So what is in an Indian curry?

[Luggage]

A similar question was asked on the TF2 vent last night and I didn't get a chance to answer it completely so in case you are still curious...

Firstly, India is a rather large country filled w/ very diverse cultures that are well over 4,000 years old so there is no "Indian" curry per se although most of the food you will find in Indian restaurants here is likely to be North Indian cuisine, primarily from a state called Punjab (where my ancestors hail from).  Also, as you might suspect, not all Indian food comes in a curry; there are several dry dishes as well, e.g. kababs (any meat, various marinades), biryani (flavored rice usually w/ meat), various vegetables, etc.

A large number of Punjabi food / curries is based on some combination / permutation of the following ingredients:
Paste or "curry" based on crushed tomatoes or dairy (cream or yogurt)
Onion
Garlic
Ginger
Salt
Red chilli powder
Coriander powder
Cumin powder
Turmeric
Garam masala (don't know English word, another spice): tenderizer for meats

Following are some of the optional ingredients:
Cinnamon
Cardamom
Fenugreek
Fresh coriander
Green chillies

The key to a good curry is that you should find it aromatic and very flavorful without any overpowering single taste.  Unfortunately, many restaurants i) do a very poor job of achieving the right balance of spices so you find the food too "hot", and ii) douse the food in oil to cook it fast (normally supposed to cook on low heat for several hours) so there IS a big difference between a $7 buffet curry and well prepared food at a good restaurant.

If any of you feel like experimenting with Indian food, let me know if you need any suggestions.

[hakksaww]

lamb vindaloo, basmati rice and fresh copper-kettle cooked naan is food of the gods....

i miss indian food. it's not as big a hit out here in Minnesota as it was back home in NY. We used to get it once a week back home. An easy way to try it at home is to hit Trader Joes. The have massala sauce, the right rice and frozen naan. Just add chicken and yer cookin' with gas.

It's pretty legit for the western palate.

[TE | Hypo]

in japan, if you need to have something FILLING yet will not ruin your insides or your clothes, get their rice with curry.  its sticky rice and curry sauce (milder than some of the indian curries I've had) and vegetables... and you will LOVE IT.  simple.  easy.  very very filling.

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