Garam masala
A North Indian blend of warming ground spices, added toward the end of cooking.
Also: warm spice mix, garam masale, kitchen king, North Indian blend
Garam masala means hot or warming mix, hot in the sense of body warmth rather than chilli heat. A typical blend includes cardamom, cinnamon or cassia, cloves, black pepper, cumin and coriander, sometimes with bay leaf, nutmeg, mace, star anise or fennel. Every household and brand has its own proportions. Cooks usually stir it in near the end, or sprinkle it on a finished dish, so that the volatile oils stay bright. Whole spices are dry-toasted and ground fresh for the best result. It differs from curry powder, which is a British colonial invention that includes turmeric and is cooked in from the start.