noun
masala
muh-SAH-luh
noun
1
A blend of spices used in South Asian cooking, often including cardamom, coriander, and pepper.
"She ground her own garam masala for the curry."
"The chicken was marinated in yogurt and masala overnight."
How to Use Masala
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA spice mix used to season South Asian dishes.
Common pairings
garam masala
masala chai
chicken tikka masala
Word Forms
masalas plural, masale plural
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She ground her own garam _____ for the curry.
Etymology
Borrowed from Hindustani, ultimately from Persian and Arabic words meaning "ingredients" or "affairs."