Garam masala is a spice mix from India that has numerous variations. While the blend typically contains black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, cumin, coriander, and nutmeg, other ingredients may include bay leaves, dried powdered chile peppers, fennel, garlic, ginger, mace, malabar leaves, mustard seeds, saffron, star anise, tamarind, and turmeric. Depending on the mix, garam masala — which means “warm spice” — may range from mild to somewhat spicy, while it may also have some sweetness and possibly a few floral notes.
Garam masala is typically added at the end of the cooking process or used to season the finished dish. It can help to flavor vegan dishes such as tofu tikka masala.
Besides this tofu tikka masala, any number of recipes call for garam masala including ground beef-based Indian-style chili keema with peas, a version of tandoori barbecue sauce, and Indian-style street corn with paneer and ghee.
