Simple Indian Curry Recipe

Before getting to the recipe today, let us first talk about what curry is.  In Indian cuisine, curry is the broth, sauce, or gravy.  Curries can have meat in them, vegetables, or even both.  They also come in many variations with many different blends of spices depending on the dish.

This past weekend, I was fortunate enough to be a part of a 30 workshop event at my local library.  My workshop was “How To Make Curry Powder.”  Curry powder is a blend of many spices and was developed by the British to have a ready Indian flavor after returning to England.  Here is a recipe for curry powder that I shared with the workshop participants.

 

 

Curry Powder

Mix the following spice powders:

• 1 tbsp. Coriander
• 1 tbsp. Cumin
• ½ tbsp. Turmeric
• 1 tsp. Ginger
• 1 tsp. Mustard
• 1 tsp. Ground Fennel Seeds
• ½ tsp. Cinnamon
• ¼ tsp. Cloves
• ¼ tsp. Cardamom
• ¼ tsp. Cayenne Pepper

Yields about 1/3 cup.  There is no one recipe for curry powder.  Feel free to change up the proportions to your taste.

Here is a simple recipe using the curry powder to make your own curry at home.

Simple Indian Curry Broth

Ingredients:

• 1 small onion, roughly chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
• 1 tbsp. ginger, roughly chopped
• 2 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 2 tbsp. tomato paste
• 4 tbsp. curry powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 cups water

Directions:

• Pureé the onion ginger, and garlic in a food processor. Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in pan on medium heat. Sauté the onion, garlic, and garlic mixture for 3-5 minutes.

  

   

• Add 2 tablespoons of tomato paste, salt, and 4 tablespoons of curry powder.  Stir until all of the ingredients have made a well-combined paste, about 3-4 minutes.

  

• Add 2 cups of water and stir until the paste has dissolved.  Simmer over low heat for 3-5 minutes.

  

• This is now a complete broth style curry.  For more flavor, you can use chicken or vegetable stock instead of water.  To make a creamier curry, you can substitute the water with milk or cream.  Add your favorite vegetables and/or protein and server over rice to make a complete meal.