Garam masala is one of the most commonly used ingredients in Indian style cooking, but very few people know what actually goes into it. Unlike other spices and condiments in a typical Indian household, garam masala is not the powdered version of one item but the combination of various naturally existing products like cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, cumin, bay leaves, fenugreek, fennel, cloves, peppercorns, mustard seeds, coriander seeds, etc. The magic of this potent powder is that all these ingredients can be added or removed and used in various proportions to create different varieties of garam masala.
To explore the uniqueness of this widely used seasoning, click here.
Garam masala, which translates literally to ‘hot spice’, gets its name not from its spice but from its heat-generating property much acclaimed by Ayurveda. Unique for its taste and fragrance, garam masala contains all the goodness derived from the long list of its constituents and gives your body a boost of essential nutrients.
Following are some of the benefits of using garam masala in your daily diet:
- It has strong anti oxidation properties that cleanse your system and detoxify it. This seasoning also keeps your body fit and healthy, protecting it from visible and internal signs of aging.
- Garam masala is an exceptionally good anti inflammatory agent that can be used, through oral consumption and local application, to soothe chronic aches and pains and even reduce the severity of arthritis.
- It improves your body’s wellness levels, equipping it with the armor it needs to defend itself against diseases, thereby protecting you from common colds and allergies and other more severe health issues.
- While many believe it to be unhealthy for your stomach since it is spicy and a potent mix of various seasoning, garam masala is actually excellent for your gastrointestinal health, and prevents and cures a wide variety of digestion problems.
- It is strongly recommended for those fighting diseases like obesity and diabetes since it boosts your body’s metabolic rate and regulates your blood sugar levels.
Convinced about the many positive impacts garam masala has on your health, but unsure how to include it in your daily diet? Here are a few quick ideas to get you started:
- The easiest way to use this seasoning is to include it in every Indian dish you prepare, right from gravies and biryanis to parathas and daily vegetarian options.
- You can also use it as an ingredient in marinades for both vegetarian as well as meat preparations. Get ready to add a burst of flavor to your grilled food!
- You can also use it to sprinkle on top of fried foods like cutlets, fries, pakoras, etc.
- Add to soups and other preparations in the winter season to give your body an added dose of warmth, preventing you from falling sick due to the cold temperatures.
While our grandmothers and the many generations of women before them made their own garam masala concoctions at home going to the lengths of having different recipes and guarding them with their lives, this is not possible today given our hectic lifestyles and small busy kitchens. Hence, the best option is to opt for a ready garam masala powder. But be wary when purchasing this seasoning – Do not buy it loose from your local grocer or neighborhood market. Always use garam masala powders that come with the assurance of being natural or organic, promising you and your family safety and protection from harmful chemicals and additives, and giving you all the wholesome goodness of this magic seasoning.
So, now that you know the various benefits of garam masala and how to use them in your day-to-day life, treat your senses to the rich taste, aromatic smell and good health aspects of this seasoning regularly, and watch how your mind and body respond to its nutritional powers.
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