Okay, so today I decided to dive into the world of Indian and Pakistani cuisine, specifically focusing on “masala.” I’ve always loved the flavors, but I’ve been a little intimidated to try making it at home. Figured it was time to change that!
Getting Started: Gathering My Arsenal
First things first, I needed to figure out what exactly “masala” even means. Turns out, it’s a pretty broad term referring to a spice blend. There are tons of different kinds! I decided to go for a basic Garam Masala, figuring it’s a good starting point.
I looked up a few recipes online. Some were super simple, others seemed to have a million ingredients. I went for something in the middle.
The Spice Hunt
Next up, the fun part (or maybe the slightly overwhelming part): getting the spices. My local grocery store had some, but not everything. I ended up hitting up an Indian grocery store nearby. Wow, that place was amazing! So many spices I’d never even heard of.
- Cumin seeds – Got those.
- Coriander seeds – Check.
- Cardamom pods – Found ’em.
- Black peppercorns – Easy.
- Cinnamon stick – Yup.
- Cloves – Got a whole bag.
- Nutmeg.
The Blending Process
Now for the actual making of the masala. I toasted the whole spices in a dry pan for a few minutes. The smell was incredible! It totally filled my kitchen with this warm, inviting aroma.
Once they were toasted and fragrant, I let them cool down a bit. Then, I ground them up using a spice grinder .
Using My Masala
I was so excited to use my freshly made Garam Masala!I decided to make a simple chicken curry. Nothing fancy, just a basic recipe I found online.I added a teaspoon of my masala to the sauce, and wow, it made such a difference!The flavor was so much more complex and layered than when I used to use pre-made curry powder.
The curry turned out pretty * this whole masala-making adventure? Totally worth it.
