September 6, 2016
From the hot touch of a bhuna to the cool and collected warmth of a korma, curry is definitely a staple in many South Asian cuisines. Over the years, the dish has spread way beyond the Indian subcontinent and has become incorporated into cultures worldwide.
Historians have traced the origins of curry back to civilisations in the Indus Valley which extends across modern day Indian and Pakistan. Traces of coked turmeric and ginger left inside a cooking pot dated between 2500 and 2200 B.C.E were analysed during a study published in the Journal Science and although it is difficult to know for certain whether the ancient leftover spices were used to make curry, it is expected they may have served as a prototype for the dishes we know today.
In fact, not all researchers agree on the origins of the word itself; some believe the word curry stems from the French word cuire, meaning ‘to cook’, whilst others believe it comes from the Tamil word kari or sauce which was originally a thin spicy gravy which was with vegetables and meat.
Today, curry has spread across the globe to many continents. In fact, in the United Kingdom, the dish has become such a staple, we have adopted the Chicken Tikka Masala as our natural dish and curry in general is celebrated during National Curry Week.
Indian traveller Sake Dean Mahomed opened the first Indian restaurant in the United Kingdom in 1810; bringing authentic Indian cuisine to the streets of London. Since then many other Indian restaurants have opened, including our very own Nawaab – the best Indian restaurant Manchester has to offer! With its authentic taste and premium quality food, you’ll regret not booking a table today!
