perhaps the most popular spice blend used in indian cooking, garam masala can be store-bought or freshly ground. obviously the fresher it is, the better it will taste. there are many different recipes, but here's a basic one to try at home.
2 T coriander seeds
1 T cumin seeds
1/2 T black peppercorns
a few flakes of dried ginger
2 pods cardamom
4 cloves
1 one-inch piece of dried cinnamon
1 bay leaf
roast all ingredients in a pan on medium heat for a few minutes; let them darken a little, but don't let them burn. after allowing them to cool, remove and discard the outer shells from the cardamom. then grind everything to a fine powder in a spice grinder or coffee grinder. store in an airtight jar.
enjoy!
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