21+ Amazing Recipes With Garam Masala (2024)

If you enjoy Indian cuisine, you must be familiar with garam masala. Wondering how to use this warm Indian spice blend? Here are 21+ amazing recipes with garam masala that you can make for dinner tonight.

Indian meals are not complete without the addition of wonderful spices. And garam masala is one of the most popular spice blends used in India. Several spices are combined to makeGaram Masala.

What is Garam Masala?

21+ Amazing Recipes With Garam Masala (1)

In Hindi,Garammeans “warm”, and Masala is basically a “blend of spices.” So Garam Masala translates to the warm spice blend.

Garam Masala is typically made by combining – cumin, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, black peppercorns, ginger, and nutmeg. The whole spices are toasted until fragrant and then blended to make garam masala.

To get the amounts for each spice, check the detailed recipe for garam masala powder. And also see easy-to-make substitutes for garam masala.

It is used in many Indian vegetarian and chicken curries and side dishes – likechickpea curry, chicken curry, or thissaag.

It can also be used to flavor meats in marinades and rubs. Check out this recipe forIndian tandoori marinade.

Let’s look at the popular Indian recipes where you can use garam masala.

Table of Contents

  • What is Garam Masala?
  • Chana Masala
  • Bombay Potatoes
  • Butter Chicken
  • Tandoori Cauliflower
  • Chicken Biryani
  • Mushroom Matar
  • Tandoori Chicken Wings
  • Chicken Tikka Masala
  • Vegetable Biryani
  • Aloo Gobi
  • Vegetable Korma
  • Spinach Dal
  • Palak Paneer
  • Keema
  • Paneer Frankie
  • Salmon Tikka Masala
  • Paneer Tikka Masala
  • Potato Curry
  • Indian Asparagus Stir Fry
  • Rajma
  • Curried Pumpkin Soup
  • Spinach Rice
  • Chicken Karahi
  • Common Questions
  • More Recipe Collections

Chana Masala

Punjabi Chole or Chana Masala is the favorite Indian chickpea curry. This healthy vegan and gluten-free curry is enjoyed with naan or fried Indian puffed bread called poori. It is the perfect way to cozy up on a cold evening.

Bombay Potatoes

If you like potatoes, this will be your new favorite –Bombay PotatoesorMasala Aloo. Baby Potatoes are cooked with aromatic spices as a one-pot dish. They are perfect for serving as an appetizer or a side dish.

Butter Chicken

Butter Chicken is the most popular Indian dish worldwide. Chicken cooked in mildly spiced tomato gravy with aromatic ginger, garlic, and spices.

This dish is a great way to delve into Indian cooking, as it is mild but still has a wonderful flavor with the addition of garam masala. Serve with naan or rice.

Tandoori Cauliflower

This Tandoori Gobi Tikka is so flavorful, golden, and crispy.It is tossed with a spiced yogurt marinade and roasted in the oven or air fryer. The whole family will love this easy and healthy cauliflower appetizer!

Chicken Biryani

This Indian chicken and rice dish is popular all over the world.

Thisone-pot Chicken Biryanihas fragrant rice cooked with tender, juicy chicken along with lots of warming spices and caramelized onions.

Mushroom Matar

21+ Amazing Recipes With Garam Masala (7)

Made with earthy mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, and aromatic spices, this Mushroom Masala Curry is a wonderful warm weeknight dinner that can be made in just 30 minutes.

Tandoori Chicken Wings

These smoky Tandoori chicken wings are marinated in Indian spices and yogurt and grilled to perfection.

The wings are succulent and juicy on the interior and crispy on the outside. Serve with a yogurt dip or Indian green chutney.

Chicken Tikka Masala

Chicken Tikka Masala is a super flavorful and aromatic Indian chicken curry made with marinated tender chicken cooked in a creamy sauce.

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One of the favorite dishes to order at Indian restaurants. Once you make it at home, you will not consider take-out again!

Vegetable Biryani

Fragrant basmati rice cooked with lots of vegetables and aromatic whole spices and herbs.

Vegetable Biryani has all the goodness of biryani but is made healthier and vegetarian. Pair with cooling cucumber raita for a well-balanced meal.

Aloo Gobi

A simple and delicious veggie stir fry, perfect for weeknights – Aloo Gobi.

Aloo is Potato, and gobi is Cauliflower, so this is a Potatoes & Cauliflower Stir Fry cooked with onion and tomato, along with aromatic spices such as turmeric & garam masala.

Vegetable Korma

This restaurant-style creamy vegetable korma curryis a perfect blend of vegetables with a creamy coconut-based sauce. A vegan & gluten-free curry that pairs perfectly with naan or rice.

