No, curry is not a single spice. It's more accurate to say that curry is both a dish and a blend of spices.
Understanding Curry's Dual Nature
The term "curry" encompasses several meanings, leading to confusion:
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Curry as a Dish: Curry refers to a wide variety of savory dishes originating from the Indian subcontinent. These dishes are characterized by the use of spices, but the specific spices and preparation methods vary widely depending on the region and recipe.
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Curry as a Spice Blend: "Curry powder" is a pre-mixed blend of various spices, herbs, and sometimes other ingredients. This blend is used to create the flavor profile associated with curry dishes. Common spices in curry powder include turmeric, coriander, cumin, and chili powder. The exact composition, however, differs widely based on brand and recipe. Sources like Spices Inc highlight that curry powder utilizes many globally sought-after spices. Chef Zieg notes that curry flavor is complex. The Reddit discussion points out the similarity between curry powder and garam masala, but with additional spices often included.
Several websites provide recipes for homemade curry powder blends, highlighting the variability of its ingredients. Examples include the recipe from The Vegan 8 which illustrates the typical range of spices in a common blend, and Slow Cooker Gourmet demonstrates its versatility as a seasoning in various dishes. Even a simple homemade blend, as shown on Simple, Sassy and Scrumptious, emphasizes the adaptability of the blend's composition. My Heart Beets clarifies the distinction between curry powder and curry leaves, showing further variety in this group of spices.
The Wikipedia entry on curry powder explicitly states its origin and its distinction from garam masala, another Indian spice blend. The Rice Select blog post, meanwhile, expands on this by exploring curry in its three most common forms: dish, spice blend, and paste. Therefore, understanding "curry" requires considering its multifaceted nature, which includes being a dish and a spice blend.
