15 Creative Curry Recipes

By Hayley Sugg
January 03, 2020
Credit: Caroline C

Curry, a staple of Indian cooking, is often a saucy dish that relies on heady spices — like ginger, cumin, coriander, turmeric, and more — to add intense flavor. The main ingredients and seasonings vary per region, with North Indian recipes relying heavily on dairy products, Western focusing on more fish- and coconut-based dishes, Eastern Indian being a bit milder with spices, and Southern recipes showcasing a drier consistency. No matter what type of curry you choose, serve it with a hearty side of steamed rice and freshly-baked flatbreads to round out the meal. 

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Vegan Indian Curry with Cauliflower and Lentils

Credit: AllrecipesPhoto
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This is a great recipe for using up whatever vegetables you have on-hand. The creamy dairy-free sauce is created by combining red lentils and coconut milk.

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Indian Fish Curry

Credit: aBoutrosBoutros
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Bengali-inspired, this curry dish can feature your favorite white fish variety, such as haddock or cod.

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Spicy Lentil Quinoa Curry

Credit: BDM
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A one-pot Indian-inspired dish is perfect for weeknights when you're craving takeout wanting something easy. Reviewer Buckwheat Queen says, "My whole family loved this...even the most finicky eater."

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Murgh Makhani (Indian Butter Chicken)

Credit: melissao
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Murgh makhani is a decadent curry dish that relies on butter and heavy cream for the rich texture. Be sure to serve it with a side of rice, naan, or both to sop up the extra sauce.

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Spicy Vegan Potato Curry

Credit: -JC-
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Potatoes, tomatoes, and chickpeas are simmered in a creamy curried sauce for this vegan-friendly recipe. Feel free to mix in extra veggies, like cauliflower, to bulk up the dish even more.

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Indian Tomato Chicken

Credit: twoyorkiesmom
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This recipe begins with a paste of onions, garlic, and ginger for flavor throughout. Chicken thighs are then cooked low and slow in a seasoned tomato sauce until they're fall-apart tender.

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Lamb Madras Curry

Credit: Timmi59
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This lamb dish has been described as "melt in your mouth." The recipe includes making your own curry paste (instead of buying it) for intense, spicy flavor that can't be beat.

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Chickpea Curry

Credit: Tammy Lynn
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Canned beans are the shortcut for this convenient and kid-friendly curry. Have a family member on a plant-based diet? This recipe also happens to be vegan!

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Indian Shrimp Curry

Credit: catherine.drew
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Cooked in just half an hour, you'll have curry in a hurry with this shrimp dish. "I am so happy to have found this recipe because it really is authentic tasting," says Cindy K. 

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Baingan Bharta (Eggplant Curry)

Credit: drzhivago73
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Plain yogurt adds a pleasant tang to this vegetarian eggplant curry. "I am second generation Indian and this is one of my favorite dishes," says user Shmoopy.

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Indian Chicken Curry

Credit: farynhite
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Chicken becomes incredibly tender when cooked in this creamy curry sauce. "I used this recipe when I made curry myself for the first time ever," says Nadia Orawski. "I loved it!"

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Absolutely Perfect Palak Paneer

Credit: Caroline C
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This palak paneer recipe is great for anyone not wanting to venture from their regular grocery store in search of Indian cheese. Cooked ricotta stands in for paneer in the creamy spinach sauce.

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Authentic Bangladeshi Beef Curry

Credit: Kelly K
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Made in a single pot, this beef curry relies on heady spices like cardamom and cinnamon for its distinct flavor. 

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Butternut Squash Coconut Curry

Credit: Buckwheat Queen
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This plant-based curry highlights sweet butternut squash and is offset with a hefty dose of heat. If you're short on time, using pre-cubed butternut squash can speed things up. 

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Cod Curry

Credit: KRZECZKOWSKIJ
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Cod is simmered in a tomato-based sauce until flaky in this rich seafood recipe. For extra flavor, the sauce can be made ahead of time and left alone for flavors to meld before the fish is cooked. 

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State of Home Cooking: Appetite for Adventure and Cultural Heritage

We're serving up and celebrating the biggest home-cooking trends from the most enthusiastic cooks we know: our community. We crunched the data from 1.2 billion annual Allrecipes.com visits and 2.5 billion annual page views. Then we dug even further, surveying Allrecipes cooks about what's in their carts and fridges, on their stovetops and tables, and on their minds. Appetite for Adventure and Cultural Heritage is just one of the topics they're most curious about. See more of the "State of Home Cooking" special report.

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By Hayley Sugg