What Is Curry Powder? A Complete Information to the Spice Mix That Spans Cultures

Once I first started experimenting within the kitchen as a child, the very first thing I took word of when opening the spice cupboard was a big container of an earthy yellow powder, typically spilled and marking the cabinets. This seasoning mix was very acquainted to me, because it was one thing  I often watched my mother generously sprinkle into her spicy hen and coconut shrimp stews. 

Many individuals take delight in utilizing curry powder of their cuisines—from my Haitian household sprinkling it in hen dishes to my Bermudian aspect’s inclusion of the mix in inexperienced banana and shrimp stew. The pulverized combination of floor spices, aromatics, and typically thickening brokers is just not solely a staple in Caribbean American households like my very own but additionally throughout Asian, African, and Latin American cuisines.

To actually uncover the myriad methods wherein many South American, Caribbean, African, South Asian, and East Asian communities use curry powder of their dishes, I spoke with a number of meals consultants, together with Devan Rajkumar, a Guyanese cookbook writer; Leela Punyaratabandhu, a Thai-American cookbook writer; Michelle and Suzanne Rousseau, Jamaican cookbook authors; Pailin Chongchitnant, a Thai cookbook writer; Rie McClenny, a Japanese cookbook writer; Romy Gill, a British-Indian cookbook writer; and Tomi Makanjuola, a British-Nigerian cookbook writer. We mentioned how this seasoning mix seems in trendy Guyanese, Thai, Jamaican, Japanese, Indian, and Nigerian cooking.

Curry Powder Controversy

Earlier than we dive into the makes use of of curry powder in numerous cuisines, it is worthwhile to know a bit in regards to the sophisticated historical past of powder and its connection to colonialism. In An Invitation to Indian Cooking, cookbook writer Madhur Jaffrey calls the time period “curry” degrading. She says that relating to curry powder, “the British are answerable for its creation.” By the 1850s, concurrently whereas British colonizers continued to ravage India’s thriving tradition and economic system, British cookbooks began counting on a spoonful of curry powder in a lot of their dishes, in line with Curry: A Story of Cooks and Conquerers, Lizzie Collingham. This pulverized turmeric-heavy combine, which included spices like coriander seed, cumin, fenugreek, and cayenne, rose as a method to scale back India’s huge cuisines—yep, we’re speaking the subcontinent’s regional flavors and cooking methods—right into a sprinkable all-purpose substance. 

Curry powder’s connection to colonialism and the subjugation of Black, Brown, and Asian individuals has led many, together with culinary consultants like Jaffrey and Amirah Islam, a Prime Chef Amateurs winner and meals historian, to ask whether or not curry powder nonetheless serves a goal or deserves a spot in trendy kitchens. However for a lot of communities, it’s just a little extra sophisticated than simply dumping curry powders for good—particularly now that numerous cooks from so many alternative international locations use the spice mix of their cuisines. Right this moment, you’ll discover Trinidadian individuals sprinkling the yellow stuff in channa and Jamaicans folding the turmeric-heavy combination in suet doughs for patties. You might also discover it displaying up in Thai dishes like curry puffs or Japanese staples like fried rice.

What Is Curry Powder?

“The Western idea of curry powder got here from the British who took the concept of ‘spice blends’ they found throughout the colonization of India, and created a mix of their very own,” says Chongchitnant, writer of Sizzling Thai Kitchen: Demystifying Thai Delicacies with Genuine Recipes to Make at Dwelling. Within the nineteenth century, British colonization continued to ravage India’s thriving tradition and economic system. Consequently, these degrading methods pressured many individuals from the subcontinent to go away their houses and search indentured labor in unfamiliar components of the world, which have been concurrently dealing with their very own ranges of white imperial management. Throughout these intervals of pressured migration, English-produced canisters crammed with curry powder infiltrated the markets of many African, Caribbean, South American, and Asian international locations, to call just a few. 

Nonetheless, through the years, this mix has transcended its bleak origins and utilization, and varied iterations of curry powder present up in cuisines across the globe. Although formulation range, the mix usually contains floor spices like turmeric and coriander, aromatics like dehydrated garlic and onion, and typically thickening brokers like rice or chickpea flour, which promote a hearty texture in stews. “[I grew] up with a spoon of curry in my mouth my complete life and consuming it throughout all our meals,” says Rajkumar, writer of Mad Love: Huge Flavors Made to Share, from South Asia to the West Indies. He factors out just a few elements that traditionally are all the time current within the combination, “I’d say turmeric, coriander, cumin, fenugreek, mustard, and black pepper [are typically found in the spice blend].”

