Tandoori masala- Health Benefits, Uses and Important Facts

People all over the world have always been interested in tandoori dishes. Tandoori dishes are a big part of Indian food, and for many people, they are more than just food.

Not only do these dishes smell amazing, but they also have a distinct earthy taste and flavour that makes people fall in love with them. And what makes these dishes taste so amazingly good?

Well, the magic is in the homemade spice mix that goes into every tandoori dish.

What is Tandoori Masala?

1. Tandoori masala is a mix of Indian spices that includes cumin, coriander, and turmeric. It can vary slightly from recipe to recipe and sometimes calls for garam masala, which is also an Indian spice blend. It is used to add flavour to many Indian dishes, giving them a taste that is savoury, fragrant, and just a little bit spicy.
2. You can prepare this spice mix and keep it in an airtight container for up to two months, but it tastes best when it's fresh. Having the spice mix on hand makes it easy to make a tasty meal by marinating the food and grilling it.
3. Tandoori masala is a real mix of many different spices. Each spice gives this masala mix its own taste and smell, making it a wonderful treat. It is mostly used to marinate foods like paneer, tofu, mushrooms, chicken, mutton, and vegetables.
4.  You can even sprinkle it on stews, salads, and soups to give them the smoky, earthy flavour of food cooked in a tandoor.
5.  Most places have a grocery store nearby where you can buy it, but the ones you make yourself are definitely better.
6.  Having tandoori masala that has already been mixed makes it easy to marinate and grill any delicious tandoori dish. You can make the spice mix ahead of time and use it when you want to make your favourite tandoori recipe.

Ingredients used in Tandoori Masala:

1. 2 tablespoons ground coriander
2. 1 teaspoon ground fenugreek
3. 1 ½ tablespoons ground cumin
4. 1 teaspoon garlic powder
5. 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
6. 1 teaspoon ground ginger
7. 1 teaspoon ground cloves
8. 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
9. 1 teaspoon ground mace
10. 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
11. 20 grams Indian red chili powder
12.  ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

How to make tandoori masala at home?

• Collect the things you need.
• In a pan over low heat, toast the cumin, coriander seeds, cloves, and cinnamon sticks until they start to smell. Take the spices off the stove and let them cool down.
• In a spice grinder or clean coffee grinder, grind the toasted spices with the ginger, garlic powder, chilli powder, turmeric, mace, salt, and food colouring (if using). Process until you have a fine powder.

Difference between garam masala and tandoori masala:

• Garam masala and tandoori masala are both made with almost the same mix of spices, but tandoori masala is less spicy than garam masala.
•  
• Kashmiri Red chilies make tandoori masala less spicy and a better colour. Of course, the taste changes depending on how much and which spices are used.

Why should you make Tandoori masala at home?

Tandoori masala mix is mixed into the marinade for dishes that will be cooked in a tandoor or oven so that they taste their best. Garam masala, on the other hand, is sprinkled on Indian curries and dishes to give them a unique, earthy flavour.

Why should you make tandoori masala at home?

Mixes you make yourself are always better than ones you buy in a store. Even though buying one is sometimes easier, this homemade Tandoori masala mix is better in terms of taste and authenticity because:

1. It's quick and easy, and you can use the spices you already have in your pantry.
2. Can be changed to suit each person's tastes.
3. Freshly pounded mixes smell and taste great.
4. Not made with any fake ingredients or preservatives.
5. This mix can be used to add flavour to almost anything.
6. The best part is that you can make your own fresh and flavorful food.
7. Tandoori masala at home in less than 30 minutes and add your own twist to the recipe.

Common ingredients used in Tandoori Masala:

• Ginger powder gives the masala a strong smell and a slightly spicy taste. For this masala recipe, you can use ginger powder that has just been ground.

• Garlic Powder: It gives the masala a mild taste and smell. For this recipe, you can also make your own garlic powder.

• Nutmeg Powder: Nutmeg makes the masala taste warmer and nuttier, and it also adds citrusy notes.

• Fenugreek seeds (methi dana): Fenugreek seeds are used to add flavour to food, and they are also good for your health in many ways. Because they are bitter, they are only used in small amounts.

• Cinnamon: Cinnamon is known for its unique sweetness and flavour, as well as its amazing aroma that takes the dish to the next level.

• Cloves are a warm, fragrant spice that smells sharp and tastes strong. It is used here to give our tandoori masala powder its own unique taste.

