• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • About
  • Cookbooks
  • Shop

Chili Pepper Madness logo

  • Recipe Index
  • RECIPES BY TYPE
    • BBQ/Grilled
    • Burgers
    • Chicken Wings
    • Chili
    • Curry
    • Dehydrator
    • Game Day
    • Hot Sauces
    • Jalapeno Poppers
    • Marinades
    • Pickling
    • Preserving
    • Quick and Easy
    • Salsas
    • Sauces
    • Seasonings
    • Stuffed Peppers
    • Tacos
  • COOKING TIPS
  • Pepper Info
    • Chili Pepper Types
    • The Scoville Scale
    • Hottest Peppers in the World
    • Growing Chili Peppers
    • Preserving
    • Health Benefits
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Buy Plants & Seeds
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • All Recipes
  • Pepper Info
  • Chili Pepper Types
  • The Scoville Scale
  • Growing Chili Peppers
  • Preserving
  • Chili Pepper Health Benefits
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Cooking Tips
  • Cookbooks
  • Shop
  • About Us
×

Home » Homemade Curry Powder

Homemade Curry Powder

by Mike Hultquist · Jun 20, 2022 · 24 Comments

Jump to Recipe
Curry Powder Recipe

A simple homemade curry powder recipe you can make easily with readily available ingredients so you can make your favorite curry recipes at home anytime you’d like.

Curry Powder Mix

If you're a spicy food lover like me, you probably love a good curry. Curries come in so many shapes and sizes flavor-wise. They vary from place to place, and even a single location may have multiple varieties, but the one thing they have in common is BIG CURRY FLAVOR.

The thing you need to understand about the term "curry" is that while it is typically associated with Indian cuisine, it is a term invented by the West that doesn't actually refer to any specific Indian cuisine. It is really just a general term referring to a spice blend.

So what exactly IS curry powder?

What is Curry Powder?

Curry powder is a blend of spices and herbs originating from India used to flavor food. It tends to focus on big and bold flavors, like dried and ground chili peppers, turmeric, cumin, cardamom, curry leaf and more.

Curry spice blends vary from region to region in India and throughout the world, depending on the region, the availability of ingredients as well as the preference of the curry blend maker.

There is no singular curry powder just as there is no singular recipe for curry.

Curry has spread around the world from India. You'll find it now in many regions, such as Japanese curry, Jamaican curry, Thai curry and more.

Interestingly, the word "curry" is actually a creation of the West, having appeared in in British cookbooks in the 18th century, borrowing ingredients from Indian culture and cuisine, similar to garam masala.

Curry Powder ingredients

Typical Ingredients in Curry Powder

The ground spices used in Indian curry blends do vary from region to region, but some common ingredients in curry powder include a base of the following:

  • Coriander
  • Turmeric
  • Cumin
  • Fenugreek
  • Ground Chili Peppers, such as cayenne pepper.

Other additional ingredients might include:

  • Asafoetida (Hing spice)
  • Caraway
  • Cinnamon
  • Clove
  • Ginger
  • Garlic
  • Fennel Seed
  • Mustard Seed
  • Green and/or Black Cardamom
  • Nutmeg
  • White Turmeric
  • Curry Leaf
  • Black pepper
  • Others, depending on the preferred flavor profile.

Of course you can use a store bought blend of curry spice mix for your recipes, but it is so much more fun and interesting to make your own blends at home. This allows you to customize it to your own personal tastes.

It also allows you to make different blends that you can use for different recipes.

This particular recipe is a basic curry powder recipe that you can use in any simple curry dish or other Indian food for easy weeknight cooking.

Let's talk about how to make curry powder.

Mixing up my homemade Curry Powder

Curry Powder Ingredients - What is Curry Powder Made Of?

There are a numerous possible ingredients to make different curry powders, but the following ingredients will make a great general curry seasoning blend:

  • Cardamom
  • Ground Coriander
  • Cumin
  • Dry Mustard
  • Turmeric
  • Cayenne Powder (use Kashmiri powder if you can find it for medium heat – use paprika for a milder version)
  • Ground Ginger
  • Black Pepper

How to Make Your Own Curry Powder Recipe

Mix together the following ingredients together in a small bowl - cardamom, ground coriander, cumin, dry mustard, turmeric, cayenne powder, ground ginger and black pepper.

Be sure to mix the ingredients enough until they are well combined.

Store in an airtight container until ready to use.

Makes ¼ cup.

Curry Powder in a bowl, with a spoon

About the Chili Peppers / Chili Powders

There is a variability of chili peppers used in curries, and if you dry your own chilies for making powders, you are free to use any of them in your recipes.

The most commonly used are Kashmiri peppers, which are more local to India, though cayenne and paprika are common and easy to obtain.

I like to include ghost pepper powder in some of my curries for the added heat and flavor, though that might be a bit hot for the general consumer. Chiliheads will love the addition, though, so feel free to experiment with ghost peppers and other superhot chili peppers to your liking.