Spinach Dal

Spinach Dal, popularly called Dal Palak in India,is a comforting lentil soup with spinach mixed in it for extra nutrition.

It is so easy to make it in the pressure cooker.A little garam masala at the end elevates the flavors of the dal. Enjoy it withbasmati riceor as a soup.

Palak Paneer

A North Indian favorite made with spinach and firm cottage cheese, Palak Paneer.

The one-pot recipe for Palak Paneer can be made in 20 minutes and is super easy and just as delicious as the traditional version.

Keema

Keema Curry is one of the most popular Indian & Pakistani dishes made with ground meat. It is an easy one-pot dish that can be made in just 30 minutes.

Keema or minced meat (goat, chicken, lamb, or beef) is cooked with onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, and aromatic spices, to make the most flavorful Keema recipe.

Paneer Frankie

ThisPaneer Frankie Roll, also known asPaneer Kathi Rolls, is a popular Indian street food made with flaky flatbread, covered with egg, and wrapped with spicy paneer and tangy toppings.

Perfect for packing for a grab-and-go meal or a special weeknight meal.

Salmon Tikka Masala

This Salmon Tikka Masala is super flavorful, warm, and creamy, perfect for satisfying those curry cravings.

Marinated salmon steamed along with tikka masala sauce in the pressure cooker. Pair it with basmati rice or naan for a comforting meal.

Paneer Tikka Masala

The vegetarian version of Tikka Masala, made with paneer, is just as amazing as the meat version.

Paneer Tikka Masalais a flavorful and aromatic curry made with marinated and grilled paneer cubes simmered in a rich onion tomato gravy and warm spices.

Potato Curry

This North Indian Potato Curry is popularly known as Aloo Rasedar. Aloo means potato, and Rasedar is a thin tomato-based gravy.

It is typically paired with puffed Indian bread, called puri. It is a budget-friendly meal that the whole family enjoys.

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Indian Asparagus Stir Fry

Aloo Asparagusis a flavorful, spiced, and tasty Indian-inspired dish made with asparagus and potatoes.

Super quick and simple, this Indian Asparagus stir-fry is made with some basic spices and tastes absolutely delicious.

Rajma

Rajma Masala is an Indian Red Kidney Bean Curry, a favorite comfort food enjoyed with rice in Northern India.

Kidney beans are cooked with onions, tomatoes, and aromatic spices to make this vegan and gluten-free curry.

Curried Pumpkin Soup

You’ll fall in love with thisCreamy Vegan Curried Pumpkin Soup. This flavorful soup is made with coconut milk and flavored with warming spices. It is perfect for warming you up on a chilly day!

Spinach Rice

Spinach Rice is a wonderful one-pot side dish. Aromatic basmati rice is cooked with spinach and spices to make this Spinach Rice flavorful and healthy!

Chicken Karahi

21+ Amazing Recipes With Garam Masala (24)

A flavorful and aromatic Pakistani chicken curry made with chicken, earthy spices and fresh ginger.

This restaurant-style chicken curry is perfect to pair with naan or roti. It is so delicious you’ll want to dig in and relish every last bite!

Common Questions

21+ Amazing Recipes With Garam Masala (25)

When should you add garam masala to a curry?

Typically, garam masala is added halfway through or right at the end of cooking as a garnish to improve a dish’s flavor. You only need a small amount because of its strong flavor. It’s a great finishing spice.

What does garam masala taste like?

Garam Masala means “warm spices,” but it definitely doesn’t mean they’re hot/ spicy. Garam Masala is highly aromatic and has a subtle sweetness with an earthy undertone. It enhances the overall taste of the food.
Again, it depends on which region it is made in. Some garam masalas will be spicy, while others may be zesty.

More Recipe Collections

  • Indian Soup Recipes
  • Indian Side Dishes
  • Indian Salad Recipes
  • Indian Dessert Recipes

I hope you enjoy this amazing collection of recipes using garam masala. Comment to let us know your favorite.

Categorized as: Indian, Recipes

About Meeta

I strongly believe that each one of us has a chef inside us, we just need to explore the ingredients and create great food. My passion is to share easy, healthy, and wholesome recipes made using Instant Pot & Air Fryer, that are well tested, so you can cook with confidence.

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21+ Amazing Recipes With Garam Masala (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to use garam masala? ›

How to use garam masala. This Indian cooking staple can be used in sauces or marinades, as part of a dry rub on meats, cooked with onions as the base of a curry or soup, or sprinkle some over your vegetables before roasting them.

Explore More ›
Is a tablespoon of garam masala too much? ›

Garam Masala is great taste enhancer. But it is very GARAM (hot) for our body if taken excessively. Too much garam masala gives a slight bitter flavour, Also a lot of people do not like very strong flavours. That would be about 1/2–1 level teaspoon, depending on the dish.