Kinds of Curry Powder and The place to Discover Them

Curry powder is available in a spread of shades, from vibrant yellow to deep orange and wealthy brown, explains Suzanne Rousseau, the co-author of Provisions: The Roots of Caribbean Cooking. Its flavors range broadly—some are so spicy that you simply solely want a small spoonful, whereas others are delicately floral, with aromas that fill the air as quickly as you open the package deal. Yow will discover curry powder in shops and on-line offered in cartons, cans, jars, or baggage (significantly in Caribbean, East Asian, Southeast Asian, South American, and West African markets). Under is a small sampling—the record might go on and on since there are such a lot of sorts!—of curry powder manufacturers from completely different areas, together with their taste profiles and ingredient make-up. “However remember the fact that each model has a special recipe,” Chongchitnant factors out, so that you’ll wish to pattern just a few to search out the most effective one for every dish that you simply’re planning to make.

Asian Curry Powders

Hand No. 1 Curry Powder

Elements: Turmeric, Coriander, Fenugreek, Wheat Flour, Salt, Cumin, Fennel, Chile, Black Pepper, Mustard Seed 
Taste profile: Earthy

Waugh’s Curry Powder

Elements: Coriander, Cumin, Turmeric, Fenugreek, Mustard Seeds, Black Pepper, Crimson Chili Powder, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Cloves
Taste profile: Citrusy, floral, earthy

S&B Curry Powder

Elements: Turmeric, Coriander, Fenugreek, Cumin, Orange Peel, Black Pepper, Chili Pepper, Cinnamon, Fennel, Ginger, Star Anise, Thyme, Bay Leaves, Cloves, Nutmeg, Sage, Cardamom
Taste profile: Earthy, subtly spicy

African Curry Powders

Lion Curry Powder

Elements: Coriander, Turmeric, Fenugreek, Mustard, Rice Flour, Cumin, Salt, Ginger, Cayenne Pepper, Nutmeg, Fennel
Taste profile: Citrusy, earthy, subtly spicy

Ducros Curry Powder

Elements: Turmeric, Coriander, Cumin, Fenugreek, Black Pepper, Ginger, Mustard, Fennel, Allspice, Crimson Pepper
Taste profile: Floral, earthy

South American and Caribbean Curry Powders

Lalah’s Madras Curry Powder

Elements: Coriander, Chiles, Black Pepper, Cumin, Mustard Powder, Fenugreek, Garlic, Turmeric, Salt, Bengal Gram Farina
Taste profile: Earthy, citrusy, subtly spicy

Chief Curry Powder

Elements: Coriander, Turmeric, Cumin, Fenugreek, Salt, Fennel, Chiles
Taste profile: Citrusy, earthy, floral

Chief Sizzling and Spicy Curry Powder

Elements: Coriander, Turmeric, Cumin, Fenugreek, Black Cumin, Star Anise, Chiles, Salt
Taste profile: Citrusy, floral, spicy

Baron Curry Powder

Elements: Coriander, Turmeric, Fennel, White Cumin, Fenugreek, Masala, Corn Starch, Mustard Powder, Black Cumin, Chilli Pepper, Garlic, Onion, Ginger
Taste profile: Citrusy, subtly candy, floral, spicy, earthy

Guyanese Satisfaction Curry Powder

Elements: Coriander, Turmeric, Cumin, Poppyseeds, Cardamom, Black Pepper, Chiles, Ginger, Chickpea Flour, Salt, Cardamom
Taste profile: Citrus, earthy, spicy

Maywah Curry Powder

Elements: Coriander, Chiles, Black Pepper, Cumin, Mustard, Fenugreek, Garlic, Turmeric, Salt, Bengal Gram Farina
Taste profile: Citrusy, earthy

Grace Delicate Curry Powder

Elements: Turmeric, Fenugreek, Coriander, Cumin, Star Anise, Pepper, Pimento, Cloves, Garlic
Taste profile: Subtly candy, floral, earthy

