Garam masala

 

     Garam means warm or hot, and masala means spices. This is a North India spice mix.

Makes about 250 ml

• 10 green cardamom pods
• 90 ml coriander seeds
• 60 ml cumin seeds
• 10 cloves
• 5 cm/2in piece cinnamon stick
• 15 ml black peppercorns
• 3 dry bay leaves
• 15 ml ground mace

1. Gently warm a dry heavy-based pan before dding the spices.
2. Bruise the cardamom pods and place them in the pan with the coriander, cumin, cloves, cinnamon stick, peppercorns and bay leaves ; keep tossing the spices over a gentle heat until they give off a rich aroma.
3. Remove the seeds from the cardamom and break the cinnamon stick into small pieces ; grind all the spices to a fine powder, then mix in the ground mace.

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