How much garam masala per kg of chicken?
Use 8 g of garam masala per 1 kg of chicken – two level teaspoons – stirred in during the final three to five minutes of cooking, because garam masala is a finishing spice and its aromatic oils are driven off by a long simmer.
Garam masala by meat and weight
| Meat | 500 g | 1 kg | 2 kg | Add at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken, boneless | 4 g (1 tsp) | 8 g (2 tsp) | 16 g (4 tsp) | Last 3–5 min |
| Chicken, bone-in | 5 g (1¼ tsp) | 10 g (2½ tsp) | 20 g (5 tsp) | Last 5 min |
| Lamb or mutton | 6 g (1½ tsp) | 12 g (3 tsp) | 24 g (6 tsp) | Last 5–8 min |
| Beef | 6 g (1½ tsp) | 12 g (3 tsp) | 24 g (6 tsp) | Last 5–8 min |
| Mince, for keema | 5 g (1¼ tsp) | 10 g (2½ tsp) | 20 g (5 tsp) | Last 3 min |
| Chickpeas or lentils, dry weight | 3 g (¾ tsp) | 6 g (1½ tsp) | 12 g (3 tsp) | Off the heat |
Teaspoons to grams, for ground garam masala
| Measure | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1 level teaspoon | 4 g |
| 1 heaped teaspoon | 6 g |
| 1 level tablespoon | 12 g |
| 1 × 250 g pouch | about 62 level teaspoons |
Ground spices vary in density, so weigh where you can. These figures are for a fine, evenly ground blend and are the reason recipes written in teaspoons disagree with each other so often.
How much garam masala for four people?
Four people eating a chicken curry need about 16 g of garam masala, which is four level teaspoons, assuming roughly 600 g of boneless chicken between them.
What happens if you add too much garam masala?
Too much garam masala tastes perfumed and slightly soapy rather than hot, because the cardamom and clove dominate. Dilute with more tomato, stock or yoghurt; there is no way to remove it.
Is garam masala added at the start or the end?
Garam masala goes in at the end. It is a blend of already-toasted aromatic spices, so simmering it for half an hour boils off exactly the aroma you added it for.
How much garam masala per kg of lamb or beef?
Lamb and beef take 12 g per 1 kg, half as much again as chicken, because both carry a stronger flavour of their own and are usually cooked longer.
Why do recipes disagree so much on the amount?
Recipes disagree because most are written in teaspoons and a heaped teaspoon holds half as much again as a level one, so the same instruction can mean 4 g or 6 g before anyone has made a judgement about taste.