masala

/məˈsɑlə/

Other forms: masalas

In South Asian food, masala is the particular mix of spices that makes a dish taste so good. Depending on the masala you use, your curry may be extra spicy!

Many Indian, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi, and Pakistani cooks make their own special masalas for different dishes. A chickpea curry might use a masala that's heavy on the dried chiles, while a spicy, milky chai would be made with a masala that includes cinnamon, cardamom, clove, and other spices. Masala, borrowed from the Urdu masālā, "blend of spices," has an Arabic root.

Definitions of masala

1. noun

   a blend of spices ground into a paste used in Indian cooking
2. noun

   a dish made with a blend of spices ground into a paste used in Indian cooking