"curry powder" VS "making curry"- what happened?

[trini123]

I was watching an Indian cooking show today and Indians (from India) make curry by blending spices - they do not use curry powder. Are there any trini indians that "make their own curry"? We all seem to cook that same green curry (Chief brand) from curry powder.

We are only a few generations in Trinidad - what happened to depending on a powder? Did we get lazy? Maybe it was a British trick so we save our energy for "wuking de land". :-)

It did not look that hard on the show. Actually, i feel Indian curry tastes better than our curry. :-(

[Falcon]

It only tastes 'better' because the components are tweaked each time to suit the item that is being curried. Generally, the redder the meat, the more cumin you add. Then Chief brought out Duck and Goat Curry. I think it may have been a bit of a founder effect where some astute entrepreneur got ingredients and mixed a generic curry which was the only option available. Look in 2009 Hamelia could not find coriander in Hilo for one of my recipes. I went through a phase where I mixed my own curry exclusively then yearned for that 'trine green curry'

[straphanger]

curry powder was an english invention, which is basically a generic curry to help out the goras who had no idea what spices to put in indian food (as I was told- but it might be biased). Also, curry is not a verb as trinidadians use it. Sorry to say...the guyanese are right when they say chicken curry (it took a lot for me to say that). From my understanding Curry usually refers to anything that is wet

[amzz]

dem cook curry chicken yesterday... wah is d verb?

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/curry

language is evolving.. imagine if 10 yrs ago i did tell u to google curry... lol

[kayt]

I grew up using ready mixed curry powder but I explored and now mix my own at times. When lazy or short of one of my herbs and spices then I'll use the ready mixed pack kept just for those times. Other times, I'll mix my stuff to suit how I want the meal to be.

[Falcon]

Well said Ama

[straphanger]

dem cook curry chicken yesterday... wah is d verb?

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/curry

language is evolving.. imagine if 10 yrs ago i did tell u to google curry... lol


ur link says it's a noun and a verb... :)

but I agree, language is changing

[Aurea]

There is this lady in the tunupuna market who sells curry that she blends - it taste's pretty good. As for mixing my own curry, I doh even know how - I usually use the packaged stuff.

Aurea

[vaio]

There is this lady in the tunupuna market who sells curry that she blends - it taste's pretty good. As for mixing my own curry, I doh even know how - I usually use the packaged stuff.

Aurea

i doh even know either lol

[Falcon]

I find it easier to pull the individual spices off the shelf above the kitchen counter than to look for the "bag with curry from Trinidad" lol

[lexbarker]

While growing up the old way of "grinding" the curry was on its way out. Quite a few people in the neighbourhood had their grinding stone slab (slightly concave to keep the ingredients in) and the grinding stone that looked like an ovesized oval potato. It was made as a wet paste and the ingredients were grinded piece by piece, adding water as needed.

[vaio]

While growing up the old way of "grinding" the curry was on its way out. Quite a few people in the neighbourhood had their grinding stone slab (slightly concave to keep the ingredients in) and the grinding stone that looked like an ovesized oval potato. It was made as a wet paste and the ingredients were grinded piece by piece, adding water as needed.

lorha and sill?

[Aurea]

Well, ok. So for those of u who say u blenad ur own curry tell someone who doesn't know how(me) how to do it nah and what ah need? Thank's much.

Aurea

[Falcon]

Get garam masala, tumeric, non roasted ground cumin, ground coriander, hing, fenugreek, garlic, paprika. Assemble your battery of ingredients and combine any 5 for varied curries.

[Chicabonita]

Get garam masala, tumeric, non roasted ground cumin, ground coriander, hing, fenugreek, garlic, paprika. Assemble your battery of ingredients and combine any 5 for varied curries.

Why not non roasted ground cumin Falcon?

[lexbarker]

lorha and sill?

Vi gyul, I ole like dirt so sometimes meh alzheimers does act up.

[straphanger]

Double post

[straphanger]

Well, ok. So for those of u who say u blenad ur own curry tell someone who doesn't know how(me) how to do it nah and what ah need? Thank's much.

