Topic: Curry leaves

[FatDuck]

Mad keen on them.. usually buy Barts freeze dried, but it's dead expensive so gonna stock up in Rushholme today..

Just wondering how long fresh will keep ??

In fridge or ??

[DalPuri]

Hi FatDuck,
I've always kept mine in the freezer. they stay fresh and loose and dont clump together like some other types of herbs.

Frank. 

[chewytikka]

Mad keen on them.. usually buy Barts freeze dried, but it's dead expensive so gonna stock up in Rushholme today..

Just wondering how long fresh will keep ??

In fridge or ??

Hi FD
I treat fresh Curry Leaves the same a Fresh Coriander.
I sort it, discard anything that looks dodgy. put in a airtight container, wrapped
in a sheet of newspaper, stick it in the fridge.
It will stay fresh for at least a month.
cheers Chewy

[colin grigson]

At the risk of appearing stupid ... I bought a bag of curry leaves .. whole dried last time I was in UK thinking they'd be really handy but I'm yet to see a recipe that uses them .. are there any uses for these leaves please ?

I don't usually buy stuff that I have no idea what to do with so this is a tad embarrassing  :

[Salvador Dhali]

At the risk of appearing stupid ... I bought a bag of curry leaves .. whole dried last time I was in UK thinking they'd be really handy but I'm yet to see a recipe that uses them .. are there any uses for these leaves please ?

I don't usually buy stuff that I have no idea what to do with so this is a tad embarrassing  :

Not embarrassing at all, Colin - I still have a bag of dried curry leaves in my cupboard and a bag of frozen fresh ones in my freezer from yonks ago. My hand regularly passes them when I'm reaching for the coriander, and I think, "Hmm... Must use those...", then I forget about them. Shame, as the fresh leaves are really nice.

They don't feature too much in BIR dishes, but you'll find them in a fair few recipes for traditional cuisine (mainly South Indian cuisine, which uses them a lot).

When I remember, I occasionally use fresh curry leaves in some vegetable dishes (IMO the fresh leaves are a different animal. Dried curry leaves just don't release the same lovely nutty flavour when placed in hot oil).

Do a search for 'curry leaves' on Google and I guarantee that loads of recipes will pop up.
 

[Aussie Mick]

When I remember, I occasionally use fresh curry leaves in some vegetable dishes (IMO the fresh leaves are a different animal. Dried curry leaves just don't release the same lovely nutty flavour when placed in hot oil).

I agree. Fresh curry leaves really do give off a very addictive flavour. When frozen, it isn't quite the same.

Jamie Oliver has a recipe in one of his books which is actually very nice. Not BIR, but very nice all the same. If anyone is keen, i will dig it out and post it .....just say the word.

[chewytikka]

At the risk of appearing stupid ... I bought a bag of curry leaves .. whole dried last time I was in UK thinking they'd be really handy but I'm yet to see a recipe that uses them .. are there any uses for these leaves please ?

I don't usually buy stuff that I have no idea what to do with so this is a tad embarrassing  :

Hi Colin
Fresh curry leaves DO have a place in BIR these days.
Just depends on the Restaurant.
Only use fresh, if you can source them. Fantastic Nutty Flavour.
I bought some yesterday, 60p - thought it was summer already.



Here's a recipe and video link I posted last year :-
http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=5601.msg55009#msg55009

I use them regularly, but only when fresh.

cheers Chewy

[colin grigson]

Thanks Chewy !!

Unfortunately I have more chance of winning the million pound premium bond draw than finding fresh curry leaves in Slovakia ... plenty of dill and parsley ... if only BIRs used handfulls of those !!   
 

[Unclefrank]

I use a few curry leaves added to rice dishes as well.
I will give you a word of warning, once you have tried these little leaves in a dish you will crave them all the time, i cant get enough of them.
Chewy that,s the recipe i cant get enough of.

[martinvic]

Funnily enough, I used some dried ones for the first time over the weekend.
They were used in a recipe for a home made Balti masala/spice mix.

Haven't cooked with it yet, but smells lovely because the majority of it is whole spices/leaves that you grind yourself.

Martin