Curry powder is a pleasant color mixture of several different, but interesting and useful seasonings. It is added to many dishes, both meat and vegetable. Traditionally, this spice is considered Indian, because it is in this country that curry is actively used in many dishes. But since the composition of this seasoning allows you to experiment, there appeared groups of spices from different countries, which are commonly called curries. Some contain spicy herbs, some contain mixtures of peppers. However, as with most products, curry has both beneficial properties and contraindications. So, it is better to know about the properties of this seasoning. In addition, with curry you can prepare many delicious and interesting dishes.
What is curry?
Curry powder itself got its name from a plant whose dried leaves were actively used as seasoning. However, their minus was that the essential oils contained in them were weathered too quickly, which made them unsuitable for long storage and transportation. According to another version, the word "curry" means "sauce." Therefore, from this spice, and make many dressings for dishes.
In India, every housewife can submit her recipe for curry powder. Of course, and taste shades will be different. However, there are elements that are necessarily present in the original seasoning. But it is worth noting that, due to the different amounts of ingredients, the spice always turns out to be slightly different. But it doesn’t bother anyone, because curry powder is tasty and healthy.
The original recipe for fragrant spices
What is part of curry powder? The original version includes only four ingredients:
- Turmeric. It can occupy fifty percent of the total mass of curry. What is her charm? Turmeric itself does not have a pronounced taste, but it allows other spices to open. It also has a pleasant red color and bright aroma. Therefore, no version of curry powder is complete without turmeric.
- Coriander. Dried cilantro seeds need to be finely crushed. This ingredient can take up to twenty percent of the total weight of curry. It has an interesting aroma and gives the powder a piquant sweetish flavor.
- Chilli. This spice is the smallest in the total mass of ingredients. Of course, it makes it hot, making curry more spicy.
- Fenugreek is the dried leaves of a shrub. They replace the original curry plant. Spices give a sweet taste.
It is worth considering that the composition of curry powder may be different, but it is these four ingredients that are constantly present.
Additions to the traditional recipe
What else can be put to this seasoning? There are a number of spices that reveal the taste of the dish. Most commonly used:
- Fenugreek seeds.
- Caraway seeds
- Cardamom - grains.
- Cinnamon sticks.
- Cloves.
- Ginger.
- Peppermint
- Basil.
- Different varieties of pepper.
Each of these elements can add something of its own to the seasoning. So, the European version suggests the presence of a large amount of black pepper, which makes curry more coarse. Asian options are softer, more intelligent, contain sour shades of taste.
How to make curry yourself?
To prepare the seasoning, you need to take all four elements, namely turmeric, fenugreek, chili pepper, coriander. The proportions may be different, but most of all turmeric, then comes the coriander, and the chili pepper closes the list.
All spices are slowly heated in a dry frying pan. After this, add a pinch of fresh turmeric and pepper, also a pinch of salt. All mixed in a mortar, knead. To make the mass more plastic, pour a spoonful of vegetable oil. The mixture prepared in this way is stored in glass jars for about two months, but always away from sunlight. Purchased spice can be stored for more than a year.
Curry classification: basic differences
Curry seasoning photos show that all spices are different not only in composition. But also in appearance. Therefore, industrial curry powders are usually classified according to a number of signs:
- Spice spice. They are divided into soft and burning. Directly depends on the amount of hot pepper.
- Application: to meat, fish, cereals.
- Color: dark and light, also depends on a number of auxiliary ingredients.
The beneficial properties of spices
What is the use of curry? Of course, all the properties of the powder directly depend on the ingredients. So, a mixture of four spices is perfect for those who want to normalize metabolism, eliminate swelling, get rid of body fat.
Thanks to turmeric, curry can be an excellent remedy for colds, for the prevention of a number of viral diseases. Turmeric also helps improve blood composition, which is important for anemic patients. Also, according to the assurances of a number of experts, curry, and in particular turmeric, helps in the prevention of cancer.
Coriander has a pronounced choleretic effect. It also helps improve digestion. In any case, curry helps lower cholesterol, improves tone and helps reduce weight.
In the homeland of this seasoning, it is often used as a remedy for rheumatism. It also improves the functioning of the respiratory tract. It is even recommended for asthma. And studies have shown that the systematic use of curry in dishes allows you to protect yourself from atherosclerosis.
Who should not eat curry
As expected, the harm of curry seasoning also exists. For example, you should not use it if you are allergic to any ingredient. It is also worth noting that you should not abuse curry powder during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Also, the properties of curry lead to a decrease in blood coagulability, that is, you should not use it before surgery or along with a number of medications.
Curry sauce: a quick way to cook
Curry powder-based sauces are often named for spices. However, all recipes are different from each other. The simplest contains the following ingredients:
- Two tablespoons of curry powder.
- One onion.
- A couple of cloves of garlic.
- A tablespoon of flour.
- One sour apple.
- 250 ml of broth.
- A teaspoon of mustard and lemon juice.
- Two tablespoons of cream.
- Four - olive oil.
