Homemade Curry Recipes You Can Make in Under 45 Minutes (2024)

Scoring a healthy, flavorful dinner—in 45 minutes or less—is totally possible with these easy curry recipes, each complete with proteins, grains, and veggies. If you thought yellow curry was your only option, think again—many of these dishes incorporate red and green curry (plus curry powder and curry paste) to give you a wide variety of flavors. Check out our best chicken curry recipes, meatless curry recipes, and other flavorful ideas, below.

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Thai Green Curry Chicken

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Homemade Curry Recipes You Can Make in Under 45 Minutes (1)

You'll make this easy curry recipe again and again, thanks to the slightly sweet green curry paste sauce and mere 35 minutes it takes to make. Start by stir-frying some veggies, add in bite-size pieces of chicken and sauce, then serve with rice, coconut, and cilantro. Easy as that!

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Chicken Green Curry Noodle Soup

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Homemade Curry Recipes You Can Make in Under 45 Minutes (2)

If you're feeling so rushed you can't imagine also cooking up a side of rice to serve with your chicken curry recipe, here's an option for you—rice noodles that cook simply by soaking in the soup, no boiling water needed. They're the perfect compliment to a creamy coconut milk and green curry base, while vibrant veggies add color and flavor. The best part? This whole meal is made in a single Dutch oven, minimize cleanup for a quick and easy weeknight meal.

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Chickpea Tikka Masala

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The unifying element of most curry recipes, no matter their country of origin, is a spiced sauce for the meat or vegetable star of the dish. We swapped the typical chicken-based tikka masala dish into a vegan curry recipe by substituting chickpeas for the usual poultry. Served with hot cooked rice, it makes a hearty dinner with no meat needed.

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Coconut-Curry Chicken

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Homemade Curry Recipes You Can Make in Under 45 Minutes (4)

There's no shredded coconut here—but feel free to take some creative license and add some. The coconut mentioned in the name refers to coconut milk added to this red curry recipe. Coconut milk (and a bit of peanut butter) offset out the bold curry flavor, making this one of our favorite-ever chicken curry recipes. Three kinds of veggies and a scoop of brown rice complete the filling 40-minute meal.

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Thai Green Seafood Curry

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Homemade Curry Recipes You Can Make in Under 45 Minutes (5)

Enter: your new favorite way to eat seafood. Shrimp or scallops (or both!) star in this elegant dish, which is made with the usual curry ingredients. Thanks to the quick-cooking seafood and speedy stir-fried veggies, this easy recipe is ready to serve in just about 35 minutes, making it an ideal option for easy weeknight dinners.

Best-Ever Meals in a Bowl (That Are Not Soup)

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Indonesian-Style Beef and Rice Bowls

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Homemade Curry Recipes You Can Make in Under 45 Minutes (6)

We call it a rice bowl, but with red curry paste, coconut milk, rice, and veggies, it eats very much like a traditional curry recipe. Instead of sautéeing the veggies, this recipe calls for adding them raw, maximizing their crunch and freshness. We used ground beef instead of chicken or pork for a fun take on an easy curry recipe you can whip up in 45 minutes flat.

Buy It: Thai Kitchen Red Curry Paste ($4, Target)

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Butternut Squash and Chickpea Curry

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Homemade Curry Recipes You Can Make in Under 45 Minutes (7)

Looking to incorporate vegan meals into your diet more often? Ease your way into it with this vegan curry recipe that gets loads of fiber and protein from butternut squash and chickpeas. Combined with vegetables, coconut milk, curry paste, and cilantro, it creates a slightly sweet and spicy meal you'll want to make on repeat.

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Vegetable Fried Rice with Red Curry Nut Sauce

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If you're aiming to eat more meatless meals, this filling vegetarian curry recipe is a must-try! Eggs, peanut butter, edamame, and a sprinkling of peanuts help each serving pack in 14 grams of protein.

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Thai Cauliflower Curry

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While fish sauce and chicken broth keep this veggie-forward dish from being totally vegetarian, you could easily swap vegetable broth and soy sauce to make it one of your new favorite vegetarian curry recipes. Cauliflower and zucchini help make the dish heartier—feel free to sprinkle with peanuts for even more texture and protein.

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Coconut-Curry Noodle Bowl

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One saucepan is all you need to marry the flavors of veggies, coconut milk, curry powder, spices, and chicken into one savory, soul-warming noodle bowl. Ramen noodles replace the usual rice noodles for a unique twist on a healthy curry recipe that's ready in under a half hour.

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Thai Pork and Vegetable Curry

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Homemade Curry Recipes You Can Make in Under 45 Minutes (11)

You choose the curry flavor you like best in this skillet dinner. The recipe simply calls for bottled curry paste, so use what's in your pantry or buy your family's favorite on your next grocery run. Then combine it with succulent pork tenderloin, vegetables, and a side of orzo for a change from the usual rice. Served with lime wedges and sprinkled with herbs, it's a fresh and flavorful treat for a weeknight dinner.

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Mango Chicken Curry Skillet

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Homemade Curry Recipes You Can Make in Under 45 Minutes (12)

This has got to be hands-down one of our easiest chicken curry recipes. Only a handful of ingredients—and about a half hour of time—is all you need to whip up this weeknight wonder that dirties just a single pan. Fresh mango adds delicate sweetness to this healthy curry dish and feels like a treat.

