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Best jarred curry

38 replies

luciles · 17/08/2021 10:39

Hey everyone I just wanted to know what your favourite jarred curries are? I've tried a few but not found any favourites really.

OP posts:
couldthisbeit · 17/08/2021 10:41

Not a jar, but the next best to home made that we've found are the Pataks pots which you add a few bits to (tomatoes, cream, water I think)

CMac79 · 17/08/2021 10:42

Also not a jar - but with a few ingredients Spice Pots make a great curry - www.spicepots.com

SimonJT · 17/08/2021 10:42

Jar pastes are okay, jar sauces are awful.

Mae ploy are good for Thai style, shemins are good for Indian style

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 17/08/2021 10:43

There’s a nice one in Co op which has a spice mix in the top and then a jar of sauce-it’s called a saag masala. Quite yummy-though I do add other stuff to it as well.

Zarene · 17/08/2021 10:45

Agree with PPs... jar sauces always taste of out of date spices and feel a bit grainy to me. I like Geeta's curry paste though.

luciles · 17/08/2021 10:47

Yes I find them very bland but thanks for your suggestions I will have a look at these when I go to the shop.

OP posts:
ZeroFuchsGiven · 17/08/2021 10:48

@Zarene

Agree with PPs... jar sauces always taste of out of date spices and feel a bit grainy to me. I like Geeta's curry paste though.
I was just going to say this, Jars always seem to taste 'off' to me.

Cant beat a homemade curry from scratch (I know that was not what you were asking op)

MarshmallowsOnToast · 17/08/2021 10:48

We really like the Loyd Grossman ones.

Elderflower14 · 17/08/2021 10:49

Goldfish Chinese Curry Paste
For chicken curry I mix a dollop up with a can of condensed chicken soup and a can of milk. For Pork Curry I mix it up with a dollop again and a tin of chopped tomatoes and some veg stock...
I used to have to buy it four tubs at a time in Chinatown a'd bring it home but then it appeared as a local product in our local Co op as its made in Suffolk!! 🤣 🤣 🤣

cariadlet · 17/08/2021 11:07

I relied on jarred curry sauce for years. Then I decided to try a recipe instead and couldn't believe how easy it was. I've stopped buying curry pastes and jars; instead I've got an assortment of spices. It genuinely only takes a few more minutes. I can't believe how much money I must have wasted over the years, buying jars of curry sauce.

MikeWozniaksGloriousTache · 17/08/2021 11:21

The only decent “pre made” type thing I’ve found is a Chinese style curry paste “goldfish” I think the brand is. You just add water but I find I add various spices while cooking the meat / veg then add it’s pretty good as a sub. And lovely on chips after a few too many drinks Grin

Otherpeoplesteens · 17/08/2021 11:25

Patak's actually supply about 75% of the UK restaurant market, so if you want to recreate what you get out there then they're your people.

I used to fart around with jars of garam masala and haldi, but everyone who eats my curries prefers Patak's pastes.

raspberrymuffin · 17/08/2021 11:28

Second vote here for the co-op saag masala with the spices in a separate bit at the top. The Sainsburys version is good too (probably made in the same factory). Can't beat a sag paneer.

ZeroFuchsGiven · 17/08/2021 11:40

@Otherpeoplesteens

Patak's actually supply about 75% of the UK restaurant market, so if you want to recreate what you get out there then they're your people.

I used to fart around with jars of garam masala and haldi, but everyone who eats my curries prefers Patak's pastes.

If I was served a Pataks curry in an Indian restaurant I would walk out.

They might serve that shite in weatherspoons and the like but no decent Indian takeaway/restaurant would.

SimonJT · 17/08/2021 11:41

@Otherpeoplesteens

Patak's actually supply about 75% of the UK restaurant market, so if you want to recreate what you get out there then they're your people.

I used to fart around with jars of garam masala and haldi, but everyone who eats my curries prefers Patak's pastes.

Yes, and you can tell as they produce awful food.
StevieNix · 17/08/2021 11:42

Not a huge fan of jarred curry sauce- prefer the spice pots but the Lloyd Grossman Balti jar sauce is actually delicious if in a pinch (I like adding tons of spinach to the sauce to make it taste a bit ‘fresher’)

Kjr33 · 17/08/2021 11:45

Aldi and Lidl do ones with a pot of spices on top of a jar, the Aldi saag masala is a favourite in this house, I add tinned Tom’s and loads of veg to make a big pot of curry.

Thornrose · 17/08/2021 11:47

I like Spice Taylor curry sauces for a quick meal.

You get the dry spices, then a base and main sauce in pouches so not a jar.

You add your own meat, fish, veg etc.

Thornrose · 17/08/2021 11:48

Tailor...Wink

Mrsdoubtfireswig · 17/08/2021 11:51

The Aldi ones with spices in the top but my fave is the Lloyd grossman balti one. The Lloyd grossman tomato sauces for pasta are nice too

FrDamo · 17/08/2021 11:58

I also find the Aldi and Lidl jars with the spice on the top pretty decent. I'd also second the saag masala from Aldi as our favourite.

Likewise we add lots of veg/chicken/potatoes/chickpeas etc to make it a hearty meal, often with leftovers.

purplesequins · 17/08/2021 12:02

yes to using paste or powder.
add chopped tomatos and veg/paneer/meat as desired and coconut milk if you want it milder.

Otherpeoplesteens · 17/08/2021 14:08

If I was served a Pataks curry in an Indian restaurant I would walk out.

They might serve that shite in weatherspoons and the like but no decent Indian takeaway/restaurant would.

I don't think any serious curry restaurant would serve some diced chicken breast in a half jar of Patak's sauce, or at least I'd be surprised if they did.

What most curry restaurants actually do is prepare a vat of 'base sauce' out of onions, other vegetables, ghee or oil, and spices to their own recipe. When someone orders a particular dish they take some base sauce and turn it into the madras or korma or dhansak by adding more spice as well as tomatoes, coconut milk, or whatever, and add the chicken or lamb or whatever. For both speed and consistency these final adjustment spices are generally pastes and Patak's has absolutely nailed this market within the trade.

So, no two restaurant's chicken madras tastes exactly the same because the base sauce will have been prepared and then augmented differently, even if the 'madras' effect is actually courtesy of a Patak's five litre catering bucket. For the same reason it won't taste the same as what you cook from a Patak's sauce jar at home. It also explains why a dish that should take an hour or two of cooking is on your table within 25 minutes.

SummaLuvin · 17/08/2021 15:44

again, not a jar, but these spice tailor curry kits I have used a few times and always been super impressed. You can pick them up in alot of supermarkets.

www.thespicetailor.co.uk/indian-curry-kits

girlmom21 · 17/08/2021 15:52

The Pataks jars or the aldi ones with the powders are nice and easy!