6+ Garam Masala Substitutes

Garam masala is a spice combination that serves as the foundation for many South Asian recipes. This spice jar is essential in every Indian, Pakistani, or Bangladeshi home.

Garam masala is made up of many spices, the specific composition of which varies by area. The most popular components are peppercorns, fennel, bay leaves, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, cumin, coriander, and chili powder. The aromatic, somewhat sweet mixture serves as the foundation for many traditional recipes, including as curries, soups, and lentil stews.

Garam masala lends unique tastes to South Asian food, but it may be difficult to locate outside of speciality grocery shops.

If you don’t have garam masala, here are a few replacements that will keep the taste of your food intact.

1. Curry Powder

Curry powder is another South Asian culinary staple. Most people are unaware that curry powder is a spice blend rather than a single spice. Garlic, chili powder, turmeric, and coriander are common ingredients in curry powder. The Brits devised it because they needed a quick method to reproduce the tastes of Indian food.

Curry powder contains various spices that are comparable to garam masala and may give your food a kick. Curry powder, on the other hand, has a less nuanced taste since it contains less spices. Traditionally, garam masala is used towards the conclusion of the cooking process, while curry powder is added earlier. Since curry powder contains turmeric, it may tint your food yellow, but garam masala does not.

2. Chaat Masala

Another famous South Asian spice blend is chaat masala. Both garam masala and chaat masala include the term masala, which meaning spice combination. Chaat masala, like garam masala, comprises cumin, coriander, ginger, pepper, salt, and chile, but also asafetida and amchoor.

Despite the fact that they both include warming spices, chaat masala is more acidic and tangy than garam masala.

Reduce the proportions if using it as a garam masala alternative so that the sour elements do not overshadow your meal.

3. Allspice

The spice allspice is created from ground pimento powder. While it was initially cultivated in Jamaica, it is now popular worldwide. Allspice has a warming, nutty taste akin to cinnamon and cloves, two of the most important garam masala spices.

If you want to substitute garam masala but don’t have many spices on hand, a mixture of allspice and cumin resembles the spice blend’s most significant sweet, aromatic overtones. Your meal, however, will lack some of the richness (and spice) of garam masala.

4. Sambar Masala

Another famous South Asian spice mix is sambar masala. Although garam masala may be found across the subcontinent, sambhar masala is only found in southern India. Coriander, cumin, dried mustard seed, cinnamon, red chili powder, roasted lentils, and dried coconut are the key spices in sambar masala.

While usually used for sambar stew, sambar powder, like garam masala, may be used in a variety of lentil meals including curries. Since sambar masala often includes lentils, it might clump together, so use caution while incorporating it into your recipe. It is also more harder to get than garam masala, so if you are seeking for a more readily available substitute, this is not the greatest option.

5. Pumpkin Spice

Pumpkin spice is a sweet spice combination that is often used in pumpkin pies and other sweets in North America. It includes the same warming spices as garam masala, such as cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger.

You may use pumpkin spice for garam masala as long as you don’t use too much so that the sweet spices overshadow your meal. To balance the tastes, add some pepper and savory spices like coriander.

6. Ras el Hanout

Ras el hanout, like garam masala, is a spice combination. It is, however, from North Africa, not India, and includes comparable spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves.

Ras el hanout offers warming tastes comparable to garam masala. It does, however, include more chili pepper and cayenne, so minimize the amount you use or prepare your food to be hotter than planned.