Masala

Masala or massala (Hindi: मसाला; Bengali: মশলা; Urdu: -‎; Nepali: मसाला), is a term used in South Asian cuisines (including Indian, Pakistani, Nepali, Bangladeshi, Burmese, and Sri Lankan cuisines) to mostly describe a mixture of spices. A masala can either be a combination of dried (and usually dry roasted) spices, or a paste (such as vindaloo masala) made from a mixture of spices and other ingredients—often garlic, ginger, onions and chilli paste. Masalas are used extensively in Indian cuisine to add spice and flavor.