How to fix the taste of bland curries in 5 interesting ways | The Times of India (2024)

FAQs

How to fix the taste of bland curries in 5 interesting ways | The Times of India? ›

The easiest way to fix a bland and tasteless curry is by adding spices like red chili powder, cumin, coriander, garam masala, curry leaves and turmeric. Just make a quick tempering and pour over the curry to give it a nice punch of spices and herbs.

You can give a curry depth by adding umami goodness. Umami is one of the basic five tastes and is often described as a meaty, savoury deliciousness that deepens a dish's flavour. Natural foods that peak umami taste receptors include tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, and roasted spice.

Adding a pinch of sugar can reduce heat levels – just be sure to taste each time before adding too much. If your curry has a tomato base, adding extra tomatoes is a great way of cooling down a hot curry. The choice of using tinned tomatoes, passata, fresh tomatoes or even ketchup is up to you.

Adding spices and herbs is an easy way to fix bland dishes. Experiment with different spice blends, such as curry powder, cumin, or chili powder, to add a depth of flavour. You can also add in some fresh herbs like basil, cilantro, or thyme can also add a burst of freshness to your dish.

A curry mix has a warm, robust spicy taste as a result of combining roasted and grounded coriander seeds, turmeric, cumin and chili peppers. Other spices commonly found within the blend are fenugreek, clove, mustard, black pepper, nutmeg or ginger.

Asafoetida is the most simultaneously misunderstood and sublime ingredient in Indian cuisine. It is essentially a gum resin extracted from ferula, an herb in the celery family.

If you want to bring a bit of heat to the curry, try adding some chili powder or cayenne pepper. If you want to add a bit of smokiness, try adding some smoked paprika or cumin. You can also add fresh herbs such as cilantro or mint to bring freshness and flavor.

How do you add depth to Indian curry? ›

Another simple way to improve the taste of bland curries is by adding some slightly roasted onions, garlic, ginger. You can toss or caramelize them separately and add them to the curry and simmer for sometime so that it can absorb the flavours.

Yogurt or sour cream can cool down the curry. Adding a pinch of sugar or ketchup can counteract the spiciness. Starchy foods like potatoes or rice can absorb heat. Acidic ingredients like lemon juice, lime juice, or vinegar can cut through the spiciness.

Add Sugar

Sugar is one of the most effective ingredients when it comes to adjusting flavours in a dish. This is also true for reducing sourness from curries. Add half teaspoon of sugar to your curry and give it a nice mix. You can add more sugar if you feel the curry is still sour.

Different Types of Spices Used in Indian Cuisine

Mustard seeds, black pepper, and asafoetida or heeng also help lend their signature tastes to quite a few classical preparations like dal tadka or sambhar. Together with fresh ginger and garlic, these spices create magic in the kitchen!

ASAFOETIDA (Heeng)

It typically works as a flavor enhancer and, used along with turmeric, is a standard component of Indian cuisine It is often used to harmonize sweet, sour, salty and spicy components in food.

Curries can be bland if you haven't used enough of the base aromatics of garlic, ginger, and onion. The onion should be caramelized in oil until well browned and flavorful.

Add a tin of coconut milk or cream, or plain yogurt or sour cream, stir it well and taste. You can also add it just a little at a time, before mixing and tasting. I tend to add lots, because my kids don't like a very spicy curry, so it can never be too mild.

people often have a fear of over salting or over doing it with spices but its that fear that holds us back from enjoying cooking. Curries can be bland if you haven't used enough of the base aromatics of garlic, ginger, and onion.

If you want to bring a bit of heat to the curry, try adding some chili powder or cayenne pepper. If you want to add a bit of smokiness, try adding some smoked paprika or cumin. You can also add fresh herbs such as cilantro or mint to bring freshness and flavor.