Craig Claiborne's Garam Masala

Garam Masala is one of the principal spice flavorings in Indian cooking. It is sold in stores, but you can make it at home; the high-achieving Indian cooks always do. There is no standard garam masala, after all. The spices used and their amounts vary from cook to cook, and sometimes from dish to dish. However, the basis of most garam masala is the same, a combination of a lot of whole coriander and smaller amounts of whole cumin, cloves, black pepper and cinnamon, which are roasted together and ground in a coffee or spice mill. Here’s a start.