What Does Curry Taste Like? A Detailed Answer

You are here because you want to know, ‘what does curry taste like?’ Chances are that you might have heard the term from your Indian friend who always prepares a curry to enjoy his main food. You clicked this article, and I will ensure you know all about curry.

Curry has a rich, flavorful taste as a result of the delicious mix of herbs and spices. The overall flavor of the curry depends on the major ingredient and the seasoning agents used. This is the reason why curry has a unique, flavorful taste that promises a perfect addition to your dishes.

Curry is a flavorsome gravy that can be used to render a mouth-watering taste to anything that is added to. It can be added as a base to soups, sauces, noodles, and salad dressings. Aren’t you a little curious to know more about curry, its taste, benefits, factors affecting preparation, ingredients used, and many more? Read on more and get curried!

What Is Curry?

Curry is a dish that comprises a sauce or gravy that is deliciously seasoned with a perfect blend of spices and herbs. The origin of curry traces back to India – the word curry is English for the Tamil term ‘kari,’ which means ‘sauce’ or ‘relish for rice.’ In traditional Indian cuisine, curry is a mandatory accompaniment to rice and other food items.

There are wide varieties of curry, which vary depending on the spices used, region, and taste preferences. The base of the curry uses onion, ginger, garlic, and spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, cumin, fennel seed, fenugreek, and mustard seed, black pepper, and turmeric.

Curry leaves, chilies, nutmeg, mace, poppy seed, star anise, and bay leaves are the other ingredients used to flavor curry.

Explore The Taste Of Other Foods We’ve Covered

• What Does Chick-fil-A Sauce Taste Like?
• What Does Hummus Taste Like?
• What Does MSG Taste Like?
• What Does Miso Taste Like?
• What Does Kimchi Taste Like?
• What Does Vegemite Taste Like?
• What Does Marmite Taste Like?
• What Does Pesto Taste Like?
• What Does Squid Ink Taste Like?
• What Does Chamoy Taste Like?

What Does Curry Taste Like?

Curry has a distinctive flavor profile since it is a mouth-watering blend of sweet and savory spices. But this basic flavor profile will vary depending on the cuisine, region, and the type of ingredients used. Thai curry will give you a different taste experience compared to Indian curry. 

Curry has an earthy flavor due to the usage of cumin and bay leaves, while cinnamon and cloves render a fresh flavor to the curry. The dominant flavor of curry is mostly based on the vegetables used. 

These vegetables will take on the taste of the spice mixture or masala. If the ingredients fall under the spice category, the overall flavor will leave you running to your water bottle!

Is Curry Spicy In Taste?

You might have tried a curry from an Indian restaurant and bawled your eyes out due to the heat level. Did you wonder if curry is hellishly spicy? Let me answer that. 

Curry is mostly spicy in taste due to adding pepper, chili powder, or chili flakes. That said, not all curries taste spicy. If the ingredients are mostly sweet and savory, your curry will give you a similar taste. Also, the taste of vegetables can sometimes interfere with the overall flavor of the curry.

Is Curry Sweet In Taste?

Curry has a mildly sweet flavor with the usage of certain ingredients such as onions, sugar, cashew cream, cinnamon, cardamom, and star anise. An inaccurate addition of these ingredients can make your curry sweet in taste.

That said, there are a few types of curry that are sweet in flavor – massaman curry, a popular dish in Thai cuisine, has a yummy sweet taste. 

Does Turmeric Taste Like Curry?

I can’t possibly imagine the origin of this query – “does turmeric taste like curry?” Turmeric does not taste like curry. Turmeric can be heralded as the signature ingredient in a curry – there is no curry without a pinch of this yellow-colored powder.

Curry is a spice blend that uses turmeric as an ingredient, while turmeric is a spice used to make curry.

What Does Yellow Curry Taste Like?

Did you hear about Thai yellow curry chicken which made you curious about yellow curry? Here is what you need to know about yellow curry. Yellow curry is a type of curry that comes under Thai cuisine. It is prepared using turmeric as the major ingredient, which gives yellow curry a distinctive yellow color. 

