Madras Curry Powder

Curry powder blends come in many combinations, creating a wide range of possible flavors, colors, and heat levels. Madras Curry Powder is a popular blend, inspired by the flavors of southern Indian cooking. It’s the version of curry powder that most westerners expect when they imagine curry. With a fair amount of turmeric in this Madras curry recipe, it’s more of a yellow curry and has a flavor profile that’s complex, earthy, biting, slightly pungent, with just a bit of heat.

While the inspiration for Madras curry powder comes from the south of India, the name “Madras” came from British restaurants attempting to serve authentic Indian cuisine. Some Madras curry powders are quite hot, but this one is fairly moderate with most of its heat coming from the red pepper flakes.

Madras curry powder can be used in soups, stews, sauces, marinades, grilled meats, dal recipes, and veggie dishes. More unconventional uses may include potato salads, tuna salad recipes, deviled eggs, curry fries, and homemade salad dressings.