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Coconut Salmon Curry

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Homemade Curry Recipes You Can Make in Under 45 Minutes (13)

Warm up on a chilly day with a bowl of coconut chicken curry stew. Zesty ginger, curry powder, and fresh cilantro team with succulent chicken thighs and a variety of vegetables to make this one of your go-to Thai recipes to make at home.

Homemade Curry Recipes You Can Make in Under 45 Minutes (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to a good curry? ›

Tips for the Perfect Curry
  • Use fresh spices. For the best results, always try to use fresh spices. ...
  • Give the spices a toast. ...
  • Wrap up your whole spices. ...
  • Blitz your tomatoes. ...
  • Onions are the key. ...
  • Don't overcook your chicken. ...
  • Keep your garlic and ginger fresh. ...
  • Add exciting toppings.

How to make curry thick fast? ›

Add one tablespoon of cornflour to two or three tablespoons of cold water and stir. Pour the mixture into the sauce and allow to simmer until the sauce begins to thicken. Which doesn't take very long. Ideal for Indian curries and can be used as a cream substitute (which is also thickens sauces).

How long should you simmer curry? ›

Bring to the boil, lower to a simmer and cook on a gentle heat uncovered for 25-30 mins or until rich and slightly reduced.

How do you make homemade curry taste better? ›

The easiest way to fix a bland and tasteless curry is by adding spices like red chili powder, cumin, coriander, garam masala, curry leaves and turmeric. Just make a quick tempering and pour over the curry to give it a nice punch of spices and herbs.

What is the most important spice in curry? ›

Fenugreek (Methi)

This Indian spice is what people say "smells like curry." Of all Indian spices, this spice may be the most essential. You may use up to a few tablespoons in a family size dish near the end of the cooking process, but start with a teaspoon. Fenugreek seeds also have many health benefits.

What thickens curry? ›

Use wheat flour, rice flour, or coconut flour plus a fat (like ghee, olive oil, or coconut oil) in equal amounts. Cook both ingredients for a few minutes to cook out the raw flour taste, then add your curry ingredients. Once the whole curry dish comes to a boil, the sauce will thicken.

Will coconut milk thicken a curry? ›

For a rich and creamy curry, coconut milk or cream can be a fantastic thickening agent. They not only add creaminess but also a delightful tropical flavour. Simply pour in some coconut milk or cream and let it simmer until your sauce reaches the desired consistency.

Does cornstarch make curry thicker? ›

If you have some cornstarch on hand in your kitchen, mix a tablespoon (15 mL) of cornstarch with a tablespoon (15 mL) of water. Mix this into your curry while it's boiling to get it to thicken. If necessary, you can add a bit more water and cornstarch if your curry doesn't thicken with one tablespoon (15 mL) of each.

Do you cook curry covered or uncovered? ›

Saute for 1-2 minutes on a low heat with the lid on. Uncover and add water to create the sauce. Cover and let the dish simmer for 10 minutes. Add cream or yogurt and mix on a low heat (optional).

Can I put raw chicken into a curry sauce? ›

Yes, it is generally safe to cook raw chicken in sauce. Cooking raw chicken in a sauce can be a delicious way to infuse flavor into the meat while ensuring it reaches a safe internal temperature to kill any harmful bacteria.

Do you cook meat before adding to curry? ›

We could brown the meat first for the Maillard effect but we don't bother because we're more interested in letting the flavours of our spices talk and tenderising the meat. You need to make sure you cook your beef at a high enough temperature to kill microorganisms. Time and temperature matters.

What adds flavor to curry? ›

A curry mix has a warm, robust spicy taste as a result of combining roasted and grounded coriander seeds, turmeric, cumin and chili peppers. Other spices commonly found within the blend are fenugreek, clove, mustard, black pepper, nutmeg or ginger.

How do restaurants make curry so creamy? ›

The actual sweetness and creaminess of such curries meanwhile, usually comes from fried onions and either cashews and/or dairy products. Instead of (or in addition to) onion, ground coconut may be used. White poppy seeds and/or watermelon seeds are also used in some creamy sauces.

Why does my homemade curry taste bitter? ›

Your curry can taste bitter if the spices and garlic are burnt or if you've added too much fenugreek to the dish. You see, the secret to cooking a delicious curry recipe is to create a spicy paste and slowly cook it before adding your meat.

How do you make curry taste like a restaurant? ›

Simple suggestions for restaurant good quality curries:
  1. Fry your onions till they are golden brown.
  2. Fry your spices but don't burn them. ...
  3. Use good quality spices. ...
  4. Seasoning. ...
  5. Use fatty yoghurt (greek style works) in curries to make them richer. ...
  6. Patience. ...
  7. Use a neutral vegetable oil. ...
  8. Experiment.
Jun 24, 2018

What gives curry depth? ›

You can give a curry depth by adding umami goodness. Umami is one of the basic five tastes and is often described as a meaty, savoury deliciousness that deepens a dish's flavour.

What are the most important ingredients in curry? ›

The most common ingredient in curry dishes is garlic. Onion, cilantro, tomatoes, vegetable oil, fresh ginger root, white sugar, coconut milk and chicken stock are also common ingredients in curry recipes. For herbs and spices, curry powder, turmeric, cumin, cinnamon and cayenne pepper are popular.

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