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What Is Curry Powder?

by Lisa Rowan

Overview

What Is Curry Powder?

Many dishes in India and South Asia are not complete without curry sauce. In the west, these sauces are often recreated with curry powder, a mix of some of the many spices and herbs that can be used to flavor a curry sauce. Curry powder packs a spicy punch and has some health benefits for fans.
Name Origins

The origin of the word "curry" is still up for debate, but Foodista credits the name to the Tamil word "kari," meaning "sauce." Agro Product's background of curry powder indicates that the word originates from the Teglu "koora," for the stew or gravy of a vegetable. The powder is used to make curry, a spicy gravy to accompany many South Asian and Southeast Asian dishes.

History

Curry powder was popular with British colonizers in India and South Asia who wished to recreate the flavors of curry dishes back in England. Menu Magazine's history of curry states that it was featured in British cookbooks by the mid-1700s. The British colonizers tried to replicate the flavors they tasted in India by using the most common curry spices, but modern curry powder is very different from the unique blends of spices used in India. Foodista even indicates that curry powder is not even mentioned in Indian cookbooks. Curry dishes are still very popular in England.
Varieties

Turmeric, cumin, coriander and red pepper are commonly used in curry powder, but there are many other spices to make a wide variety of different flavors. According to Agro Products, 15 to 20 herbs and spices can go into a curry powder, including garlic, mustard, anise, celery seed, cinnamon, nutmeg and paprika. Every curry sauce will taste different, whether the cook purchases a powder from a store or mixes the spices on his own. When purchasing curry powder, choose the "Madras" variety for a bigger kick.
Uses

While curry powder is an essential part of any curry sauce dish, it has many other uses. Curry powder may be used in other sauces and stews as well as being used as a marinade. Curry powder can add some spice to meatloaf, chicken, seafood, and even salads and sandwiches.
Health Benefits

The many ingredients of curry powder are rife with health benefits. In 2006, New Scientist magazine reported on a study by the National University of Singapore that indicated that curry may increase brain power in the elderly. Turmeric, a main ingredient in curry powder, contains antioxidants that may prevent the build-up of plaques that contribute to Alzheimer's disease. Turmeric can also relieve the symptoms of arthritis.