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People in India use different kinds of spices to give taste to dishes. We are so acquainted with the use of strong and flavourful spices in our food that the absence of even one of them is so evident to us. Garam masala is one such quintessential masala in India that contributes a lot to the overall flavour and texture of a dish. It is used to make different types of sabzi, curry, biryani, Pulao and so many other dishes. People in India also like to use it to make dishes like pasta and pizza. A lot of times we forget about restocking masalas and get to know about it when we are preparing our food. In this case not putting that particular masala doesn't give food the kind of test we are acquired to. Thus today we have bought five best substitutes for Garam masala that you can use instead of Garam masala and not feel its absence.
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* Jeera, Coriander And Elaichi
This is one of the best combinations to use in place of Garam masala. Jeera, Coriander and Elaichi can be blended to form a very fine powder. All of these three condiments are very different from each other. They bring different kinds of flavour pallets on the plate and the mixture of them creates a flavourful symphony. The best way to use them in place of Garam masala is to combine them very well in the form of a very fine powder.
* Curry Powder
A lot of people already use curry patta or curry powder at home to add to their food. Curry powder has very similar flavours to that of garam masala. If you have ever tried tasting both of them then you would know that they can be used as a substitute for each other. While it is true that curry powder is not as strong and enhanced as Garam masala, it can still give a very delicious taste to your dishes and not make them taste bland. To get the full flavours and potential taste of curry powder, make sure that you add it towards the end of your cooking process. Do not add it at the beginning of the cooking process because it leads to a loss of flavours. It can be called a subtle version of Garam masala and can be used as a quick fix.
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* Sambar Masala
Sambar masala is also a spice blend just like Garam masala and is a mixture of a lot of different spices. If you look at the different ingredients used in Sambar masala then you will find that it has a lot of similarities with Garam masala. It adds a layer of depth and also enhances the overall flavour of the day dish. However, you must make sure that you don't add a lot of Sambar masala because, unlike curry masala, it is quite strong and flavourful. In some cases, Sambar masala is spicier than Garam masala. So you must be careful while adding Sambar masala to your dish and make sure you don't overdo it.
* Chaat Masala
While a lot of you may not believe this is true, chaat masala does add kind of similar flavours like garam masala to the dish. Chaat masala and garam masala almost have the same impact on a particular dish. So you can add chaat masala in almost the same quantity as you add garam masala and your food. It is a very good substitute and a lot of people are not even able to find a difference between the two after being added to a particular dish. However, the tanginess of chaat masala is a bit more than garam masala so you have to take care of that tangent. To suppress the tanginess you can add a counter ingredient.
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* Cinnamon, Cloves And Sauf
The beautiful blend of cinnamon, sauf and cloves is another combination that you can use in place of Garam masala. To make this mixture, you have to roast all of these ingredients on a medium or low flame and heat them for a few minutes. Then you can transfer these ingredients into a grinder and form a very fine powder out of it. The spice blend is very delicious and may not be exactly like garam masala, but has rich and diverse flavours of its own. You will not feel the absence of garam masala in your food at all and this will become a staple in your house.
These are some wonderful substitutes that you can use to make your dishes in case you have run out of garam masala. A lot of them have similar notes to Garam masala and some are extremely different from it. But one thing that you must know is that all of them are special in their way and make food flavourful.
