Curry powder
Expect a warm, earthy and aromatic flavour, but smell your own blend. Some lean towards fresh coriander notes, others towards cumin or the bitterness of fenugreek. A strong yellow colour tells you little about the amount of chilli. Read the ingredients rather than guessing from the colour.
AI-generated illustration.
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What is it?
Curry powder is a blend of spices, not a spice from a single plant. Turmeric, coriander and cumin are common ingredients; others may include fenugreek, pepper, ginger and chilli. The composition varies. The yellow powder is a starting point for flavour, not a recipe for every dish called curry.
«Expect a warm, earthy and aromatic flavour, but smell your own blend. Some lean towards fresh coriander notes, others towards cumin or the bitterness of fenugreek. A strong yellow colour tells you little about the amount of chilli. Read the ingredients rather than guessing from the colour.»
Background
Here, curry powder means a dry spice blend. Curry also describes many different dishes and cooking traditions. A separate series can explore these without squeezing them into the same spice jar.
Flavour profile
Expect a warm, earthy and aromatic flavour, but smell your own blend. Some lean towards fresh coriander notes, others towards cumin or the bitterness of fenugreek. A strong yellow colour tells you little about the amount of chilli. Read the ingredients rather than guessing from the colour.
Pairs well with
Try curry powder in chicken soup, lentil stew, cauliflower, roast potatoes or a simple sauce for fish. A small pinch in scrambled eggs or a cold dressing is also worth trying. Choose one dish first to learn how your particular blend tastes.
Soften onion in olive oil before stirring in the curry powder over a lower heat. Warm it briefly until fragrant, with the liquid ready before it darkens. Start cautiously, especially with an unfamiliar blend. More yellow does not always mean better flavour.
Did you know?
Curry leaves come from a separate plant: Bergera koenigii, also known as Murraya koenigii. The leaves are an ingredient in their own right. Curry powder is not simply made by grinding these leaves.
Common mistakes
Sprinkling dry powder straight over a finished dinner can give a raw, dusty impression. Frying it hard in an almost dry pan can create bitterness. Another mistake is to change brands and expect exactly the same flavour from the same spoonful.
Know the difference
Curry powder is dry. Thai curry paste is a moist flavour base that may contain chilli, garlic, lemongrass and other aromatics. They cannot be exchanged spoon for spoon to produce the same dish. Use the paste specified in our Thai red curry recipe.
A little spice knowledge
A manufacturer's curry powder may list both coriander and fenugreek before turmeric. The name therefore tells you less than the ingredients on the back. Compare two jars before choosing a favourite.
Works well with
Ginger, garlic, chilli, cumin, coriander seeds and black pepper. Check what the blend already contains before adding more. For freshness, try a little lemon or lime in the finished dish rather than another spoonful of powder.
Sapidus’ favourite partners
Onion, cauliflower and lentils are good ingredients for getting to know a blend. Make a simple base and taste before adding more. Coconut milk or yoghurt can add body, but neither is an obligatory companion to curry powder.
Never combine with?
There is no absolute forbidden list. Curry powder does set a clear direction, though, and can overwhelm a delicate fish stock or a sauce intended to stay clean and herbal. Do not add it simply because a dish seems dull: first check salt, acidity and concentration.
Storage
Store tightly closed, dark and dry, away from steam from the cooker. Pour a little into a spoon instead of shaking the jar over the pan. Smell the powder before use. Buy an amount you can get to know while its aroma is still clear.
Try it yourself
Make two small portions of cauliflower soup with equal amounts of two different curry blends. Compare aroma, heat and bitterness. This is a suggestion for your own exploration, not a reported Sapidus test.
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