Hot (Garam) Masala

Hot or garam masala is a spice blend widely used in Indian cuisine, from curries and lentil dishes to soups. Whole spices of cinnamon (dalchini), mace (javitri), peppercorns (kali mirch), coriander (dhania) seeds, cumin (jeera) seeds, cardamom (elaichi) pods, etc. are toasted in a pan to release their aromatic flavors, then ground to a powder.