• Mace is a spice that has a warm, woody feel, a slightly sweet taste, and a mild spicy kick. This is added to the masala mix to make it taste like what it is.

• Cumin seeds are added because they have a unique earthy tone and a strong, warming taste that gives the masala more depth.

• Coriander seeds: This spice is the main ingredient in our Tandoori masala mix. It gives it a unique woody flavour that is not too strong. It also helps blend the tastes of other spices and gives the dish a strong personality.

• Black peppercorns give our masala mix more depth and a stronger flavour. They also make the other spices taste and smell better.

• Black Cardamoms — Black cardamoms, which have a strong flavour and smell, are added to our masala mix to make it taste better overall.

• Green Cardamom — Green cardamoms are a trendy spice that everyone has at home. They are used in the masala mix for their flavour and exotic smell. It adds a touch of sweetness and warm spice, and it smells fresh and wonderful.

• Whole dried Kashmiri Red Chilies—These chilies are not very spicy, but they give any dish a great colour. Here, we add it to the masala mix to give it a rich colour that looks good.

• Beetroot powder: It has a mildly sweet flavour, but we add it to the masala mix to make our tandoori dishes look more appealing.

Health benefits of Tandoori Masala:

1. Has anti-inflammatory properties:

Spices usually have properties that stop inflammation, which is why they are often recommended when certain body parts or nerves/tissues are inflamed. People have heard that spices can help prevent cancer, improve oral health and digestion, help bones grow, and lower blood pressure. Spices can also be used to stop pain or stop it from hurting.

2. Acts as antioxidants

Spices are the best way to get rid of free radicals. They work well as antioxidants, relaxants, antiseptics, digestive aids, carminatives, and stimulants. As an anti-oxidant, spices help the body get more oxygen and blood flow. They also help boost the immune system. Spices are great sources of minerals, and they also help the skin look better.

3. Boosts immune system

Spices have very few calories, but they help the body's natural immune system in a big way. Spices not only make the immune system stronger, but they also help prevent diseases, strengthen blood vessels, and stop blood from clotting. They also help lower cholesterol, improve blood flow, prevent diseases like atherosclerosis and cancer, and lower blood pressure.

4. Improves digestion

Spices are known to help regulate bowel movements, which improves digestion and reduces digestive problems like indigestion and constipation. Spices are a great way to get vitamins and minerals, and they also help the body's enzymes work better. Spices are also known for their ability to lower the amount of cholesterol in the blood and keep insulin levels in the body at a healthy level.

5. Helps skin and hair look better

Spices have been praised for a long time because they are good for your skin and hair. Spices can help the nervous system work better, which boosts the immune system and blood flow. This makes the skin and hair healthier.

6. Regulates metabolism

Spices can help keep the metabolism running smoothly. Spices can help prevent blood diseases like anaemia by helping to keep the body's metabolism in check. Due to a faster metabolism, the heart rate is better controlled, and the digestive system works better.

7. Controls diabetes

Cinnamaldehyde is a chemical found in many spices that is very good at controlling blood sugar levels. Spices help improve insulin sensitivity by slowing down the rate at which carbs are broken down in the digestive tract. Researchers have found that certain spices, like cinnamon, can lower the blood sugar of people with diabetes by about 25%.

8. Improves memory and brain function

Spices like sage are very good at helping the brain and memory work better. People with Alzheimer's disease have been shown to have better brain function when they eat this spice. Acetylcholine levels in the brain drop quickly in people with Alzheimer's disease. Spices slow down the breakdown of this compound, which helps fight Alzheimer's disease. Some other spices can also help people who are otherwise healthy remember things better.

9. Fights off diseases

Spices are very good at stopping infections from yeasts, moulds, and bacteria. Spices not only boost the body's immune system, which keeps infections from taking hold, but they also stop harmful bacteria from growing inside the body.

10. Stops allergies and clear up stuffy noses

Some spices, like rosemary, have specific compounds that help stop allergic reactions and treat any problems that come from a stuffy nose. This compound can also help reduce inflammation. It helps get rid of stuffy noses by increasing the number of white blood cells in mucus. This makes the congestion in the tissues lessen and clear up.

11. Keeps heart healthy

Garlic and other spices are very good at lowering cholesterol levels, which helps keep the heart healthy. People who have problems with high cholesterol might find that adding garlic to their diets helps lower cholesterol and keeps heart problems from happening. Also, some spices can be very helpful in fighting off diseases like the common cold.