use it instead of Garam Masala.
Do try these spice mixes in place of Garam Masala and let us know how your dishes turn out to be.