Curry is one of the most popular dishes across the world and for good reason! It’s comforting, and tasty and can be served with your favourite sides to make a meal to remember. The great thing about curry is that there are so many different variations to choose from, meaning that there are options for all tastes and palettes!
If you are keen to make your own curry from home but can’t choose from all the different options available then we have the 5 most famous curry recipes for you to enjoy – take a look and get the inspiration you need!
Chicken Tikka
Many people assume that chicken tikka originated in India but this is not exactly true. In fact, the origins of tikka tend to be mixed between Indian butter chicken and a curry invention from the UK, made by the South Asian community. It first hit the curry houses of Britain in the 60s and was a massive hit as it offered high levels of taste but wasn’t as spicy as other curries that were on offer.
To make chicken tikka, you first marinate chunks of chicken in yoghurt and masala spices before cooking them off. Tikka can be served dry as a starter or placed in a tikka masala sauce as a main dish. There is a range of different masala options but chicken remains the most popular choice with diners who eat it with rice, naan or even chips.
Katsu Curry
Japanese food is another popular option, with many people enjoying the delicate flavours that each dish has to offer. Katsu curry is one of the most popular choices and is the combination of Katsu curry sauce, rice and a breaded and fried piece of meat or vegetable. Interestingly, whilst the breaded meat (tonkatsu) was first invented in Japan, the Katsu curry sauce was introduced to Japan by the British during the Meiji era.
To make Katsu curry sauce you will need to fry onion, garlic and ginger in a pan before adding flour, curry powder, turmeric, soy sauce and coconut milk to get a thick, tasty sauce. Once cooked, it is strained through a sieve to get a smooth finish and then served with freshly steamed rice and your breaded meat or vegetables.
Many people pour the sauce over the top of the dish but it can also be served on the side if you prefer to dip your food into it. The result of the sauce is a sweet and mild curry that is popular with people across the world.
Rogan Josh
Rogan Josh comes from Kashmir, India and is traditionally made with lamb or goat meat, although many people enjoy it with vegetables or other red meats. It is not overly spicy to eat but the heat that comes through is from Kashmiri chillies which are red and give the finished curry a deep red look that is incredibly appetizing.
To make a rogan josh curry, marinate your meat or vegetables in garlic, cardamon, cloves, ginger and cinnamon as well as yoghurt. Once marinated, braise the meat and vegetables to cook them through before putting them in the rogan josh sauce. Once ready, the rogan josh is served with rice, roti or dry sides such as naan or potatoes.
Thai Green Curry
If you want something sweet and hot then a Thai green curry is a great choice that is very popular in its home country of Thailand as well as the rest of the world! There are a number of different popular Thai curries, with their names deriving from the colour of the curry once it has been cooked. The Thai green is possibly the favourite because it has deep flavours and offers the heat of chillies that many of us love.
To make a Thai green curry sauce you will need green chillies, ginger, garlic, coconut milk and kaffir leaves, lemongrass, shallots and coriander. This sauce is then used to cook protein such as fish, meat or even vegetables to create an aromatic dish that is served with rice, noodles or roti.
If serving with rice, there should be other dishes to enjoy too, making a plate of different curries and sides. Rroti or noodles are the traditional accompaniments.
Vindaloo
The last recipe on our list is a vindaloo – a hot Indian curry that was fashioned from a spicy Portuguese dish. Vindaloo originated in Goa and traditionally uses marinated pork that is cooked in the vindaloo sauce. These days you can make vindaloo with any type of meat, vegetable or seafood of your choice, making it a popular dish for curry lovers.
To make your vindaloo at home you will need to marinate your chosen meat, fish or vegetables in a mix of spices, ginger, vinegar and sugar while you prepare the spicy sauce. Typical spices used in a vindaloo include cardamom, cumin, red chillis, cloves, coriander and cinnamon.
When you are ready to eat, simply cook off your marinaded items and then put them into the sauce to allow the flavour to develop and heat up. A vindaloo is typically served with freshly basmati rice or naan bread – but you can opt to add chips or even have a bit of everything if enjoying the curry with others.
Enjoy Curry for Your Next Meal
It’s clear that there are a wide range of curries on offer for you to choose from, meaning that you can be confident that you’ll be able to find a style that suits your taste.
The great thing about all of these curries is that they can be prepared for one or made for a large group, making them the ideal choice for gatherings when you want to spend your time enjoying company rather than standing in the kitchen all night. With so many choices to go for, it’s time that you add curry to your menu!