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Homemade Curry powder recipe with step-by-step photos and a video recipe. Curry powder is a simple blend of spices from British Indian cuisine used to imitate the flavor of Indian curries. Learn to make a quick and easy curry spice within 5 minutes with simple ingredients easily available at home.
Table of Contents
This simple homemade curry powder gives a beautiful aroma and flavor to your curries, soups, and stews. Making your own curry seasoning at home allows you to customize the flavors according to your preferences.
I used it to make Chicken Pathia. The aroma and flavors of this chicken curry were incredible. Love Indian curries, you may also like Chicken Korma, Mushroom Masala, and Restaurant Style Chicken Curry.
What is curry powder?
Curry powder originated as a pre-packaged spice blend designed to imitate the flavor of Indian curries. Initially, Indian merchants introduced it to British traders.
In Western culture, the term "curry" is a general descriptor for diverse Indian dishes made with various spice combinations. The saucy part associated with "curry" is derived from the Tamil word kari, which translates to 'sauce'.
Your homemade curries, stews, and other Indian recipes will taste much better with this simple curry blend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Curry Powder and Garam Masala the same?
No, they are not the same. They are two distinct spice blends commonly used in Indian cuisine.
Curry spice mix typically combines a variety of spices such as turmeric, cumin, coriander, cardamom, and chili powder. It is commonly used in Western cooking to add a flavor similar to Indian cuisine.
On the other hand, garam masala is a specific spice blend commonly used in traditional Indian cooking. It typically consists of spices like cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, cumin, mace, star anise, coriander, and black pepper.
Garam masala tends to have a more complex and intense flavor profile compared to curry powder.
Is Curry Powder Indian?
Found in Western markets, curry powder is a spice blend that is used to imitate Indian flavors in their curries.
There is no such concept that exists here in India. Every Indian curry is made with a different combination of spices.
The spice mix also differs depending on the location and availability of some spices. North Indian curry will taste differently than South Indian curry.
Also, the heat of the curry depends on every family’s personal taste and preferences. Thus, the spice mix that goes in a curry seasoning will differ depending on personal taste and preferences.
Making Indian Curry Powder from Scratch
You can make it from scratch using whole spices like we did in this Madras curry powder recipe. Gently toast the whole spices over low heat until they become aromatic. This process will extract the natural oils from the spices, resulting in a more aromatic and flavorful curry seasoning.
Let the roasted whole spices cool down to room temperature and then grind it to a fine powder. Believe me! Nothing beats the flavor and aroma of freshly ground spices. Check out these recipes that use freshly ground spices - Andhra Chicken Fry and Pepper Chicken.
Though preparing this from scratch is a time-consuming task, the spices are roasted on low heat until aromatic and then grind to a fine powder. But the aroma and flavors it gives to your curry is just amazing.
About this recipe
This recipe is quick, simple, and easy to make at home. Simply, combine powdered spices that are easily available in your kitchen pantry and your DIY curry powder is ready in no time. Trust me; you will love the aroma and flavor.
This homemade curry seasoning can be used in various recipes, such as curries, stews, and marinades, and even sprinkled over roasted vegetables or popcorn for a tasty twist.
The amount of curry seasoning to use in a dish depends on your taste, so feel free to experiment and adjust accordingly.
You may also like these other popular Indian curry recipes from this website:
- Chicken Korma
- Pressure Cooker Chicken Curry
- Mushroom Masala
- Garlic Chicken Curry
- Hyderabadi Chicken Masala
Why You Need This Recipe
- Quick and easy to make with simple ingredients easily available in the kitchen pantry. When you make it at home, you have full control over the quality and freshness of the ingredients.
- Fragrant & Versatile recipe - This recipe is so versatile that you can add or skip ingredients and adjust the recipe as per your taste and preference. You can use it to flavor any curry, stew, or soup.
- 5-minute recipe - It takes only 5 minutes and pantry staple ingredients to make this at home.
