Madras curry facts for kids
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Madras curry with eggplant
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| Alternative names | Madras sauce, Madras curry |
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| Type | Curry |
| Place of origin | India |
| Region or state | Chennai |
| Main ingredients | Chili powder |
Madras curry or Madras sauce is a popular and tasty dish from India. It's known for being a bit spicy and having a bright red color. This color comes from lots of chili powder. People often eat it with a cool, creamy side dish called raita.
Contents
Where Does Madras Curry Come From?
Madras curry comes from the southern part of India. It got its name from the city of Madras. Today, this city is known as Chennai.
What Makes Madras Curry Special?
There are many ways to make Madras curry. Cooking in India often depends on what ingredients are available nearby. This means different families and regions might make it a little differently.
Key Flavors and Colors
Madras curry usually has a few special features:
- A bright red or orange color.
- A taste of toasted spices.
- A sour-sweet fruitiness, often from tamarind.
- A slight anise flavor, which is a bit like liquorice.
- The fresh taste of ginger.
The red color comes from chilli or a mix of chilli and paprika. The orange color comes from turmeric. Sometimes, extra sourness is added using lemon, lime, or vinegar.
Common Ingredients
Many Madras curries use garlic and sometimes onion or asafoetida. Spices like garam masala, coriander, and black peppercorns are also often part of the mix. Fresh curry leaves are common too. A final touch of fresh coriander is often added at the end.
Making the Spice Mix
To make the spice mix, many spices are roasted. These can include dried chillies, coriander seeds, aniseed, cumin, and cinnamon. You can roast them in an oven for about 10 minutes at 180 °C. Or, you can toast them in a dry frying pan over low heat. After roasting, these dried spices are ground into a powder. Then, turmeric is mixed in. This spice mix can be stored until you are ready to use it.
Different Ways to Store Spices
The main spice ingredients can be stored in different ways:
- As a roasted, dried, ground powder.
- As a paste made by mixing dried ingredients with vinegar.
- As an oil where spices have been soaked.
Meat and Vegetarian Options
Madras curry can be made with or without meat. If meat is used, it might be lamb, beef, or chicken. When it's made with beef, it's sometimes called Gosht Madras.
What to Eat with Madras Curry
People often eat Madras curry with raita and fresh coriander. In southern India, rice is usually the main side dish. It is more common than breads like naan. Different families might have their own favorite traditions for what to serve.
Other common additions include brown mustard seeds. These are fried until they pop. Black peppercorns are also often used. Sometimes, vinegar is added for a sour taste instead of, or along with, sour fruits.
How Madras Curry is Made
First, the dried, roasted spices are cooked in ghee (a type of clarified butter) or vegetable oil. Then, fresh ingredients like garlic and ginger are added. After that, vegetables or meat are put in. Sweet and sour ingredients, such as tamarind and lemon juice or vinegar, are added later. Finally, fresh coriander is added just before serving.
Other recipes might also include cloves, bay leaves, fenugreek, and allspice.
See also
In Spanish: Curry de Madrás para niños
