Authentic Indian Curry Recipes

Chicken Recipes   

The word 'curry' is synonymous with Indian food! Even though, as popularly believed, not all Indian food is curry, there are some delicious examples of it in this varied, exotic cuisine. Here is just a small sampling of recipes for you to try in your own kitchen.

Chicken Curry

This most basic of chicken recipes is also one of the tastiest! Serve Chicken Curry with hot Chapatis (Indian flatbread) or plain boiled rice.

This most basic of chicken recipes is also one of the tastiest! Serve Chicken Curry with hot Chapatis (Indian flatbread) or plain boiled rice.

Ingredients:

• 1 kg chicken pieces of your choice, skin removed
• 2 large onions sliced thin
• 2 large tomatoes diced
• 2 tbsps garlic paste
• 1 tbsp ginger paste
• 2 tsps coriander powder
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp red chilli powder
• 2 tsps garam masala powder
• 4 tbsps vegetable/ canola/ sunflower cooking oil
• Chopped coriander to garnish

Preparation:

• Heat the oil in a pan and fry the onions till golden brown. Remove from the oil with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Turn off fire.
• Grind the onions into a smooth paste in a food processor. Remove into a separate container.
• Now grind the tomatoes, garlic and ginger pastes together into a smooth paste.
• Heat the remaining oil again and add the onion paste. Fry for 2-3 minutes. Now add the tomato paste and all the spices. Mix well.
• Fry the masala till the oil begins to separate from it.
• Add the chicken to the masala and brown well.
• Add 1 1/2 cup of hot water to the chicken, simmer and cover. Cook till the chicken is tender.
• Garnish with chopped coriander and serve with hot chapatis (Indian flatbread), Naans (tandoor-baked Indian flatbread) or plain boiled rice.

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Curry

Curry     

What Is Curry Powder?

Curry powder is a generic term for spice mixes used to flavor Indianor Southeast Asian cuisine. Although there is no standard recipe, the main components are usually cumin, coriander, and turmeric. Other common ingredients include: red or black pepper, mustard, ginger, clove, cardamom, bay leaf, and fenugreek. Commercial blends are often available in mild or hot (also known as “madras”).

Curry's Flavor

Curry has a unique flavor due to the combination of both savory and sweet spices. Savory spices like cumin, turmeric and bay leaf give the curry a deep, earthy flavor while sweet spices, like cinnamon and clove, add brightness and pep. The level of heat is determined by the type and amount of pepper used. Milder curry powders may include black pepper or ginger while hot curries usually contain red chilies or other hot peppers.

Cooking With Curry Powder

Curry powder is truly an all-purpose seasoning. It is commonly used to flavor soups, stews, sauces, marinades, meat and vegetables. As the popularity of curry increases, creative chefs are finding more unconventional uses for the seasoning such as hamburgers, scrambled eggs, and potato salad. Because of its vibrant flavor, curry powder can even be used as a salt-free table seasoning.

Availability of Curry Powder

In authentic Indian cuisine, whole curry spices are combined and ground just prior to use in order to retain freshness and potency. For convenience, pre-ground curry powder blends can be purchased although the flavor will not be as vibrant. Most grocery stores in the United States stock basic curry powders but they can be pricy and less than fresh. For a better value and increased freshness, look for ethnic markets. Not only will you find more varieties of curry powder but most also stock whole spices. For a customized flavor, purchase whole spices and grind them at home using a clean coffee grinder.

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