How Many Different Curry Dishes Are There?

Made with a sauce or gravy which has been seasoned with ground spices and herbs and typically served with rice, curry is a popular dish served around the globe. It can be made with a variety of meat, seafood or vegetables, as well as tofu, chickpeas and lentils, which makes it ideal for vegetarians, vegans and people with special dietary requirements, such as those following a gluten free diet. Common curry ingredients include cumin, coriander, turmeric, ginger, garlic, onions, chili peppers, and tomatoes, however, there are lots of varieties of curry dishes, cooked with various ingredients and delivering a range of spices, from mild and creamy, to hot and spicy. With a range of different countries creating their own curry dishes, there are so many varieties of curries to choose from.

 

How many different curry dishes are there?

With so many countries offering a variety of curry dishes, it would be almost impossible to list each individual curry dish here.  There are thousands of different types of curry and the taste and consistency of each will vary from place to place depending on the ingredients available in the region, the culture and religion of the community creating the dish and their individual cooking methods and seasoning preferences. Rather than provide you with a comprehensive list of the thousands of curry dishes available, we are going to look at popular curry dishes from each region.

Indian Curry

India is probably the best-known country for curries as there are almost as many curry dish variations as there are provinces and sub-regions within the country. Some of the most popular Indian curry dishes, which have been adapted around the world, include:

Korma: one of the most popular curry dishes, korma is made with meat or vegetables in a yogurt or cream stock combined with a blend of spices.

Saag: this curry blends mustard leaves, spinach and spices to create a curry with a green colour.

Tikka Masala: England’s most popular curry, the origins of this curry is a mystery, some believe it was created in India, others think England created this dish. Masala is a creamy and spicy, full-bodied dish with a smoky accent and a yogurt base.

Vindaloo: with a rich and robust flavour, vindaloo often includes fresh peppers, red Kashmiri chilies and spices.

Biryani: a rice-based dish which sometimes comes with a separate sauce, this is one of the milder curry options and it is available in hundreds of different forms.

Keema: this medium to hot dish is made with minced meat, such as beef, lamb or mutton and it is often mixed with peas and potatoes.

Thailand

Thailand is known for a number of popular curry dishes, including (but not limited to):

Green curry: made with coconut milk and lime juice, the Thai green curry consists of green chilis in a curry sauce made from Thai basil, green chilis, lime leaves, blue ginger, kra chai, shallots, garlic and turmeric.

Red curry: this is the spiciest of all Thai curries, made with lots of red chilis, which are then combined with shallots, garlic, blue ginger and lemongrass and mixed with coconut milk.

Yellow curry: rich in coconut cream and turmeric, there a number of different varieties of yellow curry in Thailand.

Massaman Curry: extracted from Indian curry, massaman curry paste is made using red chilis, garlic, lemongrass, blue ginger, shallots, cardamon, nutmeg, cloves, coriander, cumin and cinnamon.

Panang Curry: the most subtle and mild of the Thai curries, it is made from dried chilis, coconut milk, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, garlic, blue ginger, shallots, cilantro and cumin, and may contain peanuts.

Southeast Asia

Including the countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam, Southeast Asia is known for its diverse cultures, religions, histories and food. Curries from this region include:

Rendang curry: from Indonesia, rendang curry has a drier consistency, this aromatic curry is usually made with beef, although it also works well with duck, chicken and other forms of protein.

Devil curry: this Malaysian curry is made from vinegar, tomato paste, Dijon mustard, black pepper and lots of red and green chilis, the Devil curry is a spicy dish that is traditionally served at Christmas.

Mok pa curry: a popular dish from Lao, this juicy and tender fish is combined with padek, dill and basil, wrapped and served in banana leaves, and often enjoyed with a sticky rice.

Pazun hin curry: from the country of Myanmar (Burma), this is an oily curry-style dish made with shrimp or prawn.

Amok curry: considered to be Cambodia’s national dish, this is made from a spice paste called kroeung, marinated white fish which is typically blended with eggs to create a souffle texture. This is then wrapped in a banana leaf bowl.

Cà ri gà: a curry from Vietnam, introduced to the country by Indian immigrants, this yellow-coloured curry is made from lemongrass, chopped onions, potato, sweet potato and chicken, blended with coconut milk and served with a baguette.

Japan

Popular curries from Japan include:

Japanese kare raisu: also known as curry rice, this curry has a gravy-like consistency which is thick due to the curry spices uses to flavour it.

Kuro curry: sweet, salty, bitter and sour, this black curry includes ingredients like black seaweed paste, squid ink, or sometimes even chocolate.

Other countries

Bunny chow: this South African curry is pungent and has a peppery red-sauce, which is served in a hollowed out loaf of bread.

Nihari curry: a traditional Pakistani dish is traditionally slow-cooked overnight with beef shanks in a complex recipe that includes up to 50 ingredients.

Quwarmah al dajaj: this Kuwaiti cuisine is an Arabic-style blend of lime, ginger and turmeric, baharat, cumin, cardamom, black pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, and paprika.

Curry goat: a Jamaican classic, the goat is cooked in a yellow-coloured curry and is served with rice, stewed cabbage, plantains and Jamaican coco bread.

Seven curry: a unique curry from Guyana, this is composed of seven different vegetarian curries which you eat by hand. The seven curries include: pumpkin, spinach, catahar, potato and chickpeas, eggplant, eddoe (similar to taro), and dal.

 

With so many curry varieties worldwide, nothing compares to enjoying authentic Indian dishes

For your next curry craving, visit Smokey Barrels Indian restaurant and savor the delicious taste of India right here!