Curry kits

[Followmeandmydog]

I’m noticing more and more curry kits in the supermarkets. I’ve tried a couple of the Spice Tailor ones which I liked. If you’ve tried any what did you reckon? Any recommendations? I usually make curry from scratch but I liked how quick and easy they are.

Aldi - especially the katsu curry kit.

I make curry “from scratch “ but using curry spice mixes from Green Saffron - I especially like their vadagam mix with chicken. I also premake batches of slow cooked onion and garlic and ginger, that I freeze in 1 curry portion batches - so it’s easy to get a proper curry started in a hurry.

Just following as i make mine from scratch too. Are they ok though? I alwsys think that they are going to end up like those Coleman’s packets that just make every taste of Cornflour and sadness.

I have looked at Spice Tailors and similar but they are really bad value for money.
I have a good array of spices in my cupboard, in fact probably too many but I can make a really good curry in around 15 minutes if needed with things from my store cupboard and fridge so don't see a ned for kits
You can just have Garam Masla, fenugrek, Tumeric and chilis alone and still make a great curry for a fraction of the cost of a kit

Very expensive, when "I could make it at home with just a small aubergine".

The spice tailors ones are excellent, I really like their butter chicken, tikka and coconut curry ones. Our local Booths sells Raffis spice box ones and although I haven’t used them myself, lots of my friends rave about them.

I usually cook curry from scratch, but think these kits are great for when you just want a quick meal. I value my time and effort enough that I think they are decent value for money, even if they cost more than just buying the basic ingredients myself.

Yes but as I said above you can make a curry in literally 15/20 minutes.
We don't get curry take aways becasue I can do better and healthier more quickly

We’ve only just found out about these - we tried a Sharwood’s korma one which went down a treat. I have made my curry from scratch but wanted a change.

I really don’t think you can. You need to cook your onions for around 10 minutes to start and if it’s a veggie one with, say, potatoes or cauliflower, that’ll take a while.

The Spice Tailors ones are full of sunflower oil which is best avoided in a healthy diet. Just mix your own spices, add some tomato and onion and you have a much healthier curry.

What sort of food are you look to make @Followmeandmydog? Pakistani, Indian, Bangladeshi, thai, chinese etc are all very different.

A decent curry from scratch needs at least 20 minutes of simmering alone just to bring out the flavour, nevermind the other parts of cooking involved. You’re not making proper curry in 15-20 minutes, you’re making a sauce with a few “curry” spices in it.

Those ingredients certainly wouldn’t make a good curry, nor can you make a curry in 15 minutes.

Ooooo

Aldi. Massamam and Pad Thai are great as is Khao Soi.

I agree with the timings above. Thai curry can be done relatively quickly, but Indian (for example) curry cannot be made in 20mins, even a vegetarian one.

I find the problem with the spice kits is that they contain so much sugar. Yes, they’re quick and they might be cheaper than a ready meal, but they’re not that much different nutritionally. I find all those sort of sauces too sweet, including Italian ones. I’m not sure if the sugar acts as some kind of preservative, but I hate an overly sweet taste in savoury food.

I have found an Indian meal delivery option. Pricy but all the ingredients look good.
https://www.chefakila.com

I struggle with the amount of sugar in lots of savoury foods too.

I had to start cooking from scratch a long while ago due to an allergy to a substance used as a common additive.

Now anything like jars of pasta sauce just taste way too sweet to me.

@Simonjt Any and all! I’ve really enjoyed the Spice Tailor Thai red, the korma and another I can’t quite remember that was mild with coconut.
I liked them for convenience, even though I can make a good curry I find it takes a good simmer to get the sauce cooked. And I’ve always without fail been disappointed with jars of sauce, so these little kits were quite a nice surprise!

Thanks - I’m near an Aldi next week so will have a look!

https://tastesmiths.com/shop/

These are pretty good, they taste quite authentic.

Definitely the ones I’ve tried nothing like a packet or even the jars!

Just added Rafi to the list to try! Like you it’s for convenience but tastes good!

Thank you - I must admit I didn’t check the content breakdown though calorie wise it seemed ok

I can’t get on at all with jars of pasta sauce, always a weird taste, so I don’t bother. Isn’t sugar meant to bring out tomato flavour (but in moderation!). I’ve used palm sugar sometimes in curries but would be put off a kit thst was overly sweet.