Masala vs Curry
Masala and Curry are often confused terms in Indian cuisine, as many people are not familiar with their individual meanings. Curry refers to a cooked vegetable or meat dish with spices and salt, while masala is a mix of spices used in a curry to enhance its flavor and taste. It is essential to understand the difference between these two terms in order to differentiate them.
What is Curry?
Curry is a dish made from cooked vegetables, meat, or seafood combined with spices and salt. It can be categorized into two types: vegetarian curry and non-vegetarian curry. Vegetarian curry is made from vegetables, mushrooms, lentils, paneer, and more, while non-vegetarian curry is made from meat, chicken, fish, and other animal-based ingredients. There is a misconception that a curry is always fried and requires a lot of oil for its preparation, but this is not entirely true. Some curries are cooked using coconut milk, resulting in a less spicy dish. However, the level of spiciness in a curry can be adjusted according to one’s preference by adding spicy ingredients such as masala or chili.
Key Takeaways
- Curry refers to a cooked dish composed of vegetables or meat with spices and salt, while masala is a mix of spices used to enhance the flavor and taste of curry.
- There are two main types of curry: vegetarian and non-vegetarian, and there are various types of masala that can be added to different dishes to suit individual preferences.
- Masala is a nutrient-rich food made by combining spices, nuts, cereals, and more, while curry can be prepared using different cooking methods, such as frying or cooking with coconut milk.
What is Masala?
Masala is a reddish-colored spice mix used to add more flavors to a dish. It can be added to curry to enhance its taste, and the addition of masala makes the curry spicier. There are various kinds of masala, each contributing to the taste of curry and other preparations in its own way. Some types of masala are meant for vegetable dishes, while others are meant for meat and chicken dishes. It is interesting to note that masala is also added to packaged food items like noodles. Masala is prepared by combining spices, nuts, cereals, and more. Ingredients like coriander seeds, cumin seeds, black peppercorn, shahjeera, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, dried ginger, bay leaves, and grams and cereals are used in the making and preparation of masala.
What is the difference between Masala and Curry?
- Curry refers to a cooked dish made of vegetables, meat, or seafood with spices and salt, while masala is a mix of spices used to add more flavor and taste to curry.
- A curry can be spicy or mild, while masala is essentially a bit spicy by nature.
- There are different types of masala that can be added to various dishes, whereas curry is divided into two main categories: vegetarian and non-vegetarian.
Masala is made by toasting or frying spices and herbs in oil or ghee until they darken slightly in color and release their aromatic oil. The mixture is then cooled and ground into a powder or paste. Curry is made by adding different ingredients and either frying or cooking with coconut milk. Curries come in different colors depending on the ingredients and spices used, while masala is typically reddish or brownish in color. Masala should be added during the final stages of cooking, as some ingredients can become bitter if added too early. To make a good curry, it is important to consider the ingredients used and the cooking time. For example, meat curry should be cooked for a longer time to allow the spices to blend properly.
