Are you curious about how to use garam masala? You’re in luck! We’ve compiled some of our favorite recipes using garam masala and they are just as mouth-watering as they look. Even just a pinch of this warm spice will take your dish to the next level.
What is Garam Masala?
Garam masala combines whole spices that are toasted and ground, which is where the spice blend gets its name, “hot spice,” or garam masala. I know what you might be thinking- is it spicy? Not at all. Instead, hot spice is a nod to the warming process of toasting whole spices to draw out the flavor and aroma before grinding them.
- 1. Grilled Tandoori Chicken
- 2. Chana Chicken
- 3. Moong Dal Instant Pot Recipe
- 4. Mushroom Masala
- 5. Butter Chicken Masala
- 6. Punjabi Shahi Paneer
- 7. Easy Chicken Tikka Masala
- 8. Paneer Butter Masala
- 9. Instant Pot Chicken Biryani
- 10. Saag Paneer
- 11. Slow-Roasted Salmon Sandwiches
- 12. Authentic Chana Masala Recipe
- 13. Coconut Lamb Curry
- 14. Kashmiri Mutton Rogan Josh
- 15. Tandoori Chicken Tikka
- 16. Lamb Vindaloo
- 17. Chocolate Garam Masala Cookies
- 18. Aloo Keema
- 19. Chana Saag
- 20. Kaleji Recipe
- 21. Instant Pot Black Dal
- 22. Indian Eggplant Curry
- 23. Paya Soup
- 24. Healthy Samosas
- 25. Indian-Spiced Shepherd's Pie
Recipes Using Garam Masala
Garam masala is a staple in South Asian cuisine to flavor everything from meat to vegetables, lentils, chickpeas, and even dessert. I’ve compiled some incredible meals that highlight the delicious spice blend!
1. Grilled Tandoori Chicken
Grilled tandoori chicken is juicy on the inside while maintaining a nice char on the outside, and it has all the eye-catching colors you’d expect. My recipe is coated in a homemade tandoori marinade and flavored with fresh ground spices like garam masala.
Once you’ve made it, check out my ideas for what to serve with tandoori chicken.
2. Chana Chicken
Chana chicken is a tasty one-pot dish featuring succulent pieces of chicken and hearty chickpeas for a healthy and satisfying meal ready in an hour.
3. Moong Dal Instant Pot Recipe
Sit down with a piping hot bowl of our moong dal Instant Pot recipe and basmati rice; it’s soothing, filling, tasty, and ready in about an hour. The flavorful dish features yellow lentils with sautéed garlic, ginger, tomatoes, and warm, fragrant spices like fresh garam masala for an easy dinner idea you will love.
4. Mushroom Masala
Rich and creamy, Indian mushroom curry is a flavorful meal that comes together in 20 minutes!
5. Butter Chicken Masala
Tender pieces of chicken simmer in a robust, fragrant, and creamy curry to make easy butter chicken masala. The result is a mouthwatering meal perfect for a cozy night at home or a dinner party with friends.
6. Punjabi Shahi Paneer
Punjabi shahi paneer has a flavorful masala consisting of cashews, tomato passata, and warming spices like garam masala.
7. Easy Chicken Tikka Masala
Easy chicken tikka masala is a delicious British Indian recipe with a rich and creamy tomato curry sauce loaded with bold spices and chicken.
8. Paneer Butter Masala
Restaurant-style paneer butter masala or paneer makhani is a popular Indian dish that is rich, creamy, and delicious, prepared using ingredients like butter, onion, tomatoes, paneer, and ground spices like garam masala.
9. Instant Pot Chicken Biryani
Instant Pot chicken biryani cooks in one hour and combines chicken, long-grained basmati rice, caramelized onion, and warm spices! Treat yourself to mouth-watering biryani without setting aside most of your day to make it. Or you can try chicken tikka biryani!
10. Saag Paneer
Saag paneer features a unique ingredient, Swiss chard. It combines with lightly-spiced greens and fried paneer to make a savory meal.
11. Slow-Roasted Salmon Sandwiches
This slow-roasted spiced salmon sandwiches are made with spiced salmon, an apple slaw, and an easy mustard sauce spiked with garam masala.
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If you enjoy these recipes using garam masala, check out one of these spice blend favorites.
12. Authentic Chana Masala Recipe
Our authentic chana masala recipe cooks in a spiced tomato-based curry consisting of onions, ginger, garlic, green chiles, and cilantro.
