Garam Masala From My Mom’s Kitchen
Here's bringing you my mom's secret formula of being an ace cook, that up until now was securely locked in her spice-box :))
This LOCKDOWN is very effectively making me 'unlearn' to take things for granted and 'learn' how to make things I had taken for granted, from scratch! All these years, I just had to call my mom and inform her that my garam masala was about to get over and she would very lovingly prepare her ‘magic potion’ and send me to last for a good two to three months.
A pinch of it is enough to spruce up a simmering bowl of dal or curry or any vegetable and fills my home with an aroma that to me defines the ‘authentic taste’ from my childhood memories to all the growing up years! So yesterday when I saw the empty container, I realized I was absolutely clueless about the proportion of various ingredients that went in this delightful spice mix and with borders sealed, there was no way I could get it across from Mom (Gurgaon to Delhi).
My dad always say - "secret of flavourful food lies in 'desi ghee, home ground spices & all the love that goes in preparing it." Needless to say, settling for a store-bought garam masala was out of the question. I ended up calling my mom and eliciting out of her the secret that lent all my dishes their authentic taste. Noting it all down, very carefully, I have made myself a small jar, to begin with and I cannot believe that I am actually sharing my mom's secret recipe with the world.
This recipe was passed down to my Mom from my Nani who had learnt it from her mom, so it’s no less than a family heirloom and this is my small way of preserving family tradition as a legacy.
Secret to mom’s garam masala:
200 gms Cumin seeds
100 gms Black peppercorns
50 gms Black cardamom
25 gms Cloves
25 gms Green cardamom
20 gms Cinnamon
10-12 pieces of Peepli
1 piece Nutmeg
2-3 flowers of Javitri
1 inch piece of Dry Ginger
A few Bay Leaves
Ideally, (if possible) spread all the whole spices on a large plate and keep under strong Sun for 3-4 days. If not then just dry roast them a little in a heavy-bottomed pan or in the oven. Allow these roasted spices to completely cool before grinding them to a fine powder in the spice grinder. After grinding, sift the spice blend and run the larger grainy spices through the grinder again. This ensures that the spices are evenly ground. Grind these spices to a fine powder and store in an airtight container.
My mom grinds the coriander seeds separately and keep coriander powder separate from garam masala in her spice box. The reason being, coriander powder gives better flavour when its roasted along with the gravy masala or the vegetables and she prefers adding garam masala usually towards the end, as then its aroma and flavor gets better trapped in the dish. Hence you don’t see coriander seeds in this recipe, which you may come across in most of the garam masala recipes and this is another of her secret, that’s been passed on to me and now to you!
Some benefits of garam masala are that it slows down the aging process and helps promote weight loss. Yes, that’s right, eating foods with garam masala can actually help shed some pounds. Listing individial benefits of some of the healthy ingredients that goes into preparing this wondrous spice mix.
Cinnamon
— An anti-microbial as well as anti-inflammatory, it’s high in calcium and fiber and helps to control blood sugar by helping to increase insulin production while lowering blood sugar levels.
Cumin
— It helps stimulate digestion, relieves nausea, enriches iron, and has properties to fight against cancer.
Black Pepper
— Increases the body’s ability to absorb vitamins, minerals, and proteins. It’s high in fiber content, which reduces calorie intake, and it’s a natural metabolism booster. It helps break down fat cells and is high in vitamin K and manganese, which also helps break down fats and carbs. Black pepper also fights against skin cancer and helps improve skin complexion.
Cardamom —
An anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-carcinogenic. It helps to flush out toxins from the body, relieves heartburn, reduces the formation of blood clots, lowers blood pressure, increases blood circulation, relieves gas, and soothes upset stomachs.
Cloves
— Contain a purifying property that helps support the immune system. Relieves toothaches, boosts metabolism, removes toxins from the bloodstream, helps prevent the formation of blood clots, and regulates blood sugar levels. You might not guess, but cloves are higher than any other food in antioxidant content. They provide an excellent source of calcium, omega 3, and vitamin K.
Bay Leaves
— A powerful antioxidant that helps prevent cancer, arthritis, and ulcers. It also helps in healing wounds and mosquito bites.
If you enjoy cooking, you must try with home-ground spice blends as that elevates the flavor of any dish you make. You will be blown away with the taste and aroma of the food prepared, as compared to the store-bought spices. (My dad firmly believes so, and I can’t agree more.) Well, that's it! Go and spice up your dishes with the magic wand of...sprinkles!!!