Grace Sizzling Curry Powder

Elements: Turmeric, Salt, Dehydrated Garlic, Dehydrated Onion, Crimson Pepper, Cumin, Coriander, Allspice, Fenugreek
Taste profile: Subtly candy, floral, earthy, spicy

Island Spice Curry Powder

Elements: Turmeric, Black Pepper, Coriander, Fenugreek, Cumin, Crimson Pepper, Ginger, Cloves
Taste profile: Citrusy, floral, earthy, spicy

How one can Retailer Curry Powder

Whether or not you’ve returned from a visit overseas or simply out of your native specialty spice store and eventually obtained your palms on a really particular curry powder, you would possibly really feel tempted to make use of it sparingly over just a few years. Nonetheless, Rajkumar recommends utilizing it earlier than its freshness diminishes. He explains that spice blends like curry powder can lose taste over time, so storing it in an hermetic container in a cool, darkish, dry spot will lengthen its shelf life and preserve its aromas potent. We suggest utilizing floor spices inside a yr of buying. Punyaratabandhu, writer of Bangkok: Recipes and Tales from the Coronary heart of Thailand, notes you’ll be able to preserve your curry powder within the freezer to assist preserve its freshness—simply be certain it is tightly sealed to forestall it from absorbing moisture and odors.

How one can Cook dinner With Curry Powder

Under are just a few examples of how cooks and meals consultants—representing Guyana, Thailand, Jamaica, Japan, India, and Nigeria—incorporate curry powder into their dishes.

Curry Powder in Jamaican Dishes

To finesse a wealthy, fragrant Jamaican curry, a beneficiant quantity of curry powder is important, whether or not braising hen, goat, fish, conch, chickpeas, or an Ital stew with pumpkin and plantains. The spice mix started showing on the island within the nineteenth century, when Indian indentured laborers migrated to Jamaica. The Jamaican-born Rousseau sisters, authors of Caribbean Potluck: Fashionable Recipes from Our Household Kitchen, clarify that cooks on the island typically use seasoning manufacturers like Grace Sizzling Curry Powder as a marinade. Suzanne notes you could let your protein sit on this spice mix for hours, and even in a single day, earlier than browning and stewing it with greens, aromatics, and coconut milk. This technique permits for elements like oxtail or goat to attain higher moisture retention and are available out tender and juicy. 

Michelle factors out that curry powder can also be a key ingredient in cultural gems like Jamaican patties, wherein the seasoning will get woven into the pastry’s buttery crust earlier than being filled with fillings like curry hen or lobster. And in the event you go to a roadside seafood restaurant in Jamaica, Michelle says, you’ll additionally discover grilled shrimp or lobster marinated within the turmeric-based mix.

Curry Powder in Japanese Dishes

Curry powder was launched to Japan within the nineteenth century throughout the Meiji Restoration, in line with Curry: A Story of Cooks and Conquerers by Lizzie Collingham, when the nation was pressured to signal commerce treaties with Europe and the US. Right this moment, McClenny, the writer of Make It Japanese, typically grinds her personal spice blends from scratch—besides relating to S&B Curry Powder, which she calls the “OG.” “When writing my cookbook, I wished to incorporate Japanese curry,” she says. “I attempted to imitate the S&B curry powder, however I couldn’t.” She explains that the great thing about curry powder lies in its comfort. Not everybody has time to open up “30 jars of spices”—or supply orange peels, that are included within the S&B model’s combination—to create a mix. As an alternative of grinding up a bunch of spices, “You may simply sprinkle it,” she says. In Japanese delicacies, curry powder is crucial in dishes like curry stew, curry udon, and curry bread. The Japanese-born prepare dinner particulars making curry bread, which includes wrapping dough round a scoop of Japanese curry stew, coating it in panko, and frying it till crispy. “And I bear in mind my mother used [curry powder] for fried rice, only a sprinkle,” she says. “I’ve additionally seen individuals use it for potato salad.”