13. Coconut Lamb Curry
Enjoy this hearty, warm lamb curry with coconut milk and Indian spices. It’s perfect with a bowl of fluffy rice.
14. Kashmiri Mutton Rogan Josh
Kashmiri mutton rogan josh is an aromatic curry known for its deep red color and the distinct taste of signature spices.
15. Tandoori Chicken Tikka
Restaurant-quality tandoori chicken tikka is easy to make on the grill. It’s healthy, tasty, and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
16. Lamb Vindaloo
Spicy lamb vindaloo recipe is a curry from the Goan region of India. It’s made with spices, dried chiles, and vinegar.
17. Chocolate Garam Masala Cookies
Chocolate garam masala cookies feature an unlikely combination of ingredients. Garam masala and rich chocolate pair up to create an indulgent dessert you’ll crave.
18. Aloo Keema
Treat yourself to authentic, one-pot Pakistani aloo keema, a delicious combination of seasoned ground beef and tender potatoes sautéed in a rich blend of tomatoes, onions, garlic, ginger, and lots of spice. I serve the easy, homestyle meal with naan, roti, or basmati rice.
19. Chana Saag
This delicious chana saag is a vegan dish brimming with Indian flavors and loaded with greens. It’s hearty and filling, thanks to the protein-rich chickpeas.
20. Kaleji Recipe
My kaleji recipe is perfect for events and gatherings like Bakra Eid. The beef liver simmers in onion, ginger, and garlic masala. Serve it as is or with fresh bread like paratha, naan, or roti. If you’re on the fence about liver, that’s okay; this is the most delicious way to eat the nutrient-dense protein. For another variation, try chicken kaleji!
21. Instant Pot Black Dal
Inspired by the famous black dal at Dishoom restaurant in London, this Instant Pot dal makhani recipe is rich and creamy, yet it takes a fraction of the time of the original.
22. Indian Eggplant Curry
A carefully balanced blend of our favorite spices and seasonings come together to create this eggplant curry dish. It is the simplest way to enjoy your favorite vegetables!
23. Paya Soup
Paya soup is popular for its health benefits and is perfect for colder months. For this recipe, stew beef trotters and bones into a soothing broth and serve it with warmly-spiced baghar to make paya. You can also use goat to make mutton paya soup.
24. Healthy Samosas
The perfect, healthy Indian samosa recipe are made with six simple pantry ingredients for a healthy and delicious side dish.
25. Indian-Spiced Shepherd’s Pie
Shepherd’s pie with a twist, this is a deliciously comforting combination of spiced mince topped with creamy golden mashed potatoes. You’ll never go back to traditional pie again!
Serving Suggestions
Okay, so you’ve selected a recipe using garam masala to make for dinner tonight, but now you need something to pair it with. Here are a few suggestions:
- Rice: Basmati Rice, Jeera Rice, Saffron Rice, Quinoa
- Vegetables: Cauliflower Rice
- Salad: Avocado Cucumber Tomato Salad, Kachumber Salad
- Sauce: Easy Raita, Chutney, Serrano Crema
- Bread: Roti, Naan, Paratha, Poori, Chapati
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s in garam masala?
You can purchase the spice blend in most mainstream grocery stores, but there is something you should understand – garam masala is not one size fits all. You will find that recipes for garam masala are specific to each region, each slightly different from the last, and that’s why recipes using garam masala are also diverse.
The combination of whole spices and how much of each spice will vary from recipe to recipe, but the preparation is the same. Begin by measuring the whole spices, then toast them in a pan over low heat. Finely grind the spices and preserve them for many meals to come!
What spices are used to prepare garam masala?
This list could go on and on, but here are some whole spices you can include in a garam masala recipe: green cardamom, black cardamom, cinnamon sticks, black cloves, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, nutmeg, mace, bay leaves, black peppercorns, star anise, dried ginger, asafoetida powder, caraway seeds, and fenugreek.
Try our Pakistani garam masala as a replacement for the store-bought version. You can also try this family-treasured Indian garam masala recipe.
What does garam masala taste like?
Garam masala is a warm, fragrant spice blend with layers of flavor. The taste depends on the amount of each spice used, but overall I would describe it as savory sweet.
Shariq
Sunday 16th of October 2022
What a great collection of Indian/Pakistani recipes. Now that I've mastered your garam masala recipe, it is easy to make many of these. We tried the kaleji, biryani, and daal and they were all rich and flavorful. Very authentic.