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    Home >> Indian

    Curry: History and Recipe

    Modified: Aug 25, 2021 · Published: Sep 6, 2015 by Analida · • Word count:584 words. • About 3 minutes to read this article. • This post may contain affiliate links ·

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    • 33
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    DIY: A really easy recipe to make your own curry powder and a history of curry.

    Curry is a delicious Asian seasoning with an interesting history, and multiple uses. Today I am sharing  my own curry blend. So, what prompted me to do this? After all, you can buy curry in the store, right? Well, I thought, I already make my own chili powder,  and garam masala why not make my own curry? It's that simple.

    A photo of a blue plate with the spices used to make curry.

    Jump to:
    • A spice blend
    • The oldest seasoning
    • Why is curry so gold?
    • A little curry lesson
    • Curry: History and Recipe

    A spice blend

    Varieties of curry differ from region to region not only in flavor, but also in color, pungency and aroma. The word curry is the anglicized version of the Tamil (oldest written Indian language) word kari, meaning stew.

    The oldest seasoning

    Curry is considered one of the world's oldest seasonings, with documented evidence of a  similar mixture being used in ancient Mesopotamia. Although curry is mostly associated with India, many other countries in the Asian continent have a multitude of curry dishes in their culinary repertoire.

    Thai food, for example, has many dishes that use red and or green curry. My daughter  travels extensively throughout Thailand and raves about the curries. Next summer I will be spending three weeks with her savoring all the wondrous curry dishes I have heard about, and can almost taste. I can't wait!

    A blue plate with spoon along with spices to make a curry powder blend.Why is curry so gold?

    Curry derives its intense golden hue from turmeric, similar to ginger. Buddhist monks use it to dye their robes. Formerly saffron was used for this purpose, but given its rising cost, turmeric was found to be an acceptable substitute. Tamil women dye their hands and soles of their feet with turmeric for wedding ceremonies.  This practice is akin to the use of henna by Middle Eastern women.

    A little curry lesson

    I recently received an extensive lesson on types of curries in Asia. How did they spread east? How do different countries enjoy curry given diet influenced by both religious and environmental constraints? My source for this wealth of information is a dear Japanese colleague who is an authority on Asian Studies and Cultures. "Did you know", my friend said  "that because the British introduced curry to Japan, the Japanese were, for a long time, under the impression that curry was a western dish?" I had no idea!

    Curry dishes in Northern India are very different from those in Southern India.  In Northern India, curry sauces are made with yogurt, whereas those in southern India use coconut milk. Why? Well, northern India is mountainous and developed largely as pastoral societies. Southern India, on the other hand, is mainly vegetarian and has an abundance of palm trees. Religious dietary laws also come into play.

    So, what are you waiting for? Get blending. And, of course feel free to add your own spin. That's what it's all about!

    Looking for more recipes?  
    Sign up for my free recipe newsletter to get new recipes in your inbox each week!  You can also find me sharing more inspiration in Pinterest and Facebook

    Make your own fresh curry powder recipe and a history of curry. | ethnicspoon.com

    Curry: History and Recipe

    Here is my homemade Indian or Asian style curry powder that I use in many recipes.  This will make about ¾ cup batch you can store in a glass jar in a cool dry place. 
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Spice blend
    Cuisine: Indian
    Keyword: DIY spice blend, homemade curry powder, how to make and blend curry powder, Indian spices
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12 servings
    Calories: 17kcal
    Author: Analida Braeger

    Ingredients

    • 4 Tbsp turmeric dry, ground
    • 3 Tbsp cumin
    • 1 Tbsp coriander ground
    • 1 Tbsp Kosher salt
    • 1 Tbsp ginger dry, ground
    • ½ Tbsp fenugreek
    • ½ Tbsp cayenne
    • ¼ tsp cloves ground
    • ¼ tsp cardamon ground
    • ¼ tsp nutmeg

    Instructions

    • Mix all ingredients in a glass jar.
    • Shake well.
    • Store in a cool dry place for up to 6 months.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 17kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Sodium: 585mg | Potassium: 98mg | Vitamin A: 120IU | Vitamin C: 1.7mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 2.2mg
    DIY: A really easy recipe to make your own curry powder and a history of curry.

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    1023 shares
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Denise Wright

      September 09, 2015 at 8:41 am

      How interesting! I'm almost out of my favorite curry so now I can make my own.

      Reply
      • Analida

        September 11, 2015 at 9:29 am

        Absolutely! Improvise too, that's the beauty of it.

        Reply
        • vasanthi

          June 17, 2019 at 2:18 pm

          Nutmeg, clove and Cardomam are part of Garam masala and never used in curry powder as these spices are considered hot and adds heat. Curry powder spices and not hot (Garam ) but give cooling effect to body. you could add 1 tsp fenugreek, Garlic, some lentils like toor Dal, Chana Dal and urad dal.

          Reply
    2. Michelle at A Dish of Daily Life

      September 09, 2015 at 11:06 pm

      I love this idea! I never thought about making my own curry...I need to try this!

      Reply
      • Analida

        September 11, 2015 at 9:32 am

        It's so easy! I am working on a series of DIY spice blends. Why buy it when you can make your own and customize it?

        Reply
    3. Ashley

      September 10, 2015 at 7:27 pm

      This is so neat! I didn't know about the Buddhist monks using turmeric to dye their robes! Thanks for sharing with us at the Merry Monday link party. I hope you'll join us again next week. Sharing your post on Twitter!

      Reply
      • Analida

        September 11, 2015 at 9:33 am

        Glad you liked the post Ashley!

        Reply
    4. Hasley

      July 23, 2018 at 11:43 am

      5 stars
      You just gave me the motivation to prepare my own curry, never thought about doing that previously, thanks a bunch.

      Reply
      • Analida

        July 23, 2018 at 7:33 pm

        Hi Hasley,
        The curry blend is so easy to make and you can make small batches to keep it fresh.

        Reply

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    Analida profile pictureI have been researching and creating ethnic recipes for over 20 years. I love to share "mostly healthy" easy and affordable ethnic recipes using fresh ingredients, with a bit of culture and food history sprinkled in.... Read more-->

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