I love Indian food! Any dish full of flavor or unique spices blended together to make the most pleasant culinary experience, is something to look forward to. You may have used a curry powder in salads, when making Asian, Indian, or Thai food. Have you though ever been confused about curry?

There are so many styles of curry dishes, but when you go to the spice section in the grocery store, there you see it, Yellow Curry Powder. Before we get to our homemade mushroom masala recipe, let's talk about the difference between curry and masala.

Yum. Saucy goodness that my veggies and or meat bathe in before I devour them. However, what actually is curry? Curry is essentially meat or veggies cooked in a sauce. Like a thickened soup you could say. So it is not talking about the flavor at all. I have always associated curry with the flavor, not the original meaning of the word which is sauce.

Some of you, like me, might have assumed that little bottle of yellow curry in the spice isle is what you need to make this dish. Nope, that is not the case. I learned a lot about curry from my research. For more details on the origin of curry you may enjoy this article from The Spruce Eats, called "What Is Curry Powder?" This article along with others mentioned that this versatile spice blend was actually created by the British.

Depending on the location, the flavor of "curry" will change depending on which spice is used more generously. So, before you start throwing together your curry dish, perhaps you will want to do a little digging on what spices would really make your creation pop.

Ok, so now we know that yellow curry powder is not traditionally used in Indian dishes. What is it then that makes a dish Indian? I found several articles talking about the 7 spices of India. Some of the essential spices mentioned are turmeric, cumin, coriander, cardamom, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, and black pepper. These are actually most of the spices you will need to prepare your own Garam Masala spice blend.

I quite enjoyed another blog article taking about the difference between Garam Masala and Curry Powder. I will list the links below. It comes down to the fact that there are thousands of different flavors and styles of curry. Masala, just happens to be one spice blend, which even in itself will have several even hundreds of variations. That is the beauty of exploring culinary options.

This part is pretty easy once you have your spices (shown plated on my Rosé Mora Ceramics dinner plate😉). I will share the measurements of each spice that I used, but the fun part is that you can make it your own. If you like the flavor of a particular spice, add a little more. If you don't love another as much maybe put a little less. It can be your own experiment.

• 2 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp coriander
• 1 tsp cardamom
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp cloves

Mix these amazing spices together and you have a basic garam masala blend. As I was blending these spices and taking in the aroma, it made me feel warm and cozy inside. It also made me stop and ask how these spices will benefit my health. Overall, this meal I was about to prepare is very good for your mind and body.

Many herbs and spices have health benefits. They can fight inflammation and disease. This dish includes about 16 spices, herbs, and vegetables altogether. Spices such as turmeric, cinnamon, and cloves provide a powerful boost to our body. Ginger and garlic also serve as inflammation fighters and immune boosters.

This amazing Indian side dish is full of nutrition and flavor! This dish will also show your family and friends that you care for them both emotionally and physically. They will be pretty happy scarfing it down and going back for seconds as well. This recipe was taste tested and approved by even one of our pickiest of eaters.

Now that we know we have found a delicious dinner option that also fits the maintain a healthy heart requirement, lets hit the kitchen and hit pause. As you make your own masala blend take time to soak in the bright colors and fantastic aromas. Don't rush, but prepare this meal with your heart and soul.

1. First put your large sauce pan on medium heat.
2. Add in your dry spices and stir for about 1 minute to open up the spices.
3. Next you will want to add in your ghee butter and maple syrup, stir in with your spices until the ghee is melted and ready to sauté. About 2 minutes.
4. Throw in your grated or finely chopped garlic, ginger, chopped chili, and pepper, and diced onion.
5. Sauté on medium heat for about 3 minutes.
6. Stir in your mushrooms and sauté for another 3 minutes.
7. Add in your tomatoes and cook for 2 more minutes.
8. Finally add your coconut milk and stir everything together.
9. Once it is at a steady simmer bring the heat down to medium low and cook for 25 minutes, stir occasionally.
10. That's it! You should have a nice gravy like sauce packed full of flavor and nutrition. Top with fresh cilantro and some cream if you would like and serve.
11. If you like a more smooth instead of chunky sauce, feel free to use a hand blender food grinder to smooth.

This is a sauce, so it is usually enjoyed with rice, bread, and some protein if you would like. I warmed up some garlic naan bread for a simple lunchtime meal. I also made masala marinated and roasted chicken thighs along with cilantro lime basmati rice.

This rice was amazing! I just cooked two cups of basmati rice per instructions and once the rice was finished cooking I added the juice from half of a lime and about 3/4 cup of fresh chopped cilantro.

1. Chop 1 pound of chicken thighs or breasts into bite size pieces
2. Mix in 3/4 cup of yogurt, about 1 to 2 tbsp. of your freshly made masala spice blend, and the juice from one lime
3. Refrigerate until ready to roast
4. Preheat your oven to 375
5. Lay out your chicken pieces on a baking sheet, I used parchment paper
6. Roast for 5 to 7 minutes, flip your chicken bites and roast until the chicken is cooked through, another 5 to 7 minutes.
7. It is ready to plate and serve.

I hope you enjoy this mushroom masala dish as much as we did. Remember to slow down in the kitchen. When a meal is made with love, both the process and the final product can be enjoyed and appreciated. The most difficult part of this recipe is the grating and chopping. It is mostly blending spices, mixing, simmering, and taste testing.

My completed dishes were served on my beautiful Mora Ceramics pasta bowls and plates.

If you plan to make this hearty meal you may need something sweet to enjoy after! Try Alix's chocolate brownie batter hummus.😍

Here are some of the fabulous articles that helped me with my Masala vs Curry research:

https://www.thespruceeats.com

https://www.daringgourmet.com

https://motherwouldknow.com

If you deal with anxiety or would like to start your self-care journey, please come check out our self-care series.

Written by Beth Ann Brommerich