Curry Powder in Nigerian Dishes

Although it wasn’t till the nineteenth century colonial period, when British colonizers plagued Nigeria, that curry powder made its method into the nation, in line with Curry: A International Historical past by Colleen Taylor Sen, the powder figures into many now-classic Nigerian dishes. “With Nigerian dishes, we have a tendency to simply add the curry powder in the identical step that you’d add dried-up spices, the salt, or different seasonings,” Makanjuola, writer of the cookbook Vegan Nigerian Kitchen, says. The Nigerian-born chef remembers watching her mother sprinkle Lion’s curry powder right into a pot with hen and beef bones to complement the flavour of the inventory, which she would then use as a taste booster for a lot of dishes, like rice and sautéed greens. She additionally factors out that one of many West African nation’s most iconic dishes, jollof rice, contains curry powder. The turmeric-rich mix offers Nigerian fried rice its signature vibrant yellow hue and aromatic taste, too. Curry powder additionally enhances the savoriness of conventional dishes like Nigerian egg sauce and crimson pepper sauce.

African

Obe Ata (Nigerian Crimson Pepper Sauce)

Curry Powder in Thai Dishes 

“There is no such thing as a such factor as Thai curry powder,” Chongchitnant explains, noting that curry powder is just not a conventional Thai ingredient. “I’d classify all of them as a part of trendy Thai cooking,” she says, including that Thai delicacies historically depends extra on contemporary herbs and aromatics that create the muse of Thai curry pastes that present up in lots of dishes like stir-fries and soups.

The curry spice mix didn’t even contact down within the nation till the nineteenth century, in line with Sen’s ebook, when British colonizers introduced the pre-made spice mix with them to Southeast Asia. The favored curry powder manufacturers that grew to become well-known in Thailand over time are Waugh’s and S&B, that are produced in Thailand and Japan, respectively. Regardless of its late arrival to the nation, curry powder figures into a number of Thai dishes. You’ll usually discover this seasoning in dishes like curry crab stir fry, Chongchitnant says. Punyaratabandhu provides that curry powder can also be utilized in dishes like curry puffs, a preferred Thai snack, and fried pineapple rice.

Curry Powder in Guyanese Dishes

In Guyana, you’ll discover cooks and residential cooks tossing curry powder in lots of comforting dishes like beef and breadnut stew. One of the standard varieties, Madras curry powder—which varieties the flavour base of this curry hen salad recipe—presents a glimpse into the results of colonialism. Madras, town now often called Chennai, was traditionally a key British extraction hub in India throughout the colonial period. The spice mix initially landed in Guyana within the nineteenth century, when Indian indentured laborers migrated to the nation.

Oxtail

Guyanese Pepperpot

prepare dinner time:


2 hrs 35 minutes

serves:


4

Right this moment, cooks and residential cooks throughout Guyana use curry powder in varied dishes, particularly stews reminiscent of hen, duck, Gilbaka fish, breadnut, cassava, channa, cauliflower, and beef pepperpot. Rajkumar notes that when cooking stews, many of us on the island toast aromatics like garlic and onions first, then make a paste by mixing the curry powder with water to be able to assist the curry powder seep into the dish rapidly, earlier than including it to the pot together with proteins and greens.

Curry Powder in Indian Dishes

Whereas we will credit score India for its ingenuity and culinary finesse round creating a number of the most dynamic and flavorful spice blends, Gill, chef and writer of Romy Gill’s India: Recipes from Dwelling, urges individuals to do away with the time period curry powder and name it what it’s: a spice mix. The phrase “curry powder” began displaying up in British cookbooks within the 1850s, in line with Collingham’s ebook, nevertheless it’s an inaccurate identify. “Indian delicacies is so regional,” Gill affirms. There are not any similarities between a garam masala—a typical Northern Indian spice mix utilized in dishes like cauliflower sabzi and aloo tikki—from Punjab or Bengal. “Each state has its personal strategies and methods of mixing the spices and making a spice mix.”

The Takeaway

Whereas it might take time for international views towards “curry powder” to shift, all of us have the chance as meals lovers to assist rewrite its narrative—acknowledging its colonial previous whereas embracing its evolution. Black, Brown, and Asian communities, who endured the violence and devastation of imperialism, are reclaiming curry powder and utilizing it to create dishes that may proceed to be integral to their cultures for generations. In Guyana, cooks add the spice mix to duck stews, whereas in Nigeria, they combine it into jollof rice, reinventing the seasoning in progressive methods. Impressed by Indian culinary traditions, at present, cooks, residence cooks, and native spice companies craft their very own blends with particular ingredient ratios boasting completely different taste profiles. What was as soon as a consequence of colonial appropriation is now an creative staple, because of the kitchen knowledge of Black, Brown, and Asian cooks.