This powder curry sauce is prepared quickly enough. It can be served with vegetable dishes or cereals, it will improve their taste, make the dish more harmonious.
Making Curry Sauce
For starters, olive oil is heated in a saucepan. Peel the onion and garlic. Finely cut. Sent to preheated oil and simmer over low heat for about five minutes. Pour flour, mix thoroughly and fry the ingredients for a couple of minutes.
Remove the mixture from the fire, add the broth, stir and add the curry powder. Mix thoroughly. They send everything back to the fire, bring it to a boil, reduce it to a minimum and simmer another five minutes.
The apple is peeled and peeled, rubbed on a fine grater, sent to the sauce, a minute later lemon juice and mustard. They simmer for another five minutes, pour in the cream, mix quickly and remove from the heat. The curry is hot.
Curry Cabbage: A Delicious Recipe
For this dish you need to take the following ingredients:
- 600 grams of cabbage.
- Pieces of five potatoes.
- Five heads of onions.
- A tablespoon of curry.
- A little vegetable oil.
- A glass of any broth.
- One hundred grams of tomato paste.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
Which dishes are most appropriate for curry seasoning? To the vegetable! Spice fully reveals the taste and aroma of vegetables, without interrupting it.
Cooking cabbage with spices
Oil is poured into a deep frying pan and heated. Onions are peeled and cut into thin rings. Send to fry in a pan. Curry seasoned in half the broth, sent to the onion and stewed for another ten minutes. Add finely chopped cabbage, keep as much under the lid.
Potatoes are peeled and cut into small cubes. In the remainder of the broth, tomato paste is bred. Send both ingredients to the cabbage and keep until ready. Salt at the very end.
A complex dish of vegetables
In fact, cooking this dish is quite simple. But it contains many ingredients, which allows it to be made independent, not requiring meat components. To prepare you need to take:
- Three glasses of chickpea.
- Two onion heads.
- Four potato tubers.
- A glass of green beans.
- A couple of carrots.
- One bell pepper.
- Hot pepper pod.
- Three cups of spinach.
- Tomatoes in their own juice - 400 grams.
- A tablespoon of curry.
- A teaspoon of grated fresh ginger.
- 400 ml of water.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
- A teaspoon of sugar.
- Olive oil.
To start, chickpeas should be left in the water overnight. This curry recipe is quite interesting and piquant. And due to the huge amount of ingredients it is not even noticeable that there is no meat in it.
Cooking Chickpeas with Curry
Peel and finely chop the onion. Carrots are also chopped into small cubes. Olive oil is heated over high heat and fry onions, carrots, chickpeas, green beans, and curry is added. Cook about seven minutes.
Chilli is finely cut, add it to the chickpea. Also put ginger, sugar, mix and fry for another minute. Potatoes are cut into small cubes. Also come with bell pepper, add everything to chickpeas and vegetables. Pour water and tomatoes in their own juice. Add salt and pepper to taste, cover and simmer for about six hours over low heat.
At the end, add spinach. You can pour in some coconut milk. They are waiting for the greens to go limp. When serving, curry is decorated with a slice of lemon.
Shrimp and Curry Soup
The use of curry seasoning is quite wide. For example, it is used in soups. For this recipe, you need to take the following ingredients:
- Three glasses of chicken stock.
- Three tablespoons of butter.
- A quarter cup of finely chopped onion.
- As much chopped celery.
- A tablespoon of curry.
- Three tablespoons of wheat flour.
- A little paprika.
- 250 grams of boiled shrimp.
- Half a glass of cream 10 percent fat.
- A tablespoon of tomato paste.
- 60 ml of brandy.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
How to cook curry soup?
In a pan put butter, melt it. Add onions and celery and stew for about five minutes. Their softness should be checked. Then add curry, flour and paprika. Pour the chicken stock in parts, stirring the dish.
When the soup boils, the fire is reduced to a minimum and cooked for fifteen minutes. Shrimp is added to the pan, leaving a few to decorate the soup. Pour cream, remove from heat. Using a blender, grind all the ingredients. Lay out the soup on portioned plates. A little brandy is poured into each, shrimps are laid out. You can also add a couple of feathers of green onions for decoration.
Curry is a seasoning consisting of a mixture of at least four spices, namely turmeric, coriander, chili and fenugreek leaves. You can prepare this mixture yourself, having acquired all the necessary components. However, most often it’s much easier to buy a finished version. Here you need to pay attention to the composition. It is best to take the classic version, that is, only with these ingredients. Since it’s easier then just add the necessary spices directly to the dish. It is also worth paying attention to the fact that there are no additives in the composition. Spices are perfectly stored without them.
Curry is not only the basis for the sauce of the same name, but also a tool that is excellent in its useful properties. It helps to normalize metabolism, fights colds, and also normalizes the digestive system. However, excessive use of seasoning can lead to poor blood coagulability, so it is better not to combine it with some medicines. Many fine dishes can be decorated with curries. So, the spice looks most advantageous with vegetables, giving them a brighter flavor, without losing their individuality. In any case, curry is the spice you need to have in your kitchen.