Is McCormick curry powder spicy?
In this brief guide, we will answer the question “Is McCormick curry powder spicy?” and tell you what curry powder is. We will also tell you if you can use curry powder instead of curry paste and mention some uses for McCormick curry powder.
Is McCormick curry powder spicy?
McCormick curry powder is not very spicy, it is relatively mild. It contains a bunch of aromatic spices which come together to make a flavorful curry.
Some of the ingredients present in it are coriander, fenugreek, bay leaves, nutmeg, onion, ginger, red pepper, and others.
What is curry powder?
Curry powder is a complex mixture of 20 or more different spices and herbs. The main component of most curry powders is usually turmeric. Other ingredients that are sometimes used are ginger, garlic, cinnamon, paprika, saffron, nutmeg, tamarind, and cumin. It can range from mild to spicy.
There is no fixed list of ingredients. Any blend can be made in different ratios of spices. This is why they differ in taste. Curry powders are also available in boxes in stores. They are ready made and differ in taste from brand to brand.
Similarly, in homemade powders, one can add more chillies to increase spiciness or alternatively, use less chillies if they like mild food.
It is believed by many to be a staple of Indian cuisine when in fact, it is not. The concept of curry powder comes from the British. It is their take on Indian cuisine.
Indian inspired curry powders are most famous. On the other hand, there are other curry powders from around the world which have distinct flavors and each of them are unique in their own way depending on the type of ingredients used to make them.
In Thai cuisine, curries are very famous. Red, yellow and green are the most famous curries. They get their names from the main ingredient used to make them which give them their distinct flavor and color.
For example, the main ingredients in Thai red curry are red chillies and paprika. Red chillies give the curry a vibrant red color and also make it one of the most spiciest curries. The main ingredient in yellow curry is turmeric and the main ingredient in green curry is green chillies.
These curries are usually made with coconut milk to give them a nice and smooth texture. They can be eaten with meat and vegetables. They can be eaten with chicken or fish, and sometimes beef. The vegetables used are green, red and yellow bell peppers, onions, carrots, shallots, ginger, and garlic.
Can I use curry powder in place of curry paste?
No, you can not use curry powder in place of curry paste because the final dish made with curry powder will not have the same flavor profile as the dish made with curry paste.
The same is true for when you are trying to substitute curry paste in place of curry powder. The two have very different texture and flavor profiles. Just because they share the same word “curry”, does not mean they can be used interchangeably.
How do you turn curry powder into paste?
In order to turn curry powder into paste, you will need:
- Diced onions
- Garlic cloves
- Water
- Blender
- Curry powder
Put water, garlic cloves, and onions in a blender and blend well. Once it has blended, add curry powder and blend again. Keep blending until everything comes together. Use a spatula to scrape the sides of the blender as you do not want any unblended portions.
Once it is done, transfer to an airtight jar and store it in the refrigerator for use when required.
Ideally, curry powder and curry paste should not be used interchangeably because they both belong to different cuisines and have different flavor profiles.
Learn about the differences between curry powder and curry paste here.
What are the uses of McCormick curry powder?
Other than making curries, McCormick curry powder can be used to make salad dressings such as it can be used in egg salads or mixed with other salad dressings. You can also sprinkle it on top of hummus or popcorn for a bit of a kick.
Additionally, you can use it to give a nice flavor to your roasted vegetables.
Other FAQs about Curry that you may be interested in.
How long does prawn curry last in fridge?
How many tablespoons is 50g of curry paste?
How much curry paste do I use?
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we answered the question “Is McCormick curry powder spicy?” and told you what curry powder is. We also told you if you can use curry powder instead of curry paste and mentioned some uses for McCormick curry powder.