- Well Balanced flavor - This recipe is not too spicy. You can adjust the spices as per your taste by increasing or decreasing the quantity of black pepper and red chili powder. This is the dish that your whole family can enjoy including the kids.
- Gluten-free
Ingredients and Substitutions
You can easily get these spices in ground form. If you have whole spices, roast them until aromatic, let them cool down to room temperature, and then grind them in a spice grinder for maximum freshness.
- Coriander powder
- Cumin powder
- Turmeric powder
- Ground black pepper - If you do not like spicy dishes decrease the quantity of black pepper in your spice mix. Similarly, if you want to make it spicy, increase its quantity.
- Ground red chili powder - You can substitute it with Paprika. If you do not like spicy dishes decrease the quantity of red chili powder in your spice mix. Similarly, if you want to make it spicy, increase its quantity.
- Cinnamon powder
- Cardamom powder
- Ground ginger
For the detailed list of ingredients & their measurements, please check out the recipe card below.
How to make curry powder (Step by step instructions with photos)
- In a clean dry bowl, combine the ground coriander powder, cumin, turmeric, black pepper, red chili powder, cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger. Mix them well until evenly blended.
- Store it in an airtight container and keep it in a cool and dry place.
Cooking Tips
- You can either use pre-ground spices or grind whole spices yourself either in a mortar or pestle or spice grinder for a fresher flavor.
- You can adjust the proportions of each spice according to your taste preferences.
- Store it in a clean airtight container. Stays good for 3 months.
- I like to make it in small batches. You can easily double or triple the recipe to make a big batch.
- Use a clean dry spoon to take out the powder from the jar.
- If you have whole spices, toast them lightly in a dry skillet over medium-low heat. Toasting helps to enhance the flavors and aromas of the spices. Be careful not to burn them, as this can make the powder bitter.
- The amount of powder to use in a dish can vary depending on the desired level of spiciness and flavor, so feel free to adjust accordingly.
Storage Suggestions
- Transfer it to an airtight container.
- Make sure the container is completely dry before transferring the powder, and avoid using a wet spoon when handling it.
- Label the container properly with the date of preparation.
- Store it in a cool and dark place. It doesn't necessarily spoil, but will gradually lose its flavor over time. Use it within 3 months.
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Homemade Curry Powder Recipe
Homemade Curry powder recipe with step by step photos and a video recipe. Curry powder is a simple blend of spices from British Indian cuisine used to imitate the flavor of Indian curries. Learn to make a quick and easy curry seasoning within 5 minutes with simple ingredients easily available at home.
Course Seasoning
Cuisine British, British-Indian
Prep Time 5 minutes minutes
Total Time 5 minutes minutes
Servings 4 tablespoon
Author Preeti
Equipment
1 Clean dry bowl
1 Clean and dry spoon
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon ground coriander
- 1 tablespoon roasted ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground red chili
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
- 2 teaspoon ginger powder or ground ginger
Instructions
In a clean dry bowl, combine the ground coriander powder, cumin, turmeric, black pepper, red chili powder, cinnamon, cardamom and ginger. Mix them well until evenly blended.
Store it in an airtight container in the freezer. Stays good for 6 months.
Video
Notes
- You can either use pre-ground spices or grind whole spices yourself either in a mortar or pestle or spice grinder for a fresher flavor.
- You can adjust the proportions of each spice according to your taste preferences.
- Store it in a clean airtight container. Store it in a cool and dry place. Stays good for 3 months.
- I like to make it in small batches. You can easily double or triple the recipe to make a big batch.
- Use a clean dry spoon to take it out from the jar.
- If you have whole spices, toast them lightly in a dry skillet over medium-low heat. Toasting helps to enhance the flavors and aromas of the spices. Be careful not to burn them, as this can make them bitter.
- The amount of this curry spice mix to use in a dish can vary depending on the desired level of spiciness and flavor, so feel free to adjust accordingly.
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