This is the 3574th most frequent German word.
mengen
"mengen" (verb): to mix or blend.
In this sentence, 'mengte' is used as a verb meaning 'to add in measured quantity'. It emphasizes the careful addition of spices to the mixture.
Er mischte die Zutaten und mengte die Gewürze hinzu.
He mixed the ingredients and added the spices.
Here, 'Mengen' is used as a noun meaning 'quantities' or 'crowds'. It refers to a considerable number of people in this context, with the plural form indicating abundance.
Man sah große Mengen von Menschen auf der Straße.
One could see large crowds of people on the street.
In this instance, 'Mengen' refers to 'quantities' or 'amounts', highlighting the division of work into manageable portions.