Although curry powder is not meant for traditional Indian dishes, it still occupies a place in the spice drawer where it can add a unique taste to a variety of recipes.
What is curry powder?
It is a mixture of spices that come together to give a warm and strong flavor to any dish in which it is used.
Traditional Indian curry gets its flavor from whole spices that are roasted and ground as needed for cooking (and varies by dish).
But our simple curry powder is an easy and instant access to a great starting spot for curry flavor. It uses spices that you probably already have in your pantry!
Where did the term "curry" come from?
In fact, the term “curry” is a British expression for the Tamil word “Kari” which means “sauce.”
From British colonists to American usage, the word curry is now popular to describe many types of Dishes prepared from South Asian origin.
Indeed, the term 'curry' can be used as an alternative to 'masala' which means 'a mixture of spices'. All Indian dishes start with masala (mix of spices).
These mixtures can vary from region to region and family to family, as well as from plate to plate.
See: 9 Benefits and Harms of Curry Powder
What is in curry powder?
Since the term 'curry' is very general and not well defined, you will find that the mixture of spices used to make curry powder is 'standard' and varies widely.
Most curry powder recipes contain some common ingredients:
- Coriander
- Turmeric
- Cumin
- Chili pepper
Other spices that can be added are:
- Fenugreek
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Fennel
- Caraway
- Cinnamon
- Clove
- Mustard
- Nutmeg
- Black pepper
The American Heart Association (AHA) emphasizes the nutritional benefit of curry powder as a way to add flavor to meals without adding a lot of salt — which means it's tasty enough that you can reduce or eliminate the salt in your dish.
The American Heart Association recommends that a “moderate level of sodium” in the food supply can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, two leading causes of death worldwide.
Nutrients of curry
We'll calculate these facts for every 100 grams of curry (s):
1. Calories: 325
2. Total fat: 14 g
- Saturated fat 2.2 g
- Unsaturated fat 2.6 g
- Monounsaturated fat 6 g
3. Cholesterol: 0 mg
4. Sodium: 52 mg
5. Potassium: 1.543 mg
6. Total Carbs: 58g
- Diet: 33 g
- Sugar: 2.8 g 7- Protein: 13 g
8. Vitamin A as a percentage: 19%
9. Vitamin C in percentage: 19%
10. Calcium: 47%
11. Iron: 164%
12. Vitamin B-6 in percentage: 60%
13. Magnesium: 63%
14. Protein: 14 g