You can make it as per the recipe the first time and adjust the recipe to your liking later. But if you are a pretty adventurous cook or very confident in the kitchen, you can incorporate these commonly used ingredients: Whole spices like green cardamom, fennel seeds, whole red chilis, and Indian bay leaf. Ground spices like garam masala powder or some panch phoron (which is basically an Indian five-spice). An acidic element like lime, key lime, or lemon juice. Garlic. This recipe doesn't contain garlic, but if you love garlic, you can add a teaspoon of grated garlic or some garlic powder. Grated coconut. Coconut goes really well in this dish. Add 1 tablespoon of grated coconut to the tempering oil at the same time you add the cumin.