Small Batch Garam Masala Recipe

Name: Small Batch Garam Masala Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon ground cumin; 1 ½ teaspoon ground coriander; 1 ½ teaspoon ground cardamom; 1 ½ teaspoon ground pepper; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; ½ teaspoon ground cloves; ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg; ¼ teaspoon ground allspice

Jump to Recipe

See just how easy it is to make your own small batch garam masala spice blend. Garam masala is found in many Indian dishes and is a wonderful spice to add to many recipes, including those with chicken or fish.

a bowl of garam masala on a yellow napkin

Garam masala is a spice blend found in many Indian dishes. In English, the name literally means "hot or warm spices".

It is said that the spices used to make garam masala make the body warm. They also have medicinal as well as digestive benefits.

Why This Recipe Works

Homemade spice blends tend to have more flavor than store-bought versions since those have usually lost their flavor while sitting on shelves.
Bottled spices purchased from the store can be expensive. When you make a small batch of garam masala, you use what you need and there's little to no waste.

What Spices Are In Garam Masala?

To make a small batch of garam masala, you will need:

cumin
coriander
cardamom
pepper
cinnamon
cloves
nutmeg
allspice

The traditional way of making garam masala is by toasting the whole seeds and crushing them. If you don't have the time to go through the roasting and crushing steps, try our easy recipe using already ground spices.

See below for ways to use leftover ingredients.

Mixing spices for garam masala in a bowl before mixed

Frequently Asked Questions

What Does Garam Masala Taste Like?

Garam masala is a complex blend of spices including sweet cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, spicy pepper, tangy coriander, earthy cumin, and fragrant cardamom.

There is no single garam masala recipe since the ingredients change from region and cook.

Is Garam Masala Similar To Curry Powder?

Both garam masala and curry powder are used to add plenty of flavor and color to different dishes. One of the biggest difference between the two is that traditionally garam masala does not contain turmeric and turmeric is a primary ingredient in curry powder.

Garam masala has a more complex, stronger flavor than curry powder because of all of the spices included in the blend.

What Is A Good Substitute For Garam Masala?

If a recipe calls for garam masala and you don't have the spices on hand to make your own, consider using curry powder as a substitute. You won't get the same warm flavors from the spices but curry powder works well in most Indian dishes.

Another option is to use cumin and a pinch of allspice.

Expert Tips

Use garam masala in either of these single serving recipes: Butter Chicken and Saag Paneer.
When making homemade spice blends, be sure that the spices you use are fresh.

Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients

If you have any spices leftover from this small batch garam masala recipe, you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:

Cumin: Black Bean Soup, Baba Ganoush, Vegetarian Enchiladas
Coriander: Mashed Potatoes, Chicken Tagine, Carne Asada
Cardamom: Sugarplums
Black pepper: Chicken Cordon Bleu, Mediterranean Chicken, Chicken Tortilla Soup
Cinnamon: Apple Cinnamon Scones, Snickerdoodles, Ham Steak
Cloves: Pumpkin Coffee Cake, Ginger Cookies, Sweet Potato Casserole
Nutmeg: Apple Fritters, Baked Apples, Crustless Quiche Lorraine
Allspice: Apple Butter, Apple Granola, Swedish Meatballs

For information on the cooking and baking dishes I use in our “recipes for one”, please visit our FAQ page.

For examples of the dishes used at One Dish Kitchen, please visit our Store page.