Here's What to Use When You Don't Have Curry Powder

Curry powder is a vibrant blend of spices that can range from pleasantly warm to spicy and aromatic. The spice mix is known for its distinct yellow color (courtesy of turmeric) and is a key ingredient in cuisines around the globe, including Indian, Thai, and Caribbean.

Curry powder is not a single spice, but rather a mix of different spices and herbs. The blend of seasonings can include cumin, coriander, turmeric, cinnamon, cumin, chiles, cloves, ginger, fennel seeds, mustard seeds, fenugreek, curry leaves, and black pepper.

It's a versatile and popular spice used in stews, marinades, soups, and meat dishes but what happens when a curry craving hits and you're all out of your favorite blend?

What Does Curry Taste Like and How Is It Used?

This spice mix has a deep, earthy flavor and can be mild or bold with an intense aroma depending on the lineup of ingredients. Curry powder can have both sweet and savory elements to lend warmth to dishes. The spice powder can be on the mild side or have more of a kick according to what peppers are used in the blend of ingredients.

Curry powder is a seasoning for curries, soups, stews, rice dishes, and sauces, as well as marinades for meat and vegetables. It can add a hint of spice to chicken salad, hamburgers, and deviled eggs.

While commonly used in savory dishes, curry powder can also be used in sweet items like desserts, cookies, cakes, and even ice cream.

close up view of Shrimp Curry in a pan with a wooden spoon, and Shrimp Curry over rice in a bowl — DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS

Get the recipe: Authentic and Easy Shrimp Curry

Best Curry Powder Substitutes

Make Your Own Curry powder

The idea to make your own curry powder is easy to do and allows you to control the amount of seasoning and heat. Combine the basic blend of coriander, ground cumin, turmeric, cardamom, ginger, dry mustard, cinnamon, and a mix of ground black pepper, cayenne and chili pepper according to your taste.

Garam Masala

This spice blend gives support with warm and savory notes. The hot spice mix works as a curry powder alternative for heat and flavor in curry dishes. The ingredients are dry-roasted and ground. It can add flavor to dishes that call for a spicy Indian blend and boosts the taste of vegetables and meat dishes.

Sambar powder

Sambar powder is a combination of spices found throughout South India. It includes coriander, mustard, black mustard, cumin, and peppercorns. The spice blend is almost an almost identical taste to curry but with a more pronounced presence of flavor. Use this spice in recipes for broths, soups, stews, vegetable dishes, and cooked lentils.

Curry Paste

The ingredients for a curry paste are ground and mixed with a bit of oil added. A basic version can include red chili peppers, garlic, sea salt, lemongrass, ginger and turmeric. Try this paste form of curry flavor with hearty meat dishes, curries, rice dishes or stir fries.

Cumin and Allspice

Cumin and allspice are popular spices in the home cook's cabinet. The blend of ground cumin and allspice works well to create a warm and sweet flavor. It doesn't have the variety of ingredients of a curry powder, but it can stand in for the blend in chicken dishes, soups, and sauces.

Turmeric, Coriander and Allspice

This trio will provide the yellow hue of a curry powder with the tumeric and the coriander seeds and allspice will throw off some heat. A sprinkle of chili flakes in the mix can turn up the dial even more. Use this combination of spices in chicken and lamb dishes, stews and marinades.

Chaat Masala

This spice blend has citrus notes with the flavor of curry powder. It is sililar to garam masala with a slightly sweeter taste. Chaat masala combines pepper, coriander, cumin, mango powder, mint leaves, and citric acid for a floral background. The tangy and sweet combination of spices can be used to sprinkle on boiled eggs, flatbread, a serving of yogurt or sandwiches.

Cumin and Chili Powder

Cumin and chili powder work together as a swap-out ingredient for curry powder that deliver spicy warming notes. These spices work with meat dishes, stews and curries.

Chai Spice Mix

Are you a fan of chai spice mix for a hot beverage? If your chai spice mix doesn't have sugar or tea in it, it is actually a blend of Indian spices that can be used in place of curry powder. These spice mixes are made up of a combination of warm cardamom, cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon which will deepen flavors in a curry, soup, sauce or simmering stew.

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