Aurea


Aurea falcon gave you the majority of the spices. Usually if I am making curry aloo I do it simple- whole jeera, hing, ground geera, ground coriander and hardi. no onions no garlic. Only tomatoes.
If I'm making curry aloo and cauliflower I add some dry mango powder to that to give a little bite to it and also some
Garam masala. And it also gives a completely different taste from the curry aloo

[straphanger]

Oops by the way garam masala is a mixture spices - usually clove cinnamon elaichee ( both the black and green I think ) chilies, black pepper corns, corriander seeds and cumin. There maybe nutmeg and other things but I am not too sure

[mivs]

all dem spices? I cook very simple too taste, if not meh chirren eh eatin nutten with hing an ting

[Aurea]

Get garam masala, tumeric, non roasted ground cumin, ground coriander, hing, fenugreek, garlic, paprika. Assemble your battery of ingredients and combine any 5 for varied curries.

Thank u falcon - I really doh like hing(d smell - oh gosh!) and fenugreek. What sort of food would u use these two in for a curry?

Aurea

[Aurea]

Aurea falcon gave you the majority of the spices. Usually if I am making curry aloo I do it simple- whole jeera, hing, ground geera, ground coriander and hardi. no onions no garlic. Only tomatoes.
If I'm making curry aloo and cauliflower I add some dry mango powder to that to give a little bite to it and also some
Garam masala. And it also gives a completely different taste from the curry aloo

Hmmm, sounds good. I remember u said u can't use the garlic and onion becos of religious reasons - but i always use it in curry's. Ok, and I'm getting an idea of how to use it for different dishes. Thanks.

Aurea

[Solachica]

Is jains doh eat onion and garlic?
I doh like those things lol

[vaio]

i love onion and garlic!

so what combination can be used for veg or meat dishes?

[Falcon]

Thank u falcon - I really doh like hing(d smell - oh gosh!) and fenugreek. What sort of food would u use these two in for a curry?

Aurea

Aurea, I dont use them; I have them there expiring in the spice cupboard.
I use fennel seeds sometimes in curry pigeon peas.

[Falcon]

Chica,
the roasted geera releases its oils and so is a much stronger flavour, which for me, overpowers the other spices in the mix.

and besides, you cant use roasted geera in water when yuh belly huttin. It doh work if it roasted.

[Falcon]

Vaio, veg has to be mild, so maybe saffron instead of tumeric, coriander, garlic, slow cooked onions, black peppercorns, salt, and a pinch of garam masala.
If it is fruit, like curry mango or pommecythere, then I would add roasted cumin to the above, since "that is what taste I remember"

According to how red the meat is, you may have to use more cumin. More garam masala and pepper as well. Tumeric for this one. What about some tamarind extract to get a slightly sour hint to the curry red meat.

[kayt]

I use fenugreek in my curry but only put a little bit. I've never used hing and don't even know what that looks like. In my currys I may use, cumin, tumeric, thyme (sometimes fresh), chillies (sometimes fresh/dried crushed/powdered), garlic (always go for fresh), ginger (sometimes fresh), onions (always fresh), ground coriander seed (I may at times used fresh coriander leaves), coarse ground black peper, a bay leaf (fresh or dried) and have even added a curry leaf once. Coconut cream is optional depending on what meat/fish/vegetables I'm cooking or my moods. I like extra ginger when currying lamb. I've added lime zest at times when currying fish.

I have my own version of Thai green curry which consists of lots of fresh coriander leaves, some fresh ginger, a lime kaffir leaf/lime zest/lemon grass, coconut cream, garlic and chillies, green of course. For red curry I used ground corriander seed, instead of coriander leaves, plus all the other ingredients, red chillies and tomatoes. I may or may not add a few cardamon seeds.

[Chicabonita]

Falcon, going by you to eat some curry. I told the family I am not cooking it again ( wayyyy too much work (and time) and just don't feel for it).

[Falcon]

you goin by ANYONE?!?!
rofl

[Chicabonita]

you goin by ANYONE?!?!
rofl

Steupsss...