Curry Powder Vs. Garam Masala

People often asks, are curry powder and garam masala the same thing? They answer is - No, curry powder and garam masala are not the same, though they are quite similar.

Garam masala is often used as a finishing spice, while curry is used more in general cooking, though both can used in this way. The name "Garam Masala" translates to "hot spice blend" from Hindi, where "curry" refers to the sauce used for flavoring.

Garam masala tends to be much stronger in flavor because of the robust seasonings used to make it, where many curry spice blends tend to be milder in comparison.

Fragrant Garam Masala, ready to use

Recipe Tips & Notes

You can use pre-ground powdered spices to make your own curry blends, but if you'd like a fresher, more boldly flavored curry, start with seeds if possible, such as cumin seeds, coriander seeds, fennel seeds, etc.

For more developed flavor, lightly toast the seeds in a dry pan until they become fragrant, then grind them in a spice grinder or with a mortar and pestle. Then, mix them as desired.

Store in an airtight container for freshness and enjoy as needed.

How Long Does Curry Powder Last?

Homemade curry powder will last a long time, but is best when used within 3 months. It will start to lose potency after 3 months. Curry is best stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place.

That's it, my friends! What's your favorite curry? Is it an easy curry chicken? Madras curry powder? Vindaloo? Do you prefer coconut milk? Let me know! Always happy to talk curry with you. Time to get cooking! Keep it spicy.

Try Some of My Popular Curry Recipes

  • Chicken Vindaloo
  • Ghost Pepper Chicken Curry
  • Khao Soi – Northern Thai Coconut Curry Soup
  • Sweet and Spicy Cashew Chicken
  • Easy Chickpea Curry
  • Thai Shrimp Curry
  • Red Lentil Curry
  • Homemade Yellow Curry Powder
  • Red Curry Paste
  • Green Curry Paste
  • Panang Curry Paste (Prik Gaeng Panang)
  • More Curry Recipes

TRY SOME OF MY OTHER HOMEMADE SEASONING BLENDS

  • Vindaloo Curry Powder Recipe
  • Jamaican Curry Powder
  • Homemade Chili Powder
  • Homemade Cajun Seasonings
  • Homemade Taco Seasoning
  • Baharat - Middle Eastern Spice Blend
  • Spice Blends Recipes
Curry Powder in a bowl, with a spoon

Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.

Curry Powder Recipe
Print

Homemade Curry Powder Recipe

A simple homemade curry powder recipe you can make easily with readily available ingredients so you can make curry recipes at home anytime you’d like.
Course: Main Course, Seasonings
Cuisine: American, Indian, Thai
Keyword: curry, recipe, seasoning, spicy
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 1 minute
Total Time: 6 minutes
Calories: 5kcal
Author: Mike Hultquist
Servings: 12 teaspoons
Tap or hover to scale
4.89 from 9 votes
Leave a Review

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon cardamom
  • 1 tablespoon ground coriander
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne powder use Kashmiri powder if you can find it – use paprika for a milder version
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Mix all of the ingredients together in a small bowl.
  • Store in an airtight container until ready to use.

Notes

Makes ¼ cup.
The curry seasoning blend will last a long time, but is best when used within 3 months. It will start to lose potency after 3 months.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 5kcal   Sodium: 1mg   Potassium: 26mg   Vitamin A: 85IU   Vitamin C: 1.2mg   Calcium: 7mg   Iron: 0.5mg
Curry Powder Recipe
Did You Enjoy This Recipe?I love hearing how you like it and how you made it your own. Leave a comment below and tag @ChiliPepperMadness on social media.

NOTE: This recipe was updated on 6/20/22 to include new information. It was originally published on 6/19/19.

Categories: Asian Tags: Chili Pepper Madness, chili pepper recipe, Indian, thai

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Alexandria kling says

    June 25, 2022 at 9:39 am

    5 stars
    OK,I have tried this and it is very good(I don*t do coriander so I hit a little fennel instead)I have just had some with potato wedges,Perfect and thankyou...A

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      June 25, 2022 at 10:13 am

      Wonderful! Glad you enjoyed it, Alexandria!

      Reply
  2. Mary Mendonca says

    June 21, 2022 at 12:38 am

    4 stars
    Thanks for sharing. But, is the curry powder same as garam masala

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      June 21, 2022 at 5:45 am

      5 stars
      Mary, no, it's not the same, though there are several similar ingredients. So much depends on ratios. Best.

      Reply
  3. Kara Kinowski says

    June 01, 2022 at 5:16 pm

    5 stars
    I have bought SO MANY curry powders from the store and they are all terrible. THIS on the other hand help me make the first successful curry dinner I've made in 5 years! So happy.

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      June 01, 2022 at 6:03 pm

      Wonderful! Glad to be helpful, Kara! I love to hear it! Thanks for sharing. =)

      Reply
  4. CenturyFoods says

    August 20, 2021 at 2:04 am

    5 stars
    I love your homemade curry powder. How long does the powder stay after mixing together.

