--- title: "Curry: what it means in cooking — Tiny Plates" description: "A curry is a spiced dish of meat, fish or vegetables in a sauce, from South Asia and beyond. See how to build one, from frying spices to the final simmer." url: "https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/curry" --- # Curry A curry is a spiced dish of meat, fish or vegetables in a sauce, from South Asia and beyond. See how to build one, from frying spices to the final simmer. Also called Curries, Kari. A curry is a dish of meat, fish, vegetables or legumes cooked with spices, usually in a sauce. The word was spread by the British and covers a huge range of dishes from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Japan, the Caribbean and more. Each has its own spices, fats and liquids, so no single recipe is "the" curry. ## How to do it Most South Asian style curries follow the same base steps. 1. Heat oil or [ghee](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/ghee) and fry whole spices, such as cumin seeds or cardamom pods, for 30 seconds. This [blooms](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/bloom) them. 2. Add chopped onion and cook slowly until deep golden, 10 to 15 minutes. This sets the base flavor. 3. Add garlic, ginger and chili, and cook [until fragrant](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/until-fragrant), about 1 minute. 4. Add ground spices with a splash of water so they do not burn. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes. 5. Add tomatoes and cook until the oil starts to separate from the paste at the edges. 6. Add the main ingredient and liquid such as water, stock, coconut milk or yogurt. [Simmer](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/simmer) until cooked through. 7. Finish with [garam masala](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/garam-masala), fresh herbs, or a squeeze of lemon. Thai curries start differently: a curry paste is fried in coconut cream, then the rest of the coconut milk goes in. ## Common mistakes * Rushing the onions. Pale onions give a thin, sharp sauce. * Burning ground spices. They turn bitter in seconds in hot dry oil. * Boiling yogurt. It splits. Stir it in off the heat or with the heat low. * Adding garam masala at the start. Its aroma fades with long cooking. ## In recipes "Curry powder" is a ready-made spice blend, mostly a British and Western invention. "Curry leaves" are a separate herb used in South Indian cooking and have nothing to do with the powder. Many recipe titles use "curry" for any spiced stew. [Dal](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/dal) is often served with it, along with rice or flatbread. ## Curry recipes 85 recipes from the sites we collect. * [![](https://pinchofyum.com/tachyon/2013/02/Yellow-Lentil-Curry-21.jpg?fit=180%2C225)Cauliflower and Yellow Lentil Currypinchofyum.com · 70 min](https://pinchofyum.com/cauliflower-yellow-lentil-curry) * [![](https://pinchofyum.com/tachyon/2012/11/squash-lentil-curry-9.jpg?fit=150%2C225)Kabocha Squash Lentil Currypinchofyum.com · 75 min](https://pinchofyum.com/kabocha-squash-lentil-curry) * [![](https://pinchofyum.com/tachyon/2013/03/Squash-Curry-3.jpg?fit=225%2C180)30-Minute Squash Coconut Currypinchofyum.com · 30 min](https://pinchofyum.com/30-minute-squash-coconut-curry) * [![](https://pinchofyum.com/tachyon/Curry-Hummus-Recipe.jpg?fit=225%2C225)Curry Hummuspinchofyum.com · 10 min](https://pinchofyum.com/curry-hummus) * [![](https://pinchofyum.com/tachyon/Instant-Pot-Cauliflower-Curry-Square.jpg?fit=225%2C225)Instant Pot Cauliflower Currypinchofyum.com · 15 min](https://pinchofyum.com/instant-pot-cauliflower-curry) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Indian-Shrimp-Curry-5.jpg)Indian Shrimp Currywww.skinnytaste.com · 15 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/indian-shrimp-curry/) * [![](https://pinchofyum.com/tachyon/red-curry-square.jpg?fit=225%2C225)Red Curry Lentilspinchofyum.com · 45 min](https://pinchofyum.com/red-curry-lentils) * [![](https://pinchofyum.com/tachyon/2011/08/Simple-Green-Curry-Salad.jpg?fit=225%2C225)5-Minute Green Curry Saladpinchofyum.com · 20 min](https://pinchofyum.com/5-minute-green-curry-salad) * [![](https://pinchofyum.com/tachyon/coconut-curry.jpg?fit=217%2C225)5 Ingredient Coconut Currypinchofyum.com · 15 min](https://pinchofyum.com/5-ingredient-coconut-curry) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Warm-Curry-Roasted-Vegetable-Salad-7.jpg)Warm Curry Roasted Vegetable Saladwww.skinnytaste.com · 50 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/warm-curry-roasted-sheet-pan-vegetable-salad/) * [![](http://pinchofyum.com/tachyon/2013/06/red-lentil-curry-5.jpg?fit=164%2C225)Crockpot Red Curry Lentilspinchofyum.com · 500 min](https://pinchofyum.com/crockpot-red-lentil-curry) * [![](https://pinchofyum.com/tachyon/Thai-Yellow-Curry-with-Beef-and-Potatoes-Recipe.jpg?fit=225%2C225)Thai Yellow Curry with Beef and Potatoespinchofyum.com · 170 min](https://pinchofyum.com/thai-yellow-curry-with-beef-and-potatoes) ## Related terms * [Garam masalaGaram masala is a warm Indian spice blend of cumin, coriander, cardamom, cinnamon and cloves. It is usually added near the end of cooking.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/garam-masala) * [BloomTo bloom is to wake up an ingredient in liquid or fat before use, like soaking gelatin, proving yeast or frying spices. Here is how each one works.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/bloom) * [Until fragrantUntil fragrant means cook garlic, spices or nuts just until you can clearly smell them, often 30 to 60 seconds. Any longer and they turn bitter.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/until-fragrant) * [SimmerA simmer is liquid kept just below boiling, with small, gentle bubbles rising to the surface. It cooks soups, stews and sauces without toughening them.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/simmer) * [DalDal is both the split lentils, peas and beans of South Asian cooking and the spiced stew made from them. See how to cook it soft and finish it with tadka.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/dal) * [GheeGhee is butter cooked until the milk solids brown and are strained out. It tastes nutty, fries at high heat and keeps for months in a cupboard.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/ghee) [More in dishes](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/category/dishes)[Every term from A to Z](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary)