A staple in Indian cuisine, this easy garam masala spice blend is a great FODMAP-friendly way to add flavor to lentils, potatoes, other veggies, and more!
Garam Masala is an aromatic spice-blend often called for in many Indian recipes. It typically includes a mix of coriander, cumin, cardamom, cinnamon, and black pepper.
Some blends may contain other spices, but for the most part, many store-bought garam masala blends should be low FODMAP. So, if you’re low FODMAPing and want to save some time, skip the added steps of making your own, and buy a pre-made blend, by all means, please do. Low FODMAP can be stressful enough.
However, for me, in addition to IBS, I have been living the last several years with intermittent hives. And, black pepper, one of garam masala’s main ingredients, happens to be one of my known triggers. I refuse to let this, and my other food intolerances, prevent me from enjoying delicious, globally-inspired foods. So, I make my own pepper free spice blends.
As most of you likely tolerate black pepper (again, it’s a low FODMAP ingredient), I’ve included a recommended amount of black pepper to add to this garam masala. I just omit the black pepper when I make this recipe.
Traditionally, spices for garam masala are toasted and freshly ground when making a dish that calls for it. I’ve tried it before, and admittedly, it does kick this spice blend up a notch, but doing these extra steps every time is not realistic for me. So, I’ve modified the traditional recipe to use pre-ground spices for a quick and flavorful blend.
Unless you’re looking for truly authentic Indian cooking, I think this easy garam masala blend gets the job done quite nicely. And, it tastes pretty amazing in my Low FODMAP Lentil Dal. Just saying. 😉
You can also use it with garlic-infused oil to add Indian-inspired flavor to chicken, potatoes, lentils, veggies, and more!
Recipe
Easy Garam Masala | Low FODMAP
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1/3 cup 1x
Description
Popular in Indian cooking, this easy garam masala spice blend is a great FODMAP-friendly way to add flavor to lentils, potatoes, other veggies, and more!
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp. ground cumin
- 1 Tbsp. ground coriander
- 1 Tbsp. ground cardamom
- 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp. ground cloves
- 1 tsp. ground nutmeg
- 2 tsp. black pepper
Instructions
- Mix everything together until well combined.
- Store in an airtight container until ready to use.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 0 mins
- Category: Spices
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: Indian
Keywords: spice blend, plant-based, gluten-free,
Hollie says
All of your recipes are so unique and versatile!
★★★★★
Emily says
Thank you, Hollie!
Emily says
Hi! This looks so delicious! One of my trigger foods though is cumin, and I was wondering if you had any recommendations for a substitute. I love cumin, and I love Indian food, but it’s just too much of a gamble to eat it, and I end up missing out on a lot of flavor.
Thanks so much for your recipes! They’re really helping me a lot!
Emily says
Thank you, Emily! After doing a little research, it looks like caraway seeds in half the amount called for in the recipe could be a possible substitute. Upping the coriander might also be another option. You could also try this garam masala blend without the cumin completely – it won’t make as much, but you’ll still get a lot of the same flavors. Hope that helps!