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      August 20, 2021 at 6:27 am

      Thanks. I personally like to use mine within 3 months, when it is most potent, though it will last much, much longer.

      Reply
  5. Patrice says

    January 21, 2021 at 9:17 am

    We have a family member with a severe allergy to black and white pepper. How would you adjust the recipe to accommodate that?
    And thanks!

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      January 21, 2021 at 12:02 pm

      Patrice, you can skip the black pepper and add in more cayenne. I hope this helps.

      Reply
  6. Michael Miller says

    November 18, 2020 at 5:45 pm

    Hi Mike - looking forward to trying this with variations for a number of different dishes! For cardamom, do you use green or black pods. I'm guessing black given the savory/spicy angle but was curious to learn more as I have zero experience with it myself.

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      November 28, 2020 at 11:37 am

      Michael, I use a touch of green powder, but I would definitely experiment so you can see which you prefer. Have fun, and good luck!

      Reply
  7. Seema Malhotra says

    August 27, 2020 at 7:16 am

    5 stars
    Hi Michael
    Which mustard to use three available
    N should I grind it
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      August 27, 2020 at 7:29 am

      Seema, use yellow mustard seed, though brown and black will both work. If using seed, yes, grind or crush it for consistency. I used mustard powder for my recipe. Enjoy!

      Reply
  8. michael says

    July 11, 2020 at 9:02 am

    i have 3 year old datil plants and I can't keep up with the production. any sauces with datil?

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      July 11, 2020 at 10:10 am

      Michael, I surely go. Check out my Datil Pepper Hot Sauce Recipe. Enjoy! https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/recipes/datil-pepper-sauce/

      Reply
  9. Gary Finch says

    June 11, 2020 at 11:12 am

    5 stars
    Hi Mike - i have a question relating to 'kashmiri' chillies - a lot of restaurant style 'indian' recipes call for Kasmiri chilli powder - with what's happening in UK at present this is difficult to source - if i'm making a 'wet' style dish any reason not to rehydrate dried kashmiri chilies and chop add with the onion and garlic etc? my partner doesn't want me grinding them up in our spice grinder

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      June 11, 2020 at 11:55 am

      Hello, Gary. Absolutely, you can cook it that way. You'll get very similar results in the end. Let me know how it turns out for you. Enjoy!

      Reply
  10. Lallie Pillay says

    June 11, 2020 at 3:48 am

    5 stars
    Thank You and God Bless for sharing such amazing recipes and different flavours
    Your combination of spices really boost flavours and taste.
    Iam an Indian from South Africa with grandparents from India
    Curries are not British origin,it will never be
    It was stolen from Indians.

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      June 11, 2020 at 6:03 am

      Thanks, Lallie. I appreciate it.

      Reply
  11. Shanti says

    May 29, 2020 at 1:55 am

    5 stars
    Well done

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      May 29, 2020 at 5:50 am

      Thanks!

      Reply
  12. AVNI S TILVAWALA says

    November 11, 2019 at 10:26 am

    Hi Thanks for the recipes. I came here originally to look for a curry blend. By no means am I trying to be disrespectful but some of the information you have provided is incorrect. Curry is NOT Indian. It's a British invention furthermore garam masala is NOT a finishing spice. It tends to be the center focus to many Indian curries and gravies.

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      November 17, 2019 at 2:16 pm

      Avni, thank you for your comments. You are correct that "curry" is a Western term invented to name a seasoning blend that focuses on ingredients common to India, similar to a Garam Masala. I've made that clearer in the text. Also, please note that I do mention that garama masala is not ONLY a finishing spice, though it can be. I appreciate your comments!

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

ALL. SPICY. RECIPES. Hi, I’m Mike and I LOVE Spicy Food! Say goodbye to bland and boring food with my easy-to-follow recipes. Let’s get cooking!

More about me →

Mexican
Cajun
Sauces
Seasonings

5 ESSENTIALS FOR SPICY COOKING

Subscribe and receive my FREE email series with tips for spicy cooking and new Recipes

Order The Spicy Food Lovers' Cookbook by Mike Hultquist

AMAZON / BARNES & NOBLE / INDIEBOUND / BOOKS A MILLION

Order The Spicy Dehydrator Cookbook by Mike Hultquist

AMAZON / BARNES & NOBLE / INDIEBOUND

Most Popular Recipes

  • Bang Bang Chicken
  • Creamy Fish Taco Sauce
  • Mexican Birria Recipe
  • Homemade Blackening Seasoning
  • Michelada Recipe - Spicy Mexican Beer and Tomato Juice Cocktail
  • Pollo Guisado Recipe (Chicken Stew)

Footer

NEVER MISS A RECIPE

Receive my "5 Essentials for Spicy Cooking" email series & new recipes

↑ back to top

About | Contact | Travel-Food | Stories | Privacy | Disclaimer | © 2022 Chili Pepper Madness

EXCLUSIVE MEMBER OF MEDIAVINE FOOD