Indian is a great cuisine to be able to tackle at home; it’s varied, flavoursome, and extremely nourishing. There are hundreds of different styles of curries and side dishes, many options for those with differing dietary requirements, and more flavours than you could ever imagine! Curries can be simple or complicated, they can be made quickly for a family dinner or slow-cooked throughout the day for a feast. There are a few key steps to remember when it comes to making a curry, but the best part is that you have the freedom to play around with flavours and ingredients to cater to personal preferences. Curries can be hot, mild, made with lots of sauce or quite dry.
So, what are the most important steps to remember when it comes to making an authentic Indian curry?
Build a flavour foundation
Curries always start with the spices, which usually come in the form of a curry powder or paste. Whether you purchase a readymade paste or create your own, most will include cumin seeds, coriander seeds, fenugreek, ginger, garlic and cardamom – to name a few! Start by choosing or building a curry powder, and then decide how spicy or mild you want your curry. To add chilli, you can use powder, paste, chilli sauce or a whole chilli or two; just make sure you know how hot you can handle it.
Build a deep flavour
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. It’s best to use fresh versions of each of these ingredients, and they will then start off your cooking alongside some oil (ghee is great, olive oil also works). Pop them in the pan and sauté until the onion is translucent, and your kitchen is fragrant. Then add the curry powder and start building on the body of your curry.
Decide on the body and sauce
Each curry will have a base ingredient; whether it’s a type of meat, a group of vegetables, fish, or seafood. This goes in the pan next, and is sealed or cooked for a few minutes with the onion, garlic, ginger and curry powder. Then, depending on what kind of curry you want to cook, you create the sauce. If you want something mild you might go for a korma or butter chicken, which you would use ingredients like yoghurt, cream and tomato puree for. Madras, rogan josh and vindaloo are more tomato based, and curries like vindaloo require lots of spice and chilli paste.
And there you have it, the three major steps to creating a delicious authentic curry! Don’t forget to use fresh ingredients, and think about cooking with leftover meats; it can create a delicious and unique flavour. Or, if you don’t have the time or inclination to make your own beautiful curry, why not head out for Indian food in Perth? Royal India in West Perth have anextensive menuto dine in and takeaway.
FAQs
Build a deep flavour
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 makes Indian curry taste authentic? ›
Indian curry is typically made with a combination of warm and fragrant spices, such as cumin, coriander, turmeric, and cinnamon. These spices provide the foundation for the dish, and are typically toasted in oil or ghee to bring out their flavors and aromas.
How do you make curry taste more authentic? ›
Curry: you're cooking it all wrong
- Make your curry the day before. ...
- Use ghee. ...
- Take your time with the onions. ...
- Use whole spices and grind them yourself. ...
- Toast your spices first. ...
- Add garam masala towards the end of your cooking. ...
- Use large chunks of meat and fish in your curry. ...
- And, finally, don't skimp on condiments!
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 you add depth to Indian curry? ›
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.
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 spice makes Indian food taste like Indian food? ›
Different Types of Spices Used in Indian Cuisine
Mustard seeds, black pepper, and asafoetida or heeng also help lend their signature tastes to quite a few classical preparations like dal tadka or sambhar.
Why does my Indian curry taste bland? ›
Curries can be bland if you haven't used enough of the base aromatics of garlic, ginger, and onion. The onion should be caramelized in oil until well browned and flavorful. Spices should not be old enough to lose potency and preferably should be toasted and ground yourself.
What does West Indian curry taste like? ›
West Indian Curry Powder, West Indies Curry Powder or Jamaican Curry Powder, is a sweet, citrusy spice mix with peppery notes.
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.
Asafetida (also spelled asafoetida) is known for its funky, umami-packed flavors and strong aroma. The spice is a resin extracted from ferula root, a relative of celery and carrot. What is this? This spice is critical to the distinctive, complex flavor of many Indian dishes.
What is the most important ingredient in curry? ›
❤️💯The key ingredient in most Indian curries is a blend of spices known as "masala" or "curry powder". While the specific blend of spices can vary depending on the region and the dish, typical ingredients include turmeric, cumin, coriander, ginger, garlic, and chili peppers.
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.
What are the 5 spices in a curry? ›
The Essential Five Spices are:
- Cumin seeds.
- Coriander seeds.
- Black mustard seeds.
- Cayenne pepper.
- Turmeric.
You don't add spices, you cook spices
The spices should sizzle on hitting the oil but not burn – a medium-high heat usually does the trick. This releases the natural oils from the spices and with it comes the depth of flavour and aroma that you are looking for.
What makes Indian curry so red? ›
You don't need it to make deliciously tasting Indian chicken, tofu, or whatever. Instead, use the blend below, which gets it beautiful hue from red chiles, paprika, and turmeric. And always remember, these masalas (spice blends) differ depending on your preferences.
