The UK now celebrates National Curry Week every October. Curry is so popular that it contributes more than £5bn to the British economy (Debabrata Mukherjee).
Although curry is an Indian dish modified for British tastes, today there are more Indian restaurants in Greater London than in Delhi and Mumbai combined. As Robin Cook aptly puts it, this national popularity of curry is a “perfect illustration of the way Britain absorbs and adapts external influences”. (Debabrata Mukherjee).
Curry originated in the Indian subcontinent and the word comes from the Indian Tamil word “Kari”meaning a sauce or soup to be eaten with rice.
Although there are different types of Indian curries, all come down to a few basic ingredients, such as cooked onion, garlic, ginger, mounds of spices and a liquid base to bring it all together.
However, it is easier said than done, as making the Indian curry is more about technique than the ingredients. This is why the cookware being used in the whole dish preparation makes a big difference in how the dish will taste.
In this blog, we will be discussing the best cookware for Indian curries to help you best equip your kitchen.
Sauté Pans:
Sauté pans cook super-fast, and can also help in steaming vegetables, rice and legumes before they are transferred into the gravy.
WOK (KADHAI)
Wok, called a Kadhai in India, is probably one of the most important pieces of cookware in the Indian kitchen. It is basically a round deep pan, made from heavy metal and has handles on each side.
Along with cooking curries, the wok is used for other things like stir-frying and sautéing. The round bottom makes it perfect for cooking any dish that has a lot of gravy and the shape also allows food to be served in it, which gives a meal that authentic Indian feel and look.
The traditional Indian woks are made with a variety of metals, such as stainless steel, aluminium and non-stick materials. They often come with stands as well as lids.
Some of the Indian dishes like Kadhai Paneer and Chicken Kadhai, are also named after this pan just because they can only be cooked in it.
UNA NON-STICK RANGE
If you are just starting out with making Indian food, you should choose 1-2 items from the above list of best cookware for Indian curries. But if you are a seasoned cook, try to collect as many authentic items so that you can make a complete delicious home-cooked Indian meal at home.