A World of Curries: North and West Africa

Dave DeWitt A World of Curries Leave a Comment

By Dave DeWitt Recipes: Tunisian Five-Spice Powder Ras El Hanout Harissa Nigerian Coconut-Curry Soup Curried Lamb Balls Moroccan Majoun Africa has the most varied curries in the world–with the possible exception of India. They range from spice mixtures with aphrodisiac beetles to scaldingly hot chile pepper blends to elegant weekend curry lunches at the club.  The contrasting curries reflect the …

A World of Curries: The Curry Pantry

Dave DeWitt A World of Curries, Africa, Asia, Caribbean, India Leave a Comment

By Dave DeWitt Note: This is a glossary of the most common ingredients in world curries. I have eliminated some of the more common foods that are curried, such as meats, seafood, fruits, and vegetables, and have concentrated on herbs, spices, seasonings, flavorings, and unusual condiments. Ajowan (Carum copticum).  Called “Bishop’s weed” in some parts of Africa, it is a hairy …

A World of Curries: Spice Islands Curries

Dave DeWitt A World of Curries, Asia Leave a Comment

by Dave DeWitt      Recipes: Indonesian Chile Paste Curry Puffs Curried Coconut Beef White Chicken Curry Prawn Curry Singapore Fish Head Curry    The original Spice Islands were the Moluccas, those remote isles of cloves and nutmeg that lie 1,500 miles east of Djakarta, Indonesia.  But throughout history, the location of the Spice Islands gradually broadened to include all …

A World of Curries: Golden Triangle Curries

Dave DeWitt A World of Curries, Asia Leave a Comment

By Dave DeWitt Recipes: Swimming Chicken Curry Thai Red Curry Paste Thai Green Curry Paste Lemongrass Curry Laotian Catfish Curry Vietnamese Chicken Curry The region we now call Southeast Asia was once referred to as Indo-China–so named by the west because the countries ringing the Golden Triangle displayed the influences of both India and China.  Although the term “Golden Triangle” …

A World of Curries: The Migration of Curries

Dave DeWitt A World of Curries, Asia, India Leave a Comment

By Dave DeWitt Recipes: Nutty Curried Lamb from Sind Curried Lamb Shanks Ghurka Pork Curry Spicy Lime Chicken Biryani Spiced and Baked Fish Curries have never stayed in one place.  As a natural result of trade, migration, and foreign invaders, they first spread through India and then into the neighboring countries.  As they moved, changes in ingredients and methods of …