Khade masale also know as Garam masala is a combination of spices used to flavor curries, biryani, and to marinate all sorts of meat dishes. It is believed that this blended masala has been used as early as the 13th Century. It is largely used in Asian cuisine.
Generally, khade masale like black pepper, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, black cardamom, bay leaves, cumin, javitri, etc. These are roasted separately and grounded. These grounded masale (spice mix) are then combined in different proportions to make the blended masala.
The spices and their proportion varies from region to region. In fact, every household has its own authentic Garam Masala recipe which is passed down to generations. That is why people are secretive about their homemade Garam Masala. The key to keep the flavors optimum is using the best quality spices.
Curry Powder / Yellow Curry Powder and Garam Masala are two different spice mixes. Many of their ingredients are common but the composition and usage make them remarkably different.
The confusion between Yellow Curry Powder and Garam Masala is due to the fact that both are used largely in Indian cooking. Both of these spices are frequently used in the preparation of Indian food outside India as well. Due to this sometimes, people use them interchangeably. But that is not the right way.
There is a fundamental difference between the two spices. Due to strong flavors, Garam Masala is used when the dish is cooked completely. Whereas, Curry Powder is used at the early stages of the cooking process. It has more subtle spices like Kasuri methi, coriander, turmeric, etc which need to be absorbed well in the food.
Another difference is the use of Turmeric. Authentic Garam Masala does not contain turmeric, whereas the main ingredient of Yellow Curry Powder is Turmeric. Also, It needs to be used in moderation as the spices used in the blended masala are strong. In fact, both of these spices are complementary to each other as one is used while cooking and the other is best used in the end. They can be used in the same dish. But, be careful about the quantity.
These spices have become very popular outside India as well, especially in home cooking. This is due to the fact that people don’t have to worry about where to buy all the spices. Today, some best online spice merchants are available to deliver these spices across the globe.
So, now you know where to buy all the spices. Your wait for the authentic garam masala for your biryani is over. Grab your phone and buy khade masale to grind your homemade garam masala away to glory! ORDER NOW
Seasonings & Masalas