Easy Curry Sauce

4.0
(55)

This curry sauce is versatile and can be served as a main course with meats and vegetables or as a sauce for dipping or spicing up veggie side dishes. It's great over baked potatoes, too.

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A bowl of rice covered in basic curry sauce, topped with cilantro and served with naan
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Prep Time:
15 mins
Cook Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
45 mins
Servings:
8
Yield:
4 cups

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons peanut oil

  • 1 tablespoon margarine

  • 1 large onion, chopped

  • 2 tablespoons minced garlic

  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger root

  • 2 tablespoons ground coriander

  • 2 tablespoons ground cumin

  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric

  • 2 tomatoes

  • 2 serrano chile peppers, seeded

  • ½ cup fresh cilantro

  • ½ cup yogurt, whisked until smooth

  • 3 cups water

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients.

    Ingredients to make basic curry sauce

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Heat oil and margarine in a small skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté until very brown, 10 to 15 minutes; do not undercook or sauce will taste funny.

    A skillet with browned chopped onions

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. Add garlic and ginger to onions; sauté for an additional 2 minutes.

    A pan of browned garlic, ginger, and onions

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  4. Transfer mixture to a food processor and blend until smooth. Do not rinse the food processor. Place blended onion mixture in a large saucepan. Stir in coriander, cumin, cinnamon, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and turmeric; cook over low heat until mixture is thick and has a paste-like consistency.

    A food processor with processed cooked onions

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  5. Purée tomatoes, chile peppers, and cilantro in the food processor until smooth.

    A food processor with processed tomato, chile peppers, and cilantro

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  6. Add to onion mixture and stir over low heat, cooking off moisture from tomatoes and peppers.

    A pan with the pureed onion mixture and the pureed tomato mixture being stirred with a wooden spoon

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  7. Add yogurt a little bit at a time, stirring constantly to avoid curdling.

    A pan of pureed seasoned onions and tomatoes being stirred with yogurt

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  8. Blend mixture in the food processor until smooth

    A food processor with processed curried yogurt sauce

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  9. Return to saucepan, add water, and increase heat to high; bring sauce to a rolling boil. Cover saucepan and boil for 3 to 5 minutes.

    A pan of curry sauce being stirred with a wooden spoon

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  10. Reduce heat and simmer until desired consistency is reached.

    A bowl of rice covered in basic curry sauce, topped with cilantro and served with naan

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Serving Suggestions:

To serve with meat: Cook meat separately, then simmer in sauce for 5 to 10 minutes before serving over rice or with bread.

To serve with vegetables: Steam raw veggies until tender, 4 to 5 minutes, then simmer in sauce for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

75 Calories
6g Fat
6g Carbs
2g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Calories 75
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 6g 7%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 1mg 0%
Sodium 35mg 2%
Total Carbohydrate 6g 2%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Protein 2g 3%
Vitamin C 4mg 4%
Calcium 69mg 5%
Iron 2mg 8%
Potassium 144mg 3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

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