15 Flavorful Recipes Using Garam Masala (2024)

Home Recipes Cuisines Asia Indian

Updated: Nov. 10, 2023

Try one of these recipes that use garam masala for dinner tonight! Just a pinch of this aromatic spice will liven up your weeknight routine.

1/15

Slow-Cooker Butter Chicken

This slow-cooker butter chicken recipe is similar to the Middle Eastern version I had in Malaysia. I spent several years there eating a variety of Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian food. Butter chicken was one of my favorite dishes while I was there! —Shannon Copley, Upper Arlington, Ohio

2/15

Indian-Spiced Beefy Lettuce Wraps

Since I love Indian flavors, I almost always have coconut milk, a jar of mango chutney and garam masala seasoning in my pantry. This recipe is one of my go-tos when I am short on time but want something that tastes spectacular. If you’d like to give this a different style of Asian flair, use hoisin sauce in place of chutney and Chinese five-spice powder in place of garam masala. —Noelle Myers, Grand Forks, North Dakota

3/15

Cauliflower Tikka Masala

I’m a vegetarian and I always find it challenging to find new recipes. This cauliflower tikka masala is my easy take on the original. It’s made healthy by the use of an air fryer and pressure cooker. —Garima Arora, Charlotte, North Carolina

4/15

Here’s a hearty take on Mediterranean food, this time with sweet potatoes tucked inside. These unique pockets are delicious for lunch or dinner. —Beth Jacobson, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

5/15

Moroccan Pot Roast

My husband loves meat and I love veggies, so we’re both happy with this spiced twist on the beefy pot roast. With chickpeas, eggplant, honey and mint, it’s like something you’d eat at a Marrakech bazaar. —Catherine Dempsey, Clifton Park, New York

6/15

Creamy Cauliflower Pakora Soup

My husband and I often crave pakoras, deep-fried fritters from India. I wanted to get the same flavors but use a healthier cooking technique, so I made soup using all the classic spices and our favorite veggie, cauliflower! —Melody Johnson, DePere, Wisconsin

7/15

Tandoori-Style Chicken with Cucumber Melon Relish

We all need a quick meal that’s deliciously healthy. I marinate the chicken before I leave for work, and when I get home, I grill the chicken and make the relish. My husband loves the spicy flavor. To amp up the heat, add more crushed red pepper flakes. —Naylet LaRochelle, Miami, Florida

8/15

Easy Chana Masala

I love this quick and healthy Indian-inspired dish so much I always make sure to have the ingredients stocked in my pantry. It makes weeknight dinners feel a little more special. —Janeen Judah, Houston, Texas

9/15

Chicken Tikka Masala

This Indian-style chicken tikka masala recipe has flavors that keep me coming back for more—a simple dish spiced with garam masala, cumin and gingerroot that’s simply amazing. —Jaclyn Bell, Logan, Utah

10/15

11/15

Butter Chicken Meatballs

My husband and I love meatballs, and we love butter chicken. Before an appetizer party, we had the brilliant idea to combine these two loves, and the new creation got rave reviews! Want them as a main dish? Just serve with basmati rice. —Shannon Dobos, Calgary, Alberta

12/15

Quinoa Unstuffed Peppers

This deconstructed stuffed pepper dish packs a wallop of flavor. I truly make it all the time, and I make sure my freezer’s stocked with single-serve portions to take to work. —Rebecca Ende, Phoenix, New York

13/15

Vegan Butter Cauliflower

I created this Indian butter cauliflower recipe for all the picky eaters in my family who love ethnic food. It’s also vegan-friendly. —Mihaela Metaxa-Albu, London, New York

14/15

Brown Rice Chutney Salad

A simple rice salad in a cafe inspired thoughts of adding Indian spices and chutney to this dish. To fire things up, mix in a small amount of hot chili oil, tasting carefully as you go. —Brooke Martin, Greenfield, Minnesota

15/15

Creamy Curry Vegetable Stew

Our family loves to eat Indian food, and this recipe is quick and easy to do with jarred korma sauce and fresh spring vegetables. If you want it hotter, add cayenne pepper to taste. Sometimes I add grilled chicken to the recipe. I serve this dish with naan bread, chutney and flaked coconut for condiments. So good!—Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada

Originally Published: February 10, 2021