What is Curry?

[Gooblah]

As an Indian-American, I seriously don't understand this.

By the Simpsons, the 'white man's' or the American definition, what in god's name is curry? Apparently, they sell 'curry sauce' in stores, but those are only supermarkets, not actual Indian stores (which exist). I've always wondered: do you guys mean spices, a specific blend of spices, a vegetable dish, the smell of Indian food? Or do you refer to South Indian curas, North Indian biryanis?

Enlighten me, then, oh wise ones of Civilization Fanatics Center, what is 'curry'?

 

[Theige]

Spicy Indian food.

 

[GoodGame]

Go to a major city, and locate an Indian restaraunt. Order curry. Pretty easy.

But by this, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curry, it's pretty complicated.

In British cuisine, the word curry was primarily used to denote a sauce-based dish flavoured with curry powder or a paste made from the powder and oils.

I'd go with the theory that curry is some combination of antibiotic spices that help preserve a food in it's own 'spicy' <insert favorite national flavors here> sauce.

 

[civ_king]

Curry...

 

[Mad Man]

Webster's Dictionary says 1.to rub down and clean the coat of a horse with a currycomb.
2.to prepare(tanned leather) by soaking,cleaning,beating,etc.
3.a powder prepared from turmeric and various spices
4.a sauce made with curry powder
5.a stew made with curry
6.to prepare with curry powder

 

[silver 2039]

Butter chicken.

 

[Arwon]

Curry is not just Indian, my favourite curries are Thai or Malaysian. Lots of coconut milk and palm sugar and lime and ginger and coriander and stuff. Mmmm. (I cook a pretty mean green curry from scratch).

To me it's means a mix of spices in a sauce, with the sauce providing all the flavour of the dish.

 

[civ_king]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owK5tHjL0aE

 

[Felix Luce]

Pretty sure it's any South/South-East Asian stew prominently featuring the spice curry, no?

 

[Arwon]

Curry isn't a specific spice though?

 

[Felix Luce]

It's a blend of spices, esp. turmeric. It's actually an adopted, synthesized blend of spices found in various forms and combinations in various dishes from the region, just as "herbes de Provence" is just a blend of spices/herbs found in Provencal dishes.

 

[silver 2039]

I want to point out that South Indian food sucks. Any South Indian curry is made from cow dung. Burn in hell South India.

 

[RoboPig]

I want to point out that South Indian food sucks. Any South Indian curry is made from cow dung. Burn in hell South India.

I hope you're not counting Goa as South India, because Goan prawn curry=Epic win.

 

[silver 2039]

I hope you're not counting Goa as South India, because Goan prawn curry=Epic win.

Goa and and Andhra Pradesh have awesome food. Everything north of Bangalore (inclusive) is ok. Everything south of Bangalore is balls.

 

[DNK]

I want to point out that South Indian food sucks. Any South Indian curry is made from cow dung. Burn in hell South India.

it has its good dishes, man.

But I still smell burning garbage and cow dung whenever I smell South Indian spices.

 

[silver 2039]

it has its good dishes, man.

Some like dosa and such. But you won't find a decent South Indian curry. South Indian food either bland or foul.

 

[sonorakitch]

Had it today for lunch. It's good.

 

[DNK]

Some like dosa and such. But you won't find a decent South Indian curry. South Indian food either bland or foul.

Well, yeah...

 

[theskald]

The best thing mankind has ever invented. If you do not like it then you are untrustworthy.

 

[ParadigmShifter]

You can make curry sauce Indian restaurant style yourself, it takes ages though.

1 medium bag onions, 1 whole garlic (not 1 clove of garlic ), chop finely or liquidise.

Boild up 4 pints of water + onions & garlic + small tin tomatoes, add grated ginger, turmeric, paprika, cumin, bay leaves, salt.

Keep skimming the froth off. For about 2-4 hours.

Then you use the sauce as a base, add favourite curry ingredients as required, remember lots of chilli powder as well. Add Garam Masala right at the end.

Here in the UK you can buy tins or jars of curry paste which I use (jars of curry sauce just don't cut it for me).