Even people who cook a lot can sometimes get garam masala and curry powder
mixed up. Both are used in Indian cooking, and they seem to be used in a lot
of different dishes. After all, how different could the ingredients be?
You might be surprised to find out that they are different spices made
of different things. Curry powder is not even a common ingredient in Indian
kitchens. It was first made by the British to give their food an Indian
taste.
How Garam Masala and Curry Powder Are Different!
Ingredients: The main ingredients in garam masala are cardamom, cinnamon
or cassia, cloves, peppercorns, mace, and nutmeg. In some blends, bay leaves,
coriander seeds, cumin seeds, star anise, fennel seeds, poppy seeds, and
sesame seeds are added. In some regional blends, mustard seeds and fenugreek
seeds may also be added.
Curry powder usually has small amounts of spices
like cardamom, cinnamon, clove, coriander, and cumin. It also has turmeric,
ginger, fenugreek seeds, red chili, asafetida, ginger, garlic, and mustard
seeds. It can have a mild, medium, or hot level of spice. Both spice blends
will have a wide range of ingredients, depending on how they are made and
where they come from.
Use: Because it has warm and strong spices, it is
added at the end of cooking. It can be added to the food or used as a garnish
by being sprinkled on top. When the food is heated, the essential oils in the
spices are released and give the food a kick. On the other hand, curry powder
is added at the beginning of cooking because it needs to cook with other
ingredients like turmeric and mustard.
Color:
Garam masala</a >
is usually a brown shade, while curry powder is usually a yellowish shade.
Dishes:
Curry powder isn’t used much in India, except maybe in “British Indian”
dishes, but it’s fine in other places. At times, it may be the only spice used
besides saltt maybe in “British Indian” dishes, but it’s fine in other places.
At times, it may be the only spice used besides salt. Garam masala is a spice
that is used a lot in India. It is often mixed with other spices to give food
flavor and heat. It is seldom used by itself.
Depending on the brand you
use or if you make your own, garam masala and curry powder have different
tastes. You shouldn’t use them interchangeably because the food will taste
very different.
health benefits of garam masala
The whole
spices that go into making garam masala are good for your health. Some of the
advantages are:
Better digestion: The cardamom and pepper in garam
masala make the body make more gastric acid, and the cloves and cumin make
symptoms like bloating and flatulence go away.
Reduced bad breath:
Cloves, cardamom, fennel, and cinnamon are all common mouth fresheners that
also reduce bad breath.
Rich in antioxidants: All spices are full of
antioxidants, which fight free radicals in the body. They help keep your heart
healthy and cut down on the risk of stroke. They also speed up your
metabolism, which helps you lose weight.
Immunity is boosted because
spices warm the body and help fight respiratory illnesses like coughs and
colds.
Better absorption of nutrients: The piperine in pepper, when
mixed with other spices, makes all the foods it is eaten with more
nutritious.
Better brain and nerve function: The many spices in garam
masala work together to protect the nervous system, improve brain function,
and protect against Parkinson’s, dementia, and Alzheimer’s.
When you
regularly add these spices to your food, you can get all of these health
benefits. Because curry powder is made with many different spices, it has some
benefits that are the same and some that are very different.
What can you do with garam masala?</b >
Garam masala is a very flexible blend of spices. Even though the
flavor will change depending on how much of each ingredient is in the blend,
and there is no set formula for this, it is usually used in dishes like:
Foods from India:</b >
- Tandoori dishes
- Tikka masalas
- Makhani or Makhanwala foods
- Shahi dishes
- Biryani and pullao kheema, which is ground meat,
- Almost all dhals, lentils, and beans
- Dishes with dry vegetables, poultry, and pork
- Rotis and parathas are Indian breads.
Other foods:
Even though both of these spices come from India,
there is no reason why you can’t use them in western dishes.
- Soups Marinades
- Rubs
- Coleslaw and other salads in an omelet
- Salad dressings
- Stews Sauces
You can try different things with it, like adding it to breads and savory
cookies. As long as you don’t use a very hot version of garam masala, adding a
pinch to sweet dishes like rich fruit cakes and cookies will make them taste
better.
As you can see, both spices can be used in many ways. Even though
there are a lot of different blends, buying organic garam masala will give you
better flavors and more health benefits. When you look at the details of the
two spices, you can see that they are very different in terms of taste, smell,
and end result.
Spicy Organic is the largest wholesaler of
certified organic spices, herbs, essential oils, teas, and
more in North America</a >. It has the highest ranking. They have the biggest selection of organic
spices and herbs, including turmeric, coriander seeds, mace, cinnamon,
cardamom, black pepper, red paprika, and clove.