South African Indian Garam Masala

Homemade South African Indian Garam Masala

Garam masala simply means “hot spice mix.” This traditional blend of aromatic spices traveled from the Indian subcontinent to Africa and became the heart of South African Indian cooking. Our recipe is simple, budget-friendly, and adds warmth to any meal.

South African Indian recipes often include garam masala — a mix of seven key spices: cumin, coriander, cardamom, black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.

Indian food is unimaginable without Garam Masala

Spices give South African Indian cuisine its distinctive flavor and personality. Most South African Indian recipes use many different spices, but don’t let that intimidate you — most are easy to find in local supermarkets or Indian grocery stores.

One thing new cooks often find intimidating about Indian food is the wide variety of spices, but blending them yourself creates depth and balance that store-bought mixes can’t match.

Homemade Garam Masala Recipe

Ingredients

• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
• ½ teaspoon ground cloves
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions

1. Mix all the spices together in a bowl until evenly combined.
2. Store the mixture in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 2 months.
3. Use in small batches to preserve aroma and flavor.

South Africans of Indian descent, especially in KwaZulu-Natal’s city of Durban, keep garam masala at the center of their kitchens. Try pairing it with our Eggplant Brinjal Curry for a perfect Durban-style meal.

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