Indian Cooking - what are we doing wrong?

[PixieChemist]

DP and i have an Indian cookbook and have tried to make some of the curries. But everyone we've tried so far has ended up very runny and more like watery stew than curry consistency. What are we doing wrong? We've thought about looking into a proper Indian cooking course but they're so expensive it's just not feasible for us.

Yup, it sounds like you're not giving it enough time. Nuttynoo's method above looks solid. Maybe also look at a video or two just to see visually what the stages should look like!
I likewise either use the pressure cooker, or get it on the stove on a simmer and crack on with other things in the kitchen while stirring it occasionally.

The photo is too blurry for me to read, but I noticed the title says "tamil nadu". I'm from that state in India, and most of the curries that originate there (they're not called curries there, by the way) are indeed all runny as they are meant to be eaten poured over rice.

I was going to say the same, in my experience vegetarian curries from Tamil Nadu are fairly thin and flavoursome.
You may be used to restaurant curries which in Britain are of different style. Often thickened with onions.

Thank you all for your advice. We're making one now and took on board your suggestions and it seems to be a lot better consistency Although currently no idea how it'll taste!