How to Get the Best of Your Curry Powder? 

Cooking with curry powder is an excellent option for multiple reasons. It is not fussy, but flexible with ingredients and simply delicious. Indeed, dishes prepared with curry powder are sublime and sure to tingle those tastebuds.

In the world of spice blends, the curry powder is probably the finest and the most complicated. Despite being a prominent taste in global cooking, it has remained an enigma for even the most knowledgeable spice users. What do you visualise when you listen to the word curry? It can be a spice blend, a kind of leaf, or a category of dishes. But for most people, the term curry is connected to an extraordinarily flavourful powder

What Is A Curry Powder Made From?

Curry powder can be a host of different things. Put simply; it is a bunch of spices that are blended together. The difference in the blend is what makes every curry recipe different. So, a beef Madras curry recipe is entirely different from a Thai curry. Depending on the spice combination, the curry recipe varies widely from kitchen to kitchen, region to region, and from chef to chef.

Nevertheless, the complex mix of curry powder can include anywhere between 10 to 20 different herbs and spices. The spices include coriander, turmeric, cumin, sesame seeds, nutmeg, saffron, cloves, fennel, tamarind, chillies, cardamom, cinnamon and more. Although associated with Indian cooking, the curry powder is embraced by several countries as an integral part of their cuisine.

Imagine tasting a delicious Indian dahl recipe using the finest curry powder. How do you extract the best taste? By merely blending the curry powder with a liquid before adding it to the dish. This technique will allow the spices to infuse into the dish fully. Options for liquids can include coconut milk, stock, or yogurt.

Cooking a recipe with curry powder is not a race. So, your Indian dahl recipe is best cooked slowly with the spices releasing their flavours over time. An exception to this case would be when you use curry powder as a dry rub.

Add Other Complements

Undoubtedly, adding a quality curry powder to your beef Madras curry recipe will release the best flavours to your meal. Yet, it always pays to add a strong supporting cast for enhancing the delicacy of your meal. Garlic and sweet onions in butter, ghee, or oil with curry powder can truly create wonders.

Turmeric is the primary ingredient of any curry powder. It is responsible for delivering the bright yellow colour to your recipe. Turmeric concentration in curry powders may sometimes vary significantly. Curry powder with a high concentration of turmeric tends to become bland. So, your curry powder needs to have the right mix of turmeric along with other spices. This way, you get a flavourful blend of spices that infuse perfectly with your curry recipe.  

Now that you know how delicious your curry recipe can be, you will be tempted to add a spoonful more. But, going overboard with curry powder may add too much of a spicy touch to your dish. So, your curry recipe may become overly bitter, hot, or completely inedible.

Ground spice mixes must be stored in airtight containers and kept in a dry and cool place. This is necessary because the spices in your curry powder tend to degrade faster when exposed to air and sunlight. Depending on how you store, your curry powder may last up to six months. Proper storage will also help to preserve its aroma and flavours for a longer time.

In a nutshell, curry powder is one versatile mix that has become a staple kitchen ingredient. This unique spice mix renders a flavourful punch and makes for a compulsory addition for a myriad of dishes.

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