Ways to make a Great Curry (2024)

We all love curry and there are three main ways to make one (let us know if you can think of any others). This page gives you a brief overview on each method, so have a quick look, then go to our recipe pages and start cooking!

With a sauce

By far the simplest and quickest way is to use one of our sauces. They’ve been expertly blended to give a great taste but in as short a time as possible. All you need do is fry some onions, brown off whatever meat you’re using, then pour over a jar of sauce and simmer for around 15 minutes. Easy, delicious and it definitely doesn’t count as cheating.

With a spice paste

Our spice pastes make the most delicious and authentic-tasting curries. It’s not too different to what goes into a curry from scratch (check out below to see how that’s done) but it is a whole lot quicker. That’s because the spices are ground for you, then immediately blended with oil. This way the ground spices are caught at their freshest, before air gets to them and starts to change their flavour profile. To use our spice pastes, simply do the following:

  • Fry onions in oil until soft.
  • Add some curry spice paste and gently cook for a few minutes. This allows the spices to release all their • wonderful flavours and aromas.
  • Next add your meat or vegetables and cook until sealed.
  • Finally add some water and leave to simmer for 15-30 mins depending on the recipe.

So a spice paste does take a little bit more work than a sauce, but we think the end result is well worth the effort. A lot of Indian restaurants and curry houses make their curries using our spice pastes, so it really does give you that great authentic taste without the fuss of cooking from scratch.

Plus our spice pastes are really versatile – unlike the sauces you can add more or less spice paste to the recipe depending on how rich or spicy you like it. And you can use it in loads of other recipes aside from curry – like marinades - they are a great way to add spice and flavour to any dish. We have lots of recipe ideas using spice pastes on our site, so take a look.

Ways to make a Great Curry (2)

From scratch

Of course, the most authentic way is to cook the curry from scratch. It involves getting all the whole spices you need and grinding and blending them yourself. Or you can buy all your spices already ground. Once you’ve done that the process is fairly similar to using a spice paste (but just takes a bit longer.) But if you want to give it a go, check out our recipe section for some ideas.

Ways to make a Great Curry (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to a great curry? ›

Tips for the Perfect Curry
  1. Use fresh spices. For the best results, always try to use fresh spices. ...
  2. Give the spices a toast. ...
  3. Wrap up your whole spices. ...
  4. Blitz your tomatoes. ...
  5. Onions are the key. ...
  6. Don't overcook your chicken. ...
  7. Keep your garlic and ginger fresh. ...
  8. Add exciting toppings.

What can I add to curry to make it taste better? ›

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. Just make a quick tempering and pour over the curry to give it a nice punch of spices and herbs.

What is the secret ingredient for curry? ›

Whether you may be familiar with the differences between curries from various countries, such as Indian versus Japanese curry, and perhaps even know how to make them at home, there's a special flavor enhancer that you may not have thought to add: honey.

How do restaurants make curry so creamy? ›

The actual sweetness and creaminess of such curries meanwhile, usually comes from fried onions and either cashews and/or dairy products. Instead of (or in addition to) onion, ground coconut may be used. White poppy seeds and/or watermelon seeds are also used in some creamy sauces.

What adds depth to a curry? ›

You can give a curry depth by adding umami goodness. Umami is one of the basic five tastes and is often described as a meaty, savoury deliciousness that deepens a dish's flavour. Natural foods that peak umami taste receptors include tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, and roasted spice.

What is the king of all curries? ›

Beef Rendang is a Malaysian curry and is considered by many to be the king of all curries! To say it's extravagantly delicious is an understatement.

What's missing from my curry? ›

The answer is definitely a lack of salt. Particularly if you're new to cooking or new to cooking dishes like curries and stews, you might not be accustomed to the amount of salt you need to add to your food to bring out the flavor of the dish.

Does curry get better the longer you cook it? ›

Let it cook for as long as possible. Simmering a curry allows time for the flavours to infuse; a long, slow simmering time generally produces the best curry. Flavours will continue to infuse even when the curry is taken off the heat, so do allow time for the curry to “rest” and cool down before serving.

What makes a delicious curry? ›

The three core ingredients of almost any Indian curry are garlic, onion and ginger. There are a few styles of curries that don't use garlic to ensure subtle flavour isn't overwhelmed, but it's a good rule of thumb that those three ingredients are likely to be included.

What are the 4 main spices in curry? ›

If you want to delve into the blend of spices that make up curry blends, you'll need turmeric, ginger, mustard, cumin, and black pepper. Depending on the use or flavor you're looking for, the seasoning might include garlic, cinnamon, coriander, fenugreek, and more.

How do you make curry taste like a restaurant? ›

Simple suggestions for restaurant good quality curries:
  1. Fry your onions till they are golden brown.
  2. Fry your spices but don't burn them. ...
  3. Use good quality spices. ...
  4. Seasoning. ...
  5. Use fatty yoghurt (greek style works) in curries to make them richer. ...
  6. Patience. ...
  7. Use a neutral vegetable oil. ...
  8. Experiment.
Jun 24, 2018

What are the 5 spices in a curry? ›

The Essential Five Spices are:
  • Cumin seeds.
  • Coriander seeds.
  • Black mustard seeds.
  • Cayenne pepper.
  • Turmeric.

What is the secret to perfect curry? ›

Sizzle your spice:

Kick off your curry by heating whole spices in hot oil to unleash their flavor. Choose from cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and seeds for the perfect base to your dish. Fresh spices are the best choice and will keep for longer in the freezer.

How do you make curry more interesting? ›

15 Ways To Add More Flavor To Curry
  1. Infuse smokiness with charcoal. Lukas Gojda/Shutterstock. ...
  2. Add tempered spices on top. ...
  3. Finish with diverse garnishes. ...
  4. Cook with chutneys and pickles. ...
  5. A dash of acidity goes a long way. ...
  6. Balance out the spiciness with jaggery. ...
  7. Sprinkle over some crispy onions. ...
  8. Up the aromatics.
Aug 24, 2023

Does curry need coconut milk or cream? ›

Coconut milk and cream are mostly interchangeable in recipes such as curries and soups. If you prefer a richer flavour and texture, try coconut cream or vice versa. However, be careful when substituting coconut milk and cream in baked goods.

What makes curry great? ›

Garlic and ginger are maybe the most-loved ingredients in Indian cuisine. The combination of these two fragrant elements produce an aroma that is an integral part of the many Indian curry sauces, and adds a gorgeous depth and complexity to most of Indian cooking.

What gives curry its distinctive flavor? ›

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.

What is the most important spice in curry? ›

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.

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