Why You Want To Cook With Curry

Curry means, “sauce”, and the combination of spices that make up curry powder have numerous health benefits. It’s the perfect blend of numerous spice’s from turmeric, coriander, cardamom, sweet basil, cumin, red pepper, garlic, mustard, ginger, and cinnamon.

One of the top benefits of this mixture of spices is that it can help improve your digestive system and improve the health of your gut. Adding curry powder to your diet will promote efficient food digestion and will increase the number of good bacteria in your bowels!

Here are a few more of the best reasons to cook with curry:

  • Fights Inflammation. Turmeric is a handy yellow spice that tastes delicious while cutting down on pain and inflammation in the body. Some experts suggest it may work as well as mild anti-inflammatory drugs like Ibuprofen.

  • Aids Digestion. Cumin, black pepper, bay leaves, cinnamon, and coriander all help cut down on excess gas, bloating, diarrhea, and general digestive discomfort.

  • Builds Bone. While it's not clinically proven, some studies suggest that turmeric may promote bone growth, regrowth, and repair.

  • Prevents Cancer. One curry health benefit comes from the famously healthy spice, curcumin. Curcumin is a potent antioxidant that fights cancer-causing free radicals, and research shows that cancer levels are generally lower in countries that eat curcumin in their diet daily.

  • Boosts Heart Health. Cardamom and sweet basil are vasodilators, which can lower pressure and promote better heart health in our bodies.

  • Strengthens the Microbiome. Coriander is a well-known fighter of harmful bacteria, which can help stave off bacterial infections and keep healthy bacteria levels strong in the gut and body. It also has some pretty strong antifungal effects.

  • Lowers Blood Sugar. Though we need more research, regularly eating curry powder may help lower and regulate blood sugar levels.

  • Promotes Fullness. Some studies show that eating curry may help reduce our hunger and desire to eat, compared to other foods.

How do I use curry powder?

Indian-style curry powders are best with a substantial amount of cooking time; their flavor should be allowed to bloom and mellow, either for a long time at a simmer or added to the flavor base of onions and garlic after being sweated in some oil. Putting Indian curry powders in at the end of the cooking will provide you with a dish that's bitter and grainy; most of them have a heavy turmeric presence, and the chalky, astringent nature of turmeric needs some time to mellow.

When cooking with a powdered Thai seasoning, the spice blend is added closer to the end of the cooking time so delicate seasonings like lemongrass or basil don't dissipate into the steam after prolonged cooking. Cooking with Thai paste, though, is much like cooking with Indian spices. Heat aromatics like onion and garlic in oil first, and then add the paste and let that cook for a few moments before dispersing through the cooking liquid. Concentrated pastes need the opportunity to assimilate into the cooking medium for best flavor.

You have a number of options throughout our grocery aisles, when choosing a good quality curry product. From pre-made, ready to heat sauces, to organic curry powders, get inspired to cook something warm and wonderful!

Peggy Van Cleef