The ubiquitous ‘curry powders’ are the heart of Indian cuisines. The blend of rich spices to create a “masala” enriches the taste of various dishes. The two most famous contenders in the world of spices are pilau masala and garam masala. In this blog article, we will take a deep dive into the main pilau masala vs garam masala differences and help you choose the right spice mix for you!
What Is Pilau Masala?
Pilau masala is an aromatic flavoring that gives a distinct flavoring and color to food, especially pilau rice. The textures and flavors of pilau masala completely compliment each other and it consists of ingredients like cumin, cinnamon, black peppercorn seeds, and cardamom pods.
The history of Pilau masala is spread across different regions in the world. Though pilau masala is an Indian-style spice mix, the seasoning was adopted by East Africans into their traditional foods. This delicious blend of rich spices is used in Kenyan, Tanzanian, and Zanzibarian cultures.
What Is Garam Masala?
Garam masala is a warming aromatic blend that is made from whole spices that are roasted and ground into a fine powder. The amalgamation of these ground spices is used extensively in Indian cuisine for authentic and traditional flavors.
Garam masala is a traditional ingredient that originated in the Mughal era. In Ayurvedic medicine, these spices are incredibly warm and flavorful. Garam masala usually contains as many as 32 spices which differ from region to region. There are numerous similarities between garam masala and other rich spice blends. Some of them are discussed in other blog posts like garam masala vs ras el hanout, berbere vs garam masala, and baharat vs garam masala.
Is Pilau Masala The Same As Garam Masala?
Garam masala and pilau masala almost contain the same ingredients with some variations. You can use pilau masala as a garam masala substitute or vice versa. The main constituents of both spices range from cumin seeds, black peppercorn, cardamom pods, cloves and cinnamon, and black pepper.
While pilau masala has strong hints of cumin seeds, peppercorn, and cinnamon, garam masala has the warm flavors of spices like black pepper, clove sticks, coriander, nutmeg, and cumin seeds! So, yes pilau masala is almost the same as garam masala except the latter has layers of flavors due to the range of different spices used. When it comes to the pilau masala vs garam masala differences, it all comes down to its flavors and its nutritional elements. We have discussed this in detail below.
What Is The Difference Between Garam Masala And Pilau Masala?
While garam masala is a versatile seasoning added to numerous dishes, pilau masala is specifically used in pilau rice or rice pilaf. Both masalas can be used in a plethora of savoring as well as sweet dishes to add flavor. We have gathered some of the main pilau masala vs garam masala differences to help you decide between the two.
History
The origin of pilau cannot be traced back to a specific place. Pilau masala is a favorite Kenyan delicacy whose roots are engrained in the Swahili communities. Pilau probably originated in Ancient Persia–but many countries have adopted the spice mix as one of their own.
The number of Garam masala variations is endless but its roots can be traced back to North Indian cuisine. Garam masala can be translated to ‘hot’ and ‘spice mix’ in Hindi. As a staple in traditional Indian cuisine, garam masala infuses the richness of whole spices that helped those in cold winters.
Taste
While garam masala has a stronger and more complex flavor due to the hints of warm spices, pilau masala has a milder flavor but the intensity can be built up if you use stronger spices. Garam masala has a warm, fruity, and sweet taste with a touch of heat from the black pepper.
Pilau masala has a similar taste except for the flavor which is usually milder. This depends upon the number of spices used and their individual quantity.
Ingredients
When it comes to the pilau masala vs garam masala ingredients list, there are certainly no limitations. While both pilau masala and garam masala use some common ingredients like peppercorns, cumin seeds, cinnamon, cloves, and cardamoms, there is a slight difference in their textures and taste.
Garam masala usually uses 5 ingredients but it can use as many as 32 whole spices. On the other hand, pilau masala is traditionally made from 4-5 main ingredients that contribute to its aromatic flavor.
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Health Benefits
Since the ingredients in the spice mixes are similar, many people use pilau masala instead of garam masala which is an acceptable garam masala alternative. The main pilau masala vs garam masala health benefits are usually attributed to the spice ingredients.
Since cumin is a common ingredient in both components, it is helpful in boosting digestive enzymes. Cinnamon, another important spice, has a powerful antioxidant potential. Cardamom pods and clove sticks have both shown antioxidant properties as well. Consuming a blend of these spices in either of the two seasonings will improve your overall health. If you want to know more, check out the 5 health benefits of garam masala in this video.
Methods Of Preparation
It is fairly easy to prepare garam masala and pilau masala spice blends. All you need is a spice grinder or a mortar and pestle and the required spices.
To create your own pilau masala blend recipe, gather the list of ingredients below.
- 1 tsp black peppercorn
- 2 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground cloves
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
Blend the ingredients together and store them in an airtight container. This can last up to 5 servings.
Garam masala is a fragrant and flavorful spice that is a common ingredient in Indian households. Masterchef Pankaj Bhadouria shares her garam masala recipe in which she recommends roasting each spice on low heat in a pan till they have a fragrant smell: “This is my family recipe which we’ve been making forever.”
The ingredients are:
- 4 tbsp coriander seeds
- 3 tbsp cumin seeds
- 1 tbsp cloves
- 6 black cardamoms
- 12 green cardamoms
- 5 cinnamon sticks
- 1 mace
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 nutmeg
- 2-star anise
- ½ caraway seeds
- 3 tbsp peppercorns
Blend all these ingredients together to create a fine powdery paste and store it in an airtight container in a cool, dark place.
What Is In Pilau Seasoning?
Pilau seasoning is essentially the same thing as pilau masala. It is used to add aromatic flavoring to pilau rice, one of the most popular flavored rice dishes.
