Garam Masala – Aromatic Kashmiri Spice Blend for Spicy Cooking!

Garam Masala is an aromatic and hot spice mixture that is essential to numerous types of dishes in Indian, Nepalese and Pakistani cooking. The words mean “hot spices” and as well as adding the “heat” to Indian cooking, the spice mix should be subtle and aromatic. It is usually added towards the end of the cooking time, or even as a final garnish, unlike commercial curry powders that need to “cook” off the cornflour and other anti-clogging ingredients. This is my favourite Garam Masala mixture; there is no “standardised” recipe for this spice mixture, but I suspect that every Indian, Nepalese and Pakistani home will have their own “secret” mix! Grind the spices in smallish quantities to preserve the flavour and quality of the mixture, and then store in an airtight container, away from direct sunlight and heat. NB: Black cumin seeds are also called Royal Cumin or Shah Zeera. This spice mix makes a great gift – especially if you tie a recipe card around the neck of the jar with a whole piece of cinnamon!

Pearl (Israeli) Couscous With Garam Masala and Pine Nuts

Pearl (Israeli) couscous is more like barley in texture, and takes a little longer to cook. Look for it in the ethnic section, or in the pasta section of larger supermarkets. Try to find the “instant” kind, that cooks it 10 minutes. If you can’t find it, you may have to add more liquid and cook longer. This one has a touch of East Indian spices. Good with grilled salmon or pork tenderloin. There are as many variations of Garam Masala (spice mix) as there are cooks :). I like mine with a tad more cinnamon than some. There are several recipes here on ‘Zaar, or you can buy it in specialty shops or larger supermarkets.

Garam Masala Chicken

This is delicious! It is a low fat recipe, without the low fat taste. The exotic spices of garam masala make this dish excellent to serve at any time. I cut the chicken breasts up so that the meat can absorb the wonderful spices easier. This is fabulous!

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