4 Ways to Use Curry Leaves

First of all, if you are reading this and thinking it has something to do with curry powder, you are wrong. Curry leaves are a herb that may also be used for cooking while curry powder is a spice. That said, these leaves have several benefits, and knowing how to prepare them can let you enjoy the benefits as well as enjoy the aromatic flavor.

Air dry and Sprinkle

Air drying curry leaves is an easy way to preserve them and it doesn’t rob it of its flavor. After drying, they can be crushed by hand to makes small particles that can be sprinkled onto several dishes. They can either be added as you cook or after cooking. It provides savory flavor and aroma to the dish, especially dal, try our chicken and coconut dal

Fry in Ghee

You can make a delicious additive for food by releasing the curry flavor into ghee and add it to different dishes like you would do with ketchup. For best results, ensure the ghee is heated at a very high temperature before you add the fresh leaves and let them sauté for about 5 minutes. This might destroy some of the health benefits of the leaves, but the taste is amazing.

Chew the Leaves

If you would like to get the raw health benefits of these leaves, you can chew them fresh on an empty stomach. They are rich in minerals like iron, nicotinic acid, phosphorous, and calcium. One of the benefits is slowing down hair loss. You also get to enjoy the citrus flavor in your mouth as you chew the leaves.

Prepare Tadka

Tadka is a favorite Indian cuisine of many people. It is made using the leaves, oil, ghee, mustard seeds along with other spices of choice. Tadka is a base full of aroma and can be added to several dishes just before serving. It is prepared by heating the oil and then adding the different ingredients to sauté. This can take between 5 and 10 minutes. The mixture of the different flavors will excite the palate.

Make Flavored Oil

A bit similar to Tadka, you can make flavored oil for use in different cuisines. The curry is added to hot oil and allowed to sauté as all the flavor is absorbed by the oil. The leaves are then removed and the oil is stored for use. It can be used to glaze fish before roasting or cooking. The leaves can also be stored and sprinkled in food either while cooling or just before serving.

Storing Curry Leaves

If you have bought more than you can use, you need to store the leaves properly to preserve their flavor. The best way to store them is in an airtight container. You can choose to dry them first and then store them in the airtight container. Alternatively, you can freeze them so that they last even longer (about 3 months). It is advised to wash the leaves before storage and then clean off the water droplets before storage.

Feel free to experiment other ways to use this amazing flavoring and share your experience here.