Learn how to make authentic and easy recipes for homemade spice blends from around the world, including Indian garam masala, Moroccan ras el hanout, Thai green curry paste, Middle Eastern za'atar and so many more! Making your own spice blends gives you the best flavor and it is better for you, because you know exactly what goes in them!
Make a jar of one or more of these DIY spice mixes and keep on hand to add amazing taste and flavor to your favorite dishes. Most have multiple uses and some can even be used as seasoning blends.
You can use them to flavor stews, soups, curries, dals and salads. Some of the blends, like niter kibbeh, can even be used as dipping sauces!
Table of Contents
Indian Spice Blends
African spice blends
Middle Eastern Spice Blends
Asian Spice Blends
Caribbean Spice Blends
How to store spice blends
Homemade spice mixes should always be placed in airtight spice jars or glass jars and stored in a dark, cool spot out of direct sunlight, or in the fridge. That way they will last you a year or more.
Shishir
Hello Vaishali,
Thanks for the amazing recipes! Could you also upload the recipe for Goda Masala. In your recipe for masale bhat it was mentioned that i can find the DIY recipe for goda masala here(https://holycowvegan.net/masale-bhath/) but could not find it. Anyways thanks again and appreciate all of your amazing recipes.
Robert Pennington
Made this delicious spice mix for the first time tonight and loved it. I didn't dry-roast the kasoori methi though - should I have?
Vaishali
Hi Robert, which one did you make? Was it the biryani masala? There are a few other spice mixes here with kasoori methi.
Vijay
Hi great spice mixes. It comes in handy to follow through.
I love the yin yang spice box. Do you know where I can find it ?
Thanks,
Vijay
Vaishali
Hi Vijay, it was sold by a company called Gitadini.
Herb
Hi Vaishali,
It's been a while since I've written but I went to make bhaji today only to find that I dont have enough of the Bhaji Masala. Do you have a mix you could post or a good substitution?
Thanks!
Vaishali
Hi Herb, I'll try and get something up soon, but meanwhile you could use garam masala.
Radhika
Hi Vaishali, just made a big batch of your South Indian chickpea curry masala. This is the ONLY way I cook chickpeas after I discovered that recipe. Came here looking for Thai paste recipe without too many specialty ingredients, and I found this treasure. Chickpeas in thai paste might be just one more recipe I am willing to try out 🙂 You Rock! Thanks for sharing your talent with the whole wide world
Vaishali
Awesome, Radhika, and I have just the recipe for you. 🙂 This is one of my favorites in a rush. https://holycowvegan.net/vegan-thai-curried-chickpeas-thai-red-curry-paste/
Malavika
Thanks so much for creating these! They are incredible. My family is from India but I was born in the US so I have little experience cooking indian food except for buying the store mixed "kitchen king" type of spice blends when my husband and I make indian food for dinner. This will be so helpful for us!!!
Vaishali
Malavika, so happy to hear!
Glynis
Thrilled to find these spice recipes while browsing your site. Wonderful to have them all in one place. Thank you.
Vaishali
Glad it's useful! 🙂
Radha
This is such an incredible resource, Vaishali. I have almost stopped buying spice mixes in the store. So much better to make your own. And the best part is it takes so little time.
Mary
Hi V!!
What a fantastic collection of spice recipes! This is superb. I grind my own spices, because I like the fresh stuff. These look outstanding. Thank you very much for this. I wanted to order a new grinder, but I have to use the Canadian amazon website. We can order from that one, but it will cost a small fortune. Rats.
I am still waiting for you to open a vegan restaurant here in Toronto....lol xoxo
Vaishali
Haha, thanks Mary. 😀
WonderWoman
I've seen this masala dabba at
Ambika Devi
Vaishali, aside from an amazingly delicious offering of spices recipes, that is by far the coolest tiffin I have ever seen! Where did you get that?
Todd
Regarding cardamom pods, do you mean grind the whole pods or just the seeds inside?
Vaishali
The whole pods-- the green ones with the relatively tender skins.
phils
Hi Vaishali,
Living in South Africa where we have thousands of Indian ladies one would think finding a Ginger and Garlic Masala mix will be easy, no way!
All one can find is a Masala paste, a mixture of garlic, ginger and chillies, I have a lot of other spices and would prefer doing my own
dry mix, it is also easy to find spices if and when I need.
I have ready mixed Gharam Masala, Jeera ( Cumin), Dhania( Coriander), Somph (Fennel), Turmeric, Chili Powder and Nutmeg
I used to get a dry Ginger and Garlic mix from an Indian lady but she moved her business away and my Masala is at a critical level.
Most shops around sell ready mix packets of just Ginger and Garlic, I just need to know what else is mixed in with it and what
quantities.
I will be grateful if you can help
Thanks
phils
Vaishali
Hi Phils, there are so many different Indian spice mixes, and even more mixes created by immigrant Indians in foreign lands. A ginger and garlic masala mix -- that includes more than just ginger and garlic -- sounds like it might be something unique to South Africa's large Indian community-- I've never come across it before. Sorry I am not much help, but I will explore it and meanwhile, perhaps there are other readers who have an idea? If so, feel free to pipe in.
Anonymous
Thanks Vaishli, I do hope someone can come up with a solution
kirtiyadav
I have saved this list and I will start making it so that I don't buy from outside. Thanks for sharing such a elaborate list.