Besides turmeric, coriander seeds, cumin, ginger, garlic, and yellow or red chili are also used. Yellow curry also has a mild, sweet flavor with subtle hints of spiciness. The level of spiciness can vary depending on preferences. 

What Does Green Curry Taste Like? 

If you know what yellow curry is, chances are you also know what green curry is. Green curry is another popular Thai curry that is made using green herbs such as fresh coriander, makrut lime leaf and peel, and basil. Apart from these, ingredients such as lemongrass, fish sauce, garlic, ginger, and shallots are also added.

Green curry has a sweet, salty, and creamy flavor. It is sweeter than Thai yellow curry and has a fragrant aroma. Green curry is the most distinctive curry in Thai cuisine. Thai green curry with chicken or beef and fish dumplings is a famous variety of green curry.

What Does Japanese Curry Taste Like?

Japanese curry is one of the most famous dishes in Japanese cuisine. It is made using potatoes, carrots, onions, and meat, along with a sauce made of Indian spices. Sweeteners such as sautéed onions, grated apples, carrots, or honey are added for a sweet flavor. Usually, pork or

beef is used in the making of Japanese curry. Japanese curry has a sweet, savory flavor and tastes less spicy with a thick texture.

What Does Coconut Curry Taste Like?

If you are a lover of coconut, then coconut curry is something you have got to try. Are you wondering what coconut curry tastes like? Let me help you with that.

Coconut curry is prepared using curry paste, coconut milk or water, meat, seafood, vegetables or fruit, and herbs. Coconut curry has a rich, savory flavor with subtle hints of sweetness and spiciness. 

Does Curry Taste Like Stew?

Curry and stews are often compared with each other since they are both slow-cooked dishes. Also, both are assumed to be the same, but they have differences based on how you define them. Curry can have a sweet, savory, or spicy flavor, while stew has a rich flavor due to the combination of vegetables, liquid, and seasoning agents. 

Why Does Curry Taste Good?

Ever thought of why the taste of curry never leaves you and keeps haunting you? That is because curry tastes so damn good. The curry tastes so good since it is a delicious amalgamation of sweet and savory spices.

The surprising thing here is that it tastes even better the next day because the sauce thickens with a rich, creamy flavor.

Factors Affecting The Taste Of Curry

Have you ever wondered why the prepared curry didn’t taste as you thought it to? There are a few factors that affect the taste of curry. 

• The right proportion of spices and their mixes is what gives the signature flavor to your curry. 
• Onions and tomatoes have to be sliced into small pieces to enhance the taste of curry. Big pieces will affect the texture and taste of your curry. 
• A wrong curry base can hugely affect the taste of your curry. The right way of preparing your curry base is to put oil and spices followed by onions. Onions have to be cooked until they are brown in color. Later, ground-based spices and other ingredients such as ginger, garlic, and green chilies are added.
• If you rush into cooking curry, be ready for a big disappointment. Curries have to be slow-cooked so that the full flavors of spices are absorbed in the curry. 

1. Freshness Of Ingredients

If you are all set to prepare curry, you might be confused as to what type of ingredients you have to go for. For a strong flavor, always go for fresh ingredients to make curry. Fresh coriander leaves, fenugreek leaves, thyme, or basil always add a refreshing and enriching flavor to your curry. 

However, dried ingredients are more easily accessible than fresh ingredients. Ingredients, when dried or toasted, develop intensified flavors. You can decide what type of ingredients you can use and adjust the taste and texture of your curry.

2. Types Of Spices Used 

Culinary spices are the major ingredients that give a distinctive taste to your curry. Curious to know what the big deal is all about these spices? Let us see. Various types of culinary spices are categorized into four types – hot spices, mild spices, aromatic spices, and herbs and aromatic vegetables. 

The spices from all these categories are used to make a curry – hot spices such as black and white peppers; mild spices such as coriander and paprika; aromatic spices such as cinnamon, cloves, cumin, and fenugreek; herbs such as basil, bay leaf, thyme and marjoram and aromatic vegetables such as onion, shallots, and garlic. 

