Spice It Up: Sheryl Saji Thomas Shares Homemade Garam Masala Recipe

Picture this – Sheryl Saji Thomas, the spice wizard, just dropped her secret spice bomb: garam masala. It's like the ultimate "allspice" blend that's your ticket to making biryanis and curries go from meh to mind-blowing. And the best part? She's got not one, but two regional twists to spice things up.

Authentic Flavors of Garam Masala:

So, for the South Indian version, gather up cloves, cardamom, pepper, and coriander (2 tbsp each), toss in 3 sticks of cinnamon, 5 tbsp of fennel, a full mace, a teensy nutmeg, and a pair of bay leaves. Blend it all together, and boom! You've just whipped up South Indian Garam Masala that's got that authentic Southern charm.

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Now, if you're leaning towards the flavors of the North, Sheryl's got your back. For North Indian Garam Masala, you'll need 3 tbsp each of cinnamon sticks, cumin, and pepper, plus 2 tbsp each of cloves and cardamom. Add 5-star anise, a tablespoon each of fennel seeds, shahi jeera, and stone flower, along with 2 mace blades, 8 black cardamoms, 8 bay leaves, and a dash of nutmeg. Grind it all up, and you're in North Indian Garam Masala territory. Your dishes are about to get a taste of the royal treatment!