Garam masala substitute
Mix 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin with 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice for each teaspoon of garam masala. Food Network's guide gives that ratio, and The Spice House's 4 parts cumin to 1 part allspice is nearly the same.
Out of garam masala mid-recipe?
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What are you making?
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Cumin + allspice
Great fit¾ tsp ground cumin and ¼ tsp ground allspice
For this dish: The Spice House says the cumin and allspice mix suits any dish.
How: Mix and use in place of the garam masala, one for one. Taste before adding more.
What changes: Earthy and warm, with allspice standing in for the clove and cinnamon notes. Less perfumed, since there is no cardamom.
No major food allergens in these ingredients. Check labels on packaged products.
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Cumin + pumpkin pie spice
Great fit¾ tsp ground cumin and ¼ tsp pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice
For this dish: Cumin leads, and the pie spice adds warmth.
How: Mix and use one for one. This is Food Network's alternative when you have pie spice but no allspice.
What changes: A little sweeter, with cinnamon and ginger from the pie spice.
No major food allergens in these ingredients. Check labels on packaged products.
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Homemade garam masala
Great fit1 tsp homemade garam masala
For this dish: It is garam masala.
How: The Spice House toasts a 3-inch cinnamon stick, 2 tablespoons black peppercorns, 2 tablespoons green cardamom seeds, 3 tablespoons coriander seeds and 2 tablespoons cumin seeds for about 10 minutes, then grinds them with 1 teaspoon ground mace and 1 bay leaf. Use it one for one.
What changes: The real thing. It makes a jar's worth, so it is worth it if you cook Indian food often.
No major food allergens in these ingredients. Check labels on packaged products.
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Ground cumin alone
Works1 tsp ground cumin
For this dish: It gives depth, but the curry tastes plainer.
How: Start with the same amount and adjust to taste. The Spice House says you may need up to twice as much.
What changes: Only the earthy note. You lose the clove, cardamom and cinnamon warmth.
No major food allergens in these ingredients. Check labels on packaged products.
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Curry powder
Works½ tsp curry powder
For this dish: Works in a curry, but changes the color and flavor.
How: Start with half the amount, add a pinch of ground cinnamon or cloves if you have them, and taste before adding more.
What changes: Curry powder usually contains turmeric, fenugreek and ginger, so the dish turns yellower and tastes different.
No major food allergens in these ingredients. Check labels on packaged products.
What garam masala does in a recipe
Garam masala means warming spices. It is a highly aromatic blend from northern India, often of cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper, coriander, cumin and mace or cloves. It is warm rather than hot, and is often added near the end of cooking to keep its aroma. Recipes vary by region and cook, so a substitute needs a similar warm, earthy note.
Swap it in your recipe with Sous Chef
A substitution is more than one ingredient line. The steps that use it change too. Sous Chef edits both on a working copy of your recipe, so the original is always one tap away.
You ask Sous Chef
"I don't have garam masala."
Sous Chef edits the recipe
¾ tsp ground cumin and ¼ tsp ground allspice
Mix and use in place of the garam masala, one for one. Taste before adding more.
When not to substitute
Chaat masala is not a good stand-in. It gets its tang from dried mango powder and its aroma from black salt, so it adds sourness and salt that garam masala does not have.
Common questions
What can I use instead of garam masala?
Mix 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin with 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice for each teaspoon. Pumpkin pie spice can stand in for the allspice. Curry powder also works at about half the amount.
Can I use cumin instead of garam masala?
Yes. The Spice House says to start one for one and adjust to taste, up to twice as much cumin. For a closer flavor, mix 4 parts cumin with 1 part allspice.
Is garam masala the same as curry powder?
No. Both are spice blends, but curry powder usually includes turmeric, fenugreek and ginger, which are not usual garam masala spices. The Spice House says curry powder works as a substitute, but it changes the flavor and turns the dish yellower.
Is garam masala spicy?
It means warming spices, but it is not hot like chili. The Spice House describes it as aromatic, with a strong flavor that will not burn your mouth.
Related
- Cumin substitutes
- Allspice substitutes
- Nutmeg substitutes
- Coconut milk substitutes
- All ingredient substitutes
- How to substitute an ingredient
Sources
- Garam masala substitute (The Spice House)
- Ingredient substitution guide (Food Network)
- Garam masala substitutes (SPICEography)
Cook with what you have.
Import any recipe into Sous Chef and ask for the swap. It rewrites the ingredient list and the steps, and never loses the original. Free on iPhone.