Before I got settled on a curry base, I experimented a lot
I got quite good results using canned tomatoes, garlic and ginger
If you check out Pat Chapmans first restaurant curry book, there is a recipe called Pakistani Curry Gravy
This involves milk,canned tomatoes,oil,sugar & salt
Ther are a few spices in it too including garlic powder (it has to be garlic powder)
It's really good
My kids loved this recipe for years