Is curry Indian or Thai? Curry is a very broad term that encompasses many different types of foods. In fact, it is used to describe most dishes that come out of India or Thailand. There are several different kinds of curries, some of which include meat, vegetables, and even fruit.
Curry is not a native term for either India or Thailand. Instead, the word “kari” is the name of a particular type of South Indian gravy dish. The word “curry,” however, came into use because the English speakers who colonized India called the food served there “curried.”
Is Curry Indian or Thai? History of the Terms
First, let’s talk about how we got our current definition of curry.
The word “curry”isn’t actually used in India or Thailand. In fact, it wasn’t even coined until the 19th century.
In 1828, Englishman William Wilberforce introduced the term “curried,” meaning “cooked in a thick sauce.” This was adopted into the Oxford English Dictionary in 1884.
This usage spread throughout England and eventually across the world.
Today, curry generally means any type of food that is cooked in a thick sauce.
Curry is typically served over rice, noodles, or flatbread like naan.
Both countries don’t use the word curry for their national dishes.
Types of Indian Curries and Thai Curries
In India, there are several varieties of curries, including fish curry, lamb curry and chicken curry. There are also vegetarian versions of each type.
The main difference among these types of curries is the meat used. For example, fish curry is prepared with fish, while chicken curry uses chicken. Vegetarian curries use vegetables and lentils.
Curry is also served with rice or bread. Rice is generally preferred over bread because it absorbs the spices better.
Thai cuisine includes many different types of curried dishes. These include beef curry, pork curry, vegetable curry, seafood curry, and chicken curry.
Fish curry is very common in Thailand. It is usually made with freshwater fish like catfish, snakehead fish, and tilapia.
Lamb curry is another popular dish in Thailand. This is typically made with mutton rather than goat meat.
Chicken curry is often found in restaurants serving Chinese food. It is similar to chicken soup, but contains lots of spice.
Vegetable curry is one of the most popular dishes in Thailand. It is often made with green beans, carrots, sweet potatoes, cabbage, and tomatoes.
Egg curry is a specialty of Bangkok. It is made with eggs poached in a rich sauce.
Difference of Indian Curries and Thai Curries
Indian cuisine is known for being spicy, while Thai food tends to be milder. But there are some similarities between both cuisines. For example, both use dried spices like cumin, coriander, and turmeric. They also contain similar ingredients such as ginger, garlic, onions, lemongrass, lime leaves, and chilies.
One big difference is how each type of curry begins. In India, you start by making a base of hot oil in a pan. Then you add a combination of dry spices including cumin, coriandar, cinnamon, and black pepper. You toast those spices until they become fragrant. Finally, you grind them into a fine powder. This process makes it easy to mix the spices together.
In Thailand, however, you begin by making a paste out of ground up spices. Once the paste is ready, you heat it in a wok or skillet over medium heat. Then you add coconut milk and stir everything together. After that, you bring the sauce to a boil and simmer it down until thickened.
Conclusion
There are many different kinds of curry around the world. Some use chicken, some fish, others beef, and still others lamb. But what makes one curry better than another? What do you think? Let us know in the comments section below.
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