Garam Masala – Add Magic in Cooking

What’s better than a sizzling aroma of your favorite curry exhilarating inside out with every breath. And what’s better than something that adds on an apt amount of sweetness, warmth, and spice to the taste and aroma of that delicious cuisine. Nothing, actually! But that exact thing is none other than the king and also the cabinet of all spices- Garam Masala.

What is it made of?

There’s nothing but secrets in the wizard’s cookbook! Garam Masala has a really vague and varying composition, which, not very surprisingly makes it the USP of a long list of spices company in Delhi, Punjab, UP, Rajasthan, and all the other north and south Indian states that have a penchant for this super spice. However, broadly, Garam Masala can comprise of:

• Coriander Seeds
• Cinnamon/Cassia Leaves
• Cloves
• Mace/Nutmeg
• Bay Leaves
• Cumin
• Cardamom
• Fennel
• Red Chili Powder

And it's still not it! Heavyweight masala companies in Gurgaon, Delhi, Faridabad etc add their own secret ingredients to Garam Masala to manifest their respective otherness. In different parts of the country add-on ingredients like onion, nuts, vinegar (to make a paste), garlic, asafoetida, and most commonly stone flower (lichen) are also used.

Is it just taste?

Incredibly, it is not! Garam Masala is not just about taste and aroma but believes it or not, it even has a litany of health benefits up its sleeves. Being the ideal blend of a spectrum of spices, Garam Masala sums up the health benefits of each of them. Some of which include:

• Improves Digestion: Firstly, Garam masala promotes salivary glands with the enhancement in taste and aroma, that in turn gives the ideal fluidity to the food. Subsequently, it also aids the release of certain necessary gastric juices in your stomach. Cloves, one of the core ingredients in Garam masala, is a common prevention of acidity. While cumin is also known to avoid indigestion. This is a major selling point for masala companies in Faridabad and other northern spice companies.
• Enhances Metabolism: Most of the ingredients of garam masala are rich in minerals. This makes it a significant booster of metabolism. Pepper is a popularly known promoter of metabolism and is a crucial ingredient in the recipe of Garam masala
• Prevents Bloating: The variety in the composition of garam masala gives it carminative properties that not just reject indigestion but in turn, avoid bloating as well as flatulence.
• Nourished Skin: Garam masala consists of loads of antioxidants that not only fight against skin problems but even avert inflammation.

How to use it?

Garam masala, unlike its other fellows of the spice rack, isn’t added in the middle of the preparation of the dish. Instead, it's sprinkled and then mixed in the end or at times even after the cuisine is cooked. Masala suppliers in Delhi and the top manufacturers often advertise garam masala in the form of seasoning to display its versatility to connoisseurs.

Conclusion

From health benefits to aroma, from taste to display, garam masala can truly act as a magic wand on your food.