CategoriesCooking Basics

Curry Leaves – Know All About This Aromatic Spice

Curry Leaves – Know All About This Aromatic Spice

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Curry leaves get their name from the Tamil word ‘Kari’, meaning spicy. The curry tree is usually small to average in size and its leaves are highly aromatic. It is widely used in Indian recipes, especially for tempering or sauteing. Curry leaves are also a staple in Sri Lankan, Cambodia, and Thailand based dishes. They are known to have a slightly bitter yet sweet pungent taste. Although, once cooked it is quite nutty in flavor. It is one of the most essential herbs and can be consumed daily in different forms. Curry leaves are known to be therapeutic and have many health benefits. Order organic food online today.

Curry Leaves Benefits

Following are some of the many health benefits of incorporating curry leaves in your diet –

  • Aids in weight loss
  • Effective in treating diabetes
  • Help keep the infections away
  • Balancing the levels of cholesterol
  • Facilitates healthier growth of hair
  • Increases hemoglobin and prevents anemia
  • Reduces the chances of night blindness

Curry Leaves Non – Culinary Uses

  • Curry Leaf Oil

You can prepare this simple oil with few kitchen ingredients and feel the difference in your hair from first use itself. You will need –

  • Coconut oil (Organic or Cold Pressed is preferred)
  • Curry leaves
  • Indian gooseberry (Optional)
  • Fenugreek seeds (Optional)

In a pan, heat coconut oil and add the curry leaves. When you see a black residue forming around the leaves, turn off the flame and allow the mix to sit in the oil for at least a day. Pour it in a spritz bottle and massage it onto your scalp for 15-20 minutes. Leave the oil overnight for the best results. For an alternate version, you can add amla pieces and fenugreek seeds while heating the oil.

  • Curry Leaves Hair Mask

Take some curry leaves and water and grind them into a thick paste. In a bowl add some yogurt, and mix one spoon of the paste in it. Apply this to your hair from roots to tips and wash with a mild shampoo after 30 minutes. Use this mask once a week for thick, lustrous hair.

  • Curry Leaves Face Pack

The curry leaves paste will come in handy for a face mask too. Just add a spoon of curry leaves paste, few drops of rose water, and a pinch of turmeric powder and apply it to your face. Wash it off with lukewarm water after 15-20 minutes. Apply this pack once a week to witness glowing and pimple-free skin.

Curry Leaves in Recipes

Curry leaves are an essential part of most Indian cuisines like dals, curries, and soups. Take a look at some delicious recipes which you can prepare at home –

  • Curry Leaves Chutney

In a grinder add freshly washed curry leaves, onion, roasted Bengal gram dal, green chilies, tamarind, and salt. Add water according to consistency. Blend well and serve chilled.

  • Dhokla

In a bowl add gram flour, turmeric, salt, sugar, and citric acid. Blend well and add water to ensure they are no lumps. Take a glass and add baking powder and water. Add this to the batter and mix well. Grease the steaming pot with oil and pour in the Dhokla batter. Steam for about 15-20 minutes. Similar to a cake, stick a knife into the batter. If the knife comes clean, it means the batter is cooked. Cut the Dhokla into pieces. In a pan, add oil and splutter mustard seeds, red chilies, and curry leaves. Pour this on top of the cut pieces. Serve with chutney of choice.

  • Curry Leaf Rice

First, boil the rice and let it cool once cooked. Then in a pan add some oil and fry urad dal with crushed black pepper, salt, and cumin. Add curry leaves and sauté it with the mix. Remove it and grind it coarsely. In another pan, pour ghee and roast some cashews in it. Add the cooked rice, coarse curry powder, and mix well. Serve it with curd.

  • Kadi

In a wide bowl, add thick curd, turmeric, and gram flour. Mix till it forms a thick consistency. Now in a pan, add oil and splutter cumin, then in a low flame add the yogurt mix and keep on stirring so that it doesn’t sit to the bottom of the pan. Give it a boil and cook for 5-10 minutes on low flame. In a separate pan, add oil, dry red chilies, and curry leaves. Pour this tempering into the kadi and add salt. Serve with rice.

Apart from these recipes, you can add curry leaves to almost all savory dishes for extra nourishment. Order online from a healthy food store today.