We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING
Hello Forumites! However well-intentioned, for the safety of other users we ask that you refrain from seeking or offering medical advice. This includes recommendations for medicines, procedures or over-the-counter remedies. Posts or threads found to be in breach of this rule will be removed.📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Spices for Curries
old-fashioned-girl
Posts: 19 Forumite
Hi everyone,
Hope it is ok posting this here.
I want to make up a Christmas present for someone who wants to get into making curries at home but I have no clue as I don't really eat anything but Korma!
Also spices are quite expensive so I don't want to buy ones that won't be used and I am trying to cut down on waste and really do personalise presents for Christmas rather than just ready made gift sets.
What would you say are the key spices for Indian curries?
Thank you!
Hope it is ok posting this here.
I want to make up a Christmas present for someone who wants to get into making curries at home but I have no clue as I don't really eat anything but Korma!
Also spices are quite expensive so I don't want to buy ones that won't be used and I am trying to cut down on waste and really do personalise presents for Christmas rather than just ready made gift sets.
What would you say are the key spices for Indian curries?
Thank you!
0
Comments
-
Good morning Old Fashion Girl & welcome.
I use garam masala, cumin & turmeric for the bases of my curries, lots of garlic, chillies, tom pur!e & tinned toms.
As I'm not making them too often, I pick up all these ingredients in Aldi quite cheaply .... 49p for the spices I think.
I'm pretty sure if you can buy the spices in bulk at markets.
Sorry for the short post but I'm on my phone!0 -
If you were making for a few people, you could buy the spices and make your own curry spice mix with a little from each jar.
Just for one person youll be spending a bit more but they arent too expensive.
Not in any order, I would say:
Garam Masala
Chilli Powder
Turmeric
Paprika
Smoked Paprika
Ground Coriandar
Coriandar Seeds
Cumin Seeds
Whole Black Peppercorns
(for the truly lazy you can also throw in Garlic Powder and Onion Powder too)
Obviously things like fresh garlic, onions, ginger and tinned toms will also be used but you shouldn't be buying those aswell.
Im sure people will be along with more or to shoot me down but these are the ones that generally go into all the curries I make. Things like Fenugreek, Almonds, Coconut etc go in a few different curries but not all.Borrowed - £148000 June 2013
Original MF Date - May 2038
Aiming For - March 2031 (At Latest!)
Overpaid - £490.00
Daily Interest - [STRIKE]£18.16[/STRIKE] £18.090 -
My curry box has
Whole and ground Cumin
Whole and ground Coriander
Cinnamon sticks
Tumeric
Whole black peppercorns
Fenugreek
Curry leaves
Cloves
Paprika
Whole and ground Hot chillies
I buy from an Asian supermarket. The small bags are around 70p each0 -
I did something similar for my brother many years ago.
As I use the big packets of spice I got some jars from Ikea with screw lids and decanted spices into them and then personalised the labels.
As an extra I added some balti dishes for serving and an Indian cookery book.
Hope this helps0 -
Mine has all of the above but Garam Masala as well. I usually pick up my spices in India but have not been for 2 years so now get on ebay.0
-
Don't buy the little jars of spices in the supermarkets as they work out expensive that way.
A lot of supermarkets have "world food" aisles where they sell spices in bags. Alternatively, if you have any ethnic shops nearby, you can get them cheaper there.0 -
In very rough order of how much I use them in Indian/Pakistani cookery, my spice cupboard contains these.
Ground cumin
Ground coriander
Cumin seeds
Coriander seeds
Turmeric
Chilli powder
Asafoetida
Curry leaves
Fenugreek (ground, seeds or leaves - I'd never get through all 3)
Black mustard or onion seeds (aka nigella or kalonji)
Cardamon
Cloves
Yellow mustard seeds
Garam masala
Mango powder (amchur)
Cinnamon
Tamarind paste
Caraway
Fennel
I definitely second the idea of buying bags of the spices from an Asian supermarket if you can, and decanting them into little jars.Saving for deposit: Finished! :j
House buying: Finished!
Next task: Lots and lots of DIY0 -
Most of the above, but we do toe nail onion Mushroom CorBlimeyMore. Add mushrooms instead of chicken, and onions, well, you chop them like toe nails.
But our magic ingredient is Bart Coconut block. Use this for sauce, in same pan as you make the curry, add 1 block and water to smooth. Yous never buy that tonite sauce again, so last century!0 -
If your budget will stretch it would be nice to get a pestle & mortar to go along with the spices. Ikea do a half decent one. LINK or they turn up very often in charity shops, often brand new. Just make sure you get a good heavy one, not a pretty wooden one.0
-
Poundstrecher sell some nice little jars too. Buy enough for two people if you buy the packets from an Asian shop the smallest half fill a jam jar. Just put it in a nice basket tie with a ribbon and don't forget a wooden spoon.0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 351.2K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.2K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.7K Spending & Discounts
- 244.2K Work, Benefits & Business
- 599.3K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177.1K Life & Family
- 257.7K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards