Easy Curry Powder Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you make curry powder when you don't have any? ›

Mix together the following ingredients together in a small bowl - cardamom, ground coriander, ground fenugreek, ground cumin, dry mustard, turmeric, cayenne powder, ground ginger and black pepper. Be sure to mix the ingredients enough until they are well combined. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.

You can whip up a quick, easy, healthy and delicious curry using curry powder or it can be used as a marinade or rub too. There is a huge difference in taste between good quality curry powder and cheaper, less flavoursome versions.

The primary ingredient in most Indian curry powders is bright yellow turmeric. Turmeric is earthy, musky, and warm, and delivers great depth to curries with no heat. Indian curry spices are usually a blend of: Kashmiri Chile Powder – this chile has a terrific, rich flavor without much heat.

Curry powder's main ingredient is turmeric, which gives it that signature yellow tint but not a lot of taste. The blend's mild flavor is credited to spices such as fenugreek and cumin, as well as coriander. The recipe for garam masala can vary by region but is sweeter and more pungent than curry powder.

Curry paste is a wet ingredient made with fresh chilies. It must be dissolved into a liquid during the cooking process. Curry powder is a dry ingredient that must be activated with a liquid or oil. It does not include fresh chilies, so it will be much less spicy than a curry paste.

Ultimately both curry powder and masala are blended spice mixes that can be added to food to pack a spicy and aromatic kick. In the end, the difference boils down to the different mix of spices, masala being more of a warming aromatic blend and curry powder being more of an earthy blend.

Do you just add water to curry powder? ›

Cook chicken curry for a classic curry powder dish.

This is one of the most popular meals using curry powder. Cook ingredients like onions, garlic, tomatoes, and the curry powder in a large saucepan before adding the chicken. By adding a little water, your chicken curry will become juicier as it soaks up the spices.

Fenugreek (Methi)

This Indian spice is what people say "smells like curry." Of all Indian spices, this spice may be the most essential. You may use up to a few tablespoons in a family size dish near the end of the cooking process, but start with a teaspoon. Fenugreek seeds also have many health benefits.

There are a million variations of those blends but what western people typically refer to as “curry” is mostly turmeric, cumin and coriander. Probably turmeric, the main ingredient of Western curry powder.

A curry mix has a warm, robust spicy taste as a result of combining roasted and grounded coriander seeds, turmeric, cumin and chili peppers. Other spices commonly found within the blend are fenugreek, clove, mustard, black pepper, nutmeg or ginger.

02/6​​Add spices​

The easiest way to fix a bland and tasteless curry is by adding spices like red chili powder, cumin, coriander, garam masala, curry leaves and turmeric.

The difference in flavor profile and heat level means that it's not a good idea to substitute curry paste for curry powder. If you're hoping to cook a traditional Thai or Indian dish, this substitution would throw off the flavors in your final dish.

Turmeric is also found in curry powder. Curry powders are made with a variety of bright yellow spices including, turmeric, coriander, cumin, chili pepper, and curry leaves. If adding spice to food isn't for you, you can find turmeric and curcumin supplements.

Turmeric is a commonly used spice in many curry recipes for its vibrant color and distinct flavor, but it is not the only spice available. You can still create a delicious and flavorful curry using other spices and ingredients.