Spices are an important part of every culinary, spices offer a unique taste and aroma typical of a dish like Indian cuisine. Garam masala is one of the important spices in Indian cuisine, it gives a unique and distinctive taste to your recipe, the blend of several spices together in the name “Garam Masala”, is becoming a popular spice in Indian cuisine.
To get the spice, you can make it or make it from your own home by mixing spices. Problem salt has a mild yet unified and distinctive taste. A little bit of spice and pepper and sweetness from cinnamon. Apart from that it also gives the right taste for cumin and the aroma of cardamom.
Using this ingredient in food will cause the dish to be spicy, tasty, and warm. So, it’s function is to provide a unique taste with a combination of delicacy. Well, what if you don’t have garam masala? Can you find the best replacement?
Don’t worry, when you run out of garam masala you can use an alternative. There are many alternatives that you may use, please read carefully our review and get one of the best substitutes for.
Among the best garam masala substitutes as mentioned in substitutecooking.com’s page are Curry powder, Chaat masala, Allspice and cumin, Chicken tikka masala, mixtures of spices, Sambhar Masala, and Indian butter chicken. We’ll take a closer look at each replacement and tips on how to use it.
Table of Contents
Substitutes for Garam Masala
We’ve provided separate lists for substitutes for garam masala with a combination of spices, so pay close attention to what you can use instead.
1. Curry powder
Curry powder is the best alternative when you are running out of garam masala. It’s true that curry powder doesn’t really have an effect, but it can add a delicious taste to your food.
Curry leaves are common ingredient in every Indian dish, so it is a great substitute for any seasoning.
So, you can use curry powder instead of garam masala and use it according to your taste.
2. Chat masala
Another alternative is chaat masala, for Indian cuisine you can use chaat masala to make your dishes and dishes delicious.
Chaat masala has been recognized as having a taste close to garam masala so it can be substituted for it. Chaat masala is also a kind of spice but a bit different, in chaat masala there is a mixture of salty and sweet so it is important to do it with care.
You can use the same amount when using chaat masala, but it depends on your taste. You can try little by little to find the right size for your tongue.
3. Allspice and cumin
Allspice and cumin are two great spices that can be substituted. There are many types, including a combination of cumin, allspice, and mixed with each other to get a good taste.
Use one part cumin and 1/4 part allspice for a good substitute for garam masala. By combining these two spices, you can get the results you want.
4. Sambhar Masala
There is also the name “Sambhar Masala”, this is one of the best substitutes as well as being a good deed for the one who gave it.
In Indian cooking style, it is a common thing that can be served in various South Indian dishes. Sambhar masala can be one of the best for Garam Masala substitutes in most Indian recipes.
In South India, the spices used are somewhat different from those in North India, where the climate is cooler. So, it consists of mustard seeds, cumin, coriander seeds, cinnamon, dried red chilies, desiccated coconut, and other spices which are combined into one package.
Use the same amount when you use Garam Masala, but you can try little by little additional ingredients so that you get your own recipe that is of higher quality.
5. Indian Butter Chicken
Another sauce used in combination to produce condiments such as garam masala is Indian butter chicken.
Indian butter chicken is made from essential spices like yogurt, lemon juice, fresh ginger and chicken. It tastes almost similar to Tikka Masala but not that complicated, use it in your recipes to make amazing meals.
More: Best Substitute for Horseradish
6. Chicken Tikka Masala
One of the famous Indian food is Chicken masala, and it can be used to cook garam masala. Tikkan masala or Chicken masala is a condiment made with a mixture of tomatoes, cream, chicken, and contains traditional Indian spices.
In the component of Chicken Tikkan Masala contains garam masala, that’s why we can make it the best substitute for garam masala. Although not exactly the same, but this has given the color and smell are similar.
7. Cumin, Coriander, and Cardamom
Actually this spice can be used independently, but the collaboration of these three types of spices has given an aroma similar to garam masala.
Most people make it as the best substitute when running out of spices in the kitchen.
Just use a teaspoon of cumin seeds, two teaspoons of coriander seeds, half a teaspoon of green cardamom, put in a small saucepan over low heat.
Blend until smooth or into a powder. You can use it in cooking vegetables, it can also be used as a steak seasoning for those of you who cook steak.
8. Cinnamon, Fenugreek, and Cloves
In addition to the combination of Cumin, Coriander, and Cardamom, there is another combination of spices that can produce an aroma and taste similar to garam masala, this is a mixture of cinnamon, fenugreek, and cloves. Heat in a small saucepan using low heat and then blend until smooth or into a powder, and it is ready to be used in various dishes as a substitute for garam masala.
You can use this spice in various recipes such as making stews, vegetables, chicken, or any other dish that requires this spice.
More: The Best Substitute for Cinnamon
9. Mixture of Spices
There are several ingredients or spices which when combined can produce garam masala or at least as a suitable substitute. Combine the following ingredients:
- 1/2 part roasted cumin with black pepper,
- 3 parts coriander with cinnamon,
- 1/4 part cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Bake everything and blend until it becomes a powder. This will produce a rich taste and provide deliciousness when used in various recipes.
10. Curry Leaves, Mustard seeds and Coconut
There is another idea in presenting a substitute for garam masala. It is a combination of spices such as curry leaves, mustard seeds and coconut. Use a teaspoon of grated coconut, a teaspoon of mustard seeds, and about 12 curry leaves.
Put all ingredients in a small saucepan and heat over low heat, and blend until it becomes a powder or smooth. You can use it as a condiment for fish dishes, sauces, salads, or other recipes that require it.