View Details ›
How much garam masala is enough? ›

But do note that for 4 to 5 servings of any given recipe, about ¼ – ½ teaspoon of this garam masala is all you need; remember, the spice blend is very strong. The old adage that “less is more” really rings true here. Avoid adding too much garam masala to your dishes, or you'll risk the flavors being out of whack.

Read More ›
What is the difference between Indian masala and garam masala? ›

It's at once utterly confusing and incredibly simple. Masala means mixture of spices. So, a mixture of warming spices roasted and then ground down to a fine powder is a Garam Masala. A mixture of spices that are slightly tart and perfect paired with chickpeas roasted and ground down is a Chana Masala.

Explore More ›
What does garam masala do for the body? ›

Garam masala is rich in anti inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties. This helps in restoring the health of the heart and reduces cholesterol. Conditions like arthritis are controlled well when one adds garam masala to the food.

Read On ›
What does garam masala taste good with? ›

Garam masala adds warmth and flavor-balance complexity to curries, chicken, stews, vegetable dishes, potatoes, lamb and fish. It's an herb and spice blend that seasons with ease in traditional East Indian cuisine.

Discover More ›
What are the disadvantages of garam masala? ›

As everybody knows garam masala is mostly beneficial but sometimes it can also cause harm. The excessive and continuous consumption of garam masala may lead to problems such as piles, heartburn, acidity, and stomach burn.

Keep Reading ›
Is garam masala bad for blood pressure? ›

Regulates Blood Pressure & Improves Heart Health

Cardamom has shown promise when it comes to regulating blood pressure levels and improving overall heart health. Additionally, coriander has been known to lower total cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Discover More ›
Why not to cook garam masala? ›

Heating on high will only burn your spice, and you will be left with the burnt smelling masala. Add the garam masala in the end when it comes to putting your spice mix in your food preparation. You can, of course, experiment with the recipe and try adding it at other stages.

Learn More Now ›
Should garam masala be added at the end of cooking? ›

Dev Biswal explains: 'Generally, it's better to add garam masala at the end of the cooking process, as it works on an aromatic level, raising the whole nature of the dish. ' So stir a little into your curry just before serving to release all those fresh, vibrant aromas.

Keep Reading ›

Should you fry garam masala? ›

For the best application of garam masala, it needs to be cooked (i.e., this is not the spice blend to sprinkle raw over cucumbers or dips). Begin by sautéing it with your aromatics at the start of cooking, add it midway to perfume the entire stew or braise, or do both.

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Do you toast garam masala? ›

At least the garam masala that I'm familiar with is like that. You should try toasting all your spices before you grind and mix them: It only takes a few extra minutes and it adds so much extra flavour, I really miss it when the spices aren't toasted.

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What does tikka mean in Indian? ›

The word “tikka” means small pieces of meat in Punjabi. And “masala” means mixture in the Punjabi language. These small pieces of chicken are marinated, traditionally and baked. In this article we look at the origin of Chicken Tikka Masala Indian curry and learn about its popularity in Western-worlds.

Keep Reading ›
Is tikka masala the same as garam masala? ›

Tikka masala is pieces of meat or chicken marinated with spices, whereas garam masala is the term used for 'hot spices' that are not spicy but can keep the body warm. Garam masala powders may contain chilli and peppers, although they can be aromatic but are not spicy.

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Which is better curry powder or garam masala? ›

Garam masala tends to have a stronger, sharper and more complex flavor based on the types of spices that are traditionally part of this blend. Curry powder is traditionally made with more mild spices. Garam masala generally does not include turmeric but turmeric tends to be a primary ingredient in curry powder.

Keep Reading ›
When should you add garam masala? ›

Though spices are typically fried at the start of a recipe, there are also benefits to adding them later on. Dev Biswal explains: 'Generally, it's better to add garam masala at the end of the cooking process, as it works on an aromatic level, raising the whole nature of the dish.

Tell Me More ›
When should I use garam masala? ›

It can be added at the start of cooking, but it's more usual to add it at the end or to sprinkle it over food just before it's served, a little like salt and pepper.

See More ›
Do you need to cook off garam masala? ›

For the best application of garam masala, it needs to be cooked (i.e., this is not the spice blend to sprinkle raw over cucumbers or dips). Begin by sautéing it with your aromatics at the start of cooking, add it midway to perfume the entire stew or braise, or do both.

Discover More ›
Can you sprinkle garam masala? ›

Garam masala is usually added either near the beginning of the cooking process or (more commonly) sprinkled on near the end for a stronger sensory hit. It can also be used as a dry rub for meat or for sauces and marinades. As with any spice mix, the aim is to get the right balance of flavours.

View Details ›
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