3. Quantity Of Spices

I once had a terrible episode where I added an inappropriate quantity of spice mix. The curry I prepared ended up in the trash, but I learned a very important lesson.

For a mouth-watering flavor, it is essential to use the right quantity of spices. The addition of spices can make or break your curry. Follow the quantity of spices mentioned in the recipe per se, so you don’t waste your curry.

What Does Curry Smell Like?

Different types of ingredients go into the preparation of curry. The usage of aromatic herbs and spices gives curry a fragrant aroma. Ginger and garlic are commonly used to enhance the flavor and smell of curry.

When sauteed in oil, a spicy, earthy aroma is guaranteed. Also, if the ingredients are fresh and not store-bought, the prepared curry will have an intense, rich flavor.

Things To Consider Before Making Curry?

Making tasty curry can only be a dream if you are unaware of the basic things that must be considered before preparation. To start with, the base of the curry has to be made using onion, ginger, and garlic. These must be sauteed using fat, usually oil, butter, ghee, or cream. 

The right quantity of fresh spices has to be used for a fragrant aroma and delicious taste. You can use lemon or yogurt for a slight acidic kick. Ensure you cook the curry slowly, applying the necessary amount of heat. You can choose vegetables, meat, pulses, or lentils to get your daily protein. 

Popular Curries Around The World

Various cuisines feature many prominent curries. Each of the curries has unique, distinctive flavors and compositions, which will definitely make you want to try them. (The following list will come in handy on your next world tour!) Here is a list of some of the most popular curries around the world:

• Bunny chow from South Africa
• Rendang from Indonesia & Malaysia
• Sri Lankan Beetroot Curry
• Jamaican Goat Curry
• Chicken Tikka Masala from India
• Massaman from Thailand
• Fish Amok from Cambodia’
• Japanese Curry
• South Indian Fish Curry
• Beef Kulma from the Philippines
• Fish Head Curry from Singapore
• Jalfrezi from India
• Kare Raisu from Japan
• Butter Chicken from India

Things That Can Make Your Curry Taste Better

There are always a bunch of extra things which can be done to make your curry taste better. Keep these points in mind next time you make a curry of your choice:

• There are a few secret ingredients that, when added, can make your curry taste delicious. These are sugar, fenugreek, meat or vegetable stock, curry leaves, lime juice, yogurt, or cream.
• Use high, saturated oil for a better curry experience!
• Try to prepare the base gravy right using the perfect amount of ingredients.
• You can choose the flavor you want out of your curry and use ingredients accordingly. 
• For a creamy flavor, add cream, butter, or almond; for a spicy flavor, add chilies, cayenne pepper, and black pepper; for a sweet flavor, add sugar, jaggery, honey, paprika, and ripe banana; for a bitter flavor, add tamarind or fenugreek leaves; for a rich flavor, add beef stock and curry leaves and for an umami flavor, go for soy sauce, fish sauce, and meat juices.

Health Benefits Of Curry

Since there are different types of curries, they sure have varied nutritional profiles. Some curries are rich in nutrients, while others are rich in fat and calories. 

• Turmeric present in curry can help you fight against inflammation.
• Cumin, black pepper, bay leaves, cinnamon, and coriander help boost the digestive system.
• Cardamom and sweet basil are extremely good for cardiovascular health.
• Consumption of curry can promote fullness and reduce hunger pangs.

Nutritional Content Of Curry

A cup of curry (235gms) has the following nutritional values:

Final Word

That was all about curry and its taste. I hope the article gave you a good insight into the various aspects related to curry. Curry is a spiced sauce that is used as an accompaniment to other food items in various cuisines. 

It can take on the flavor based on the ingredients used – it mostly has a spicy, savory, sweet flavor. There are different types of curries popular around the world that have varied flavor profiles. Try the taste of the curry you come across or prepare and let me know what you think of it. See you soon with another article!

Frequently Asked Questions