Garam masala is a blend of spices widely used in Indian cuisine, for curries, lentils, soups, sabji, etc. Whole spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, peppercorns, coriander seeds, cumin seeds and cardamom pods are roasted in a pan to release their aromatic flavors and then ground to a powder. The name of this recipe translates as "warming spices", which are supposed to warm up the body and speed up the metabolism.

Garam masala adds warmth, sweetness, floral notes, and a touch of heat from the black pepper. It is intended to be a fragrant spice as well as flavorful. While cumin, coriander, and turmeric may remind you of curry, garam masala is generally not firey hot.