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Devil's curry facts for kids

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Devil curry
Alternative names Curry Debal
Type Curry
Course colour
Created by Kristang People, Malaccan Portuguese
Main ingredients Curry, candlenuts, galangal, vinegar

Devil curry, also called curry Debal in the Kristang tongue, is a super spicy curry. It gets its unique taste from ingredients like candlenuts, galangal, mustard seeds, and vinegar. This special dish comes from the Kristang (or Cristão) community. They are a group of Eurasian people living in places like Malacca, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

Historically, Devil curry was often served a day or two after Christmas. It was a way to use up leftovers from the big Christmas meal. Today, it's a popular dish enjoyed at any time in Kristang homes.

What is Devil Curry?

Devil curry is known for being very hot and spicy. It's a type of curry that mixes flavors from Southeast Asia with cooking styles from Portugal. This mix happened because Portugal once ruled parts of Southeast Asia.

One important ingredient in Devil curry is vinegar. This gives the curry a tangy kick. Other famous Kristang dishes include Feng, a beef stew called Eurasian Smore, and a sweet cake called Sugee cake.

Why is it Called "Devil" Curry?

The original Kristang name for this dish is "Debal." This word means "leftover." It was called this because the curry was traditionally made from leftover food after Christmas.

Over time, people started calling it "Devil curry" in English. This probably happened because "Debal" sounds a bit like "devil." Also, the curry is very spicy, and sometimes spicy foods are described as "deviled." For example, deviled eggs are often spicy because they have mustard or other zesty ingredients. So, the name "Devil curry" fits its fiery taste!

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