Garam Masala

Garam Masala is a blend of ground spices used extensively in Indian cuisine. It's sometimes used on its own, but it can be mixed with other seasonings as well. The spices for garam masala are usually toasted to bring out more flavor and aroma, and then ground. The word masala simply means "spices," and garam means "hot." Thus the term garam masala literally translates to "hot spices." However, garam masala doesn't necessarily constitute a particularly spicy blend.