Make your own garam masala

If you get into Indian cooking, it's worth learning how to make your own garam masala rather than buying the ready made packs from the shop - you'll get a fresher, more pungent and more fragrant taste.

There is no one definitive garam masala but a whole host of them depending on the regional style or the requirements of a particular dish.

Here's a good mix that goes well with the Punjabi red sauce from the previous post.

You'll need:

- 1/2 teaspoon green cardamon pods
- 2 inches cinnamon bark
- 3-4 cloves
- 1 small blade of mace
- 1 good teaspoon of black cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon pepper corns

1. Roast all the whole spices in a pan on a low heat with no oil

2. Grind the roasted spices in a coffee grinder till you have a powder