What is an easy recipe for making your own garam masala?

To make your own garam masala, an Indian spice blend, combine 1 tablespoon of ground cumin with 1 1/2 teaspoons each of ground coriander, cardamom and black pepper. Mix in 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon each of ground cloves and nutmeg. Stir the ingredients until evenly incorporated, and store the mix in an airtight container.

You can use this mix to make a variety of Indian dishes, such as gobi aloo, a dish with cauliflower and potatoes. To make this dish, heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add 1 teaspoon of cumin seeds, 1 teaspoon of minced garlic and 1 teaspoon of ginger paste. Cook the ingredients until the garlic is golden brown, approximately one minute.

Peel and cube 2 medium potatoes, and add these to the oil and spices. Add 1/2 teaspoon each of ground turmeric, paprika and garam masala and 1 teaspoon of ground cumin. Season the mixture with salt to taste. Cover and cook the dish, stirring the potatoes occasionally, for five to seven minutes.

Clean and chop 1 pound of cauliflower, and add it to the potatoes with 1 teaspoon of chopped fresh cilantro. Cook the ingredients until the potatoes and cauliflower are soft, about 10 minutes.