Inspirations
Find Inspiration in Spices
Cardamom
What does it taste like?
Made from the seed pods of various plants in the ginger family, cardamom adds the flavours of lemon, mint, and smoke to many iconic Indian dishes.
How do I cook with it?
The cardamom spice (available in both black and green) can be purchased in the form of pods, seeds, and ground. The pods can be added whole to recipes, or the individual seeds can be mixed in or ground with a pestle and mortar.
Ginger
What does it taste like?
Fresh ginger is known for its powerful warming aroma and pungent flavour. The flavour of ginger is characterized by its unique combination of lemon and citrus but also embodies earthy notes.
How do I cook with it?
Fresh ginger is often used in soups, stir fries, and even hot drinks. Ginger is also a great snack and is often pickled in vinegar. Ground and dried ginger, is more commonly used to bake pies, cakes, candies, and cookies.
Turmeric
What does it taste like?
Fresh turmeric is known for its potent smell and distinguished flavour. It can best be described with bitter notes of orange and ginger.
How do I cook with it?
Turmeric can be purchased in root or powder form. Perfect to eat or drink, it can be added into smoothies, rice, soups, teas, curries, and more. There’s even liquid turmeric, which can be found in the supplement section of most grocery or drugstores.
Whether it’s for its unique taste or noted health benefits, turmeric is a spice that has, and will continue to play a role in Indian culture, cuisine, and beyond.
Cardamom
What does it taste like?
Made from the seed pods of various plants in the ginger family, cardamom adds the flavours of lemon, mint, and smoke to many iconic Indian dishes.
How do I cook with it?
The cardamom spice (available in both black and green) can be purchased in the form of pods, seeds, and ground. The pods can be added whole to recipes, or the individual seeds can be mixed in or ground with a pestle and mortar.
Ginger
What does it taste like?
Fresh ginger is known for its powerful warming aroma and pungent flavour. The flavour of ginger is characterized by its unique combination of lemon and citrus but also embodies earthy notes.
How do I cook with it?
Fresh ginger is often used in soups, stir fries, and even hot drinks. Ginger is also a great snack and is often pickled in vinegar. Ground and dried ginger, is more commonly used to bake pies, cakes, candies, and cookies.
Turmeric
What does it taste like?
Fresh turmeric is known for its potent smell and distinguished flavour. It can best be described with bitter notes of orange and ginger.
How do I cook with it?
Turmeric can be purchased in root or powder form. Perfect to eat or drink, it can be added into smoothies, rice, soups, teas, curries, and more. There’s even liquid turmeric, which can be found in the supplement section of most grocery or drugstores.
Whether it’s for its unique taste or noted health benefits, turmeric is a spice that has, and will continue to play a role in Indian culture, cuisine, and beyond.
Find Inspiration in Our Cookbooks
Our Heritage
Our Mild Curry Spice Paste is expertly blended using our special mix of spices, crafted from our original family recipe. With our pastes, you can prepare dishes full of authentic flavour, without any of the fuss. Grab a jar and get cooking to create a quick and colourful curry, or even add an Indian twist to your favourite dishes.
NEW Veggie Curries
Need a quick, yet flavourful and delicious meal in a hurry? Try Patak’s® new range of Heat & Eat Veggie Curries. Simply heat in 90 seconds and enjoy for lunch or as a side to your curry feast.
Why not try our Butter Chickpeas with sweet potato and spinach made with chickpeas, spinach and vegetables in a mild, creamy tomato and butter sauce—a veggie twist on traditional Butter Chicken! There’s also Chickpea Korma with green beans and cauliflower and Lentil Tikka Masala with pumpkin and sweet peppers. Pair with some basmati rice or warm naan for a delicious meal or a quick and easy side.
Thank’s Patak’s®!
Slow Cooking Inspiration
Pot roasts, stews, soups and curries: all the one-pot-wonders we love to eat! But sometimes, it’s impossible to take the time to stand over the stove, stirring and simmering. That’s where the trusty slow cooker comes in, bubbling away for hours on end and gently doing the job for you.
While slow cooking is super simple, we don’t think of it as a shortcut; rather, it’s an easy way of cooking Indian food well. Of course, an added bonus is that all these recipes will save you time and effort—but the depth of flavour delivered through this method is what really makes slow cooking a winner.
Even better, there’s minimal prep required, and we adore the fact that we can go about our day knowing that the slow cooker is doing all the work! From veggie delights to meaty treats, our favourite slow cooker dishes are easy to make and full of big flavour. And don’t worry if you don’t have the right kit—all these dishes can be adapted for slow oven cooking, too.
A goodie for the slow cooker is this vegetarian recipe. Cauliflower Curry uses our two most popular curry pastes—Tikka Masala and Korma—to combine the delicate nuttiness of the Korma spices with the more tangy and spicy elements of a Tikka Masala. Totally delicious and full of veggie goodness!
For something a little bit different, why not try these Curried Pulled Pork Brioche Buns. Using our Tikka Masala Spice Paste, the mix of spices injects warmth and flavour into this classic, giving it a proper Indian twist.
Each of these meals is a treat to cook and even more enjoyable to eat. Try them out for yourself—whether cooking for a crowd, a family or for two, slow cooking is an easy way to make a meal worth sharing. Just don’t forget your naans and fluffy rice!
Let us know if you try out any of these recipes and be sure to tag us if you share any on Facebook or Instagram.
Indian Street Food Inspiration
On every street corner from Mumbai to Punjab, you will find an array of bustling food stalls filling the air with wonderful aromas. This is where locals gather to chit, chaat and chai! Every region boasts its own specialties with their own unique flavours and textures, so the options are endless!
Street food is the easiest (and we believe, tastiest) way to try the best of what India has to offer. Our favourite street eats will show you that there is more to Indian cuisine than just curries and fluffy rice. Let’s open your senses and take a bite into real India.
Punjabi Samosa Chaat
Chaat, the Hindi word for lick is also the name of a much-adored Indian street snack. You will find the best Chaat in Indore, a city in the heart of India. Our favourite recipe is quick and easy to make and it’s as colourful as it is tasty.
Made from chopped crispy samosas drizzled in mint and coriander chutney, sweet yogurt and sprinkled with pomegranates and onion—this dish is crunchy, mildly spicy and has a zesty finish from our Lime Pickle.
Bhutte Ke Kebab
Bhutte Ke means “of corn” and these light and bright kebabs are full of texture and flavour. Crispy sweet corn mixed with a hint of spice from our Tikka Masala Spice Paste—they make the perfect snack or starter. Bhutte Ke Kebabs are addictive. Believe us, one is never, ever enough.
Paneer Kaathi Roll
Possibly Calcutta’s most famous street food, Kaathi Rolls are mouth-wateringly good. These are usually served wrapped in old newspaper; it really doesn’t get more authentic than this.
Our choice of Kaathi Roll is filled with paneer that’s been spiced with our Tikka Masala Spice Paste. Feel free to add whatever fillings you like, other popular choices include chicken, lamb kebab, eggs and potato.
Dal Ki Kachori
It wouldn’t be right not to mention Kachori. These fried pastries stuffed with dal and bursting with coriander, paprika and ginger from our Mild Curry Spice Paste are crispy, flaky and completely moreish. We love to crush the centre and drizzle with our favourite chutney and raita.
Explore these authentic, handpicked Indian street eats. For us, this is what real Indian fare is all about—big bold dishes, bursting with authentic flavour, colour, and love.
Mouth-watering Meat-Free Meals
Whether you’re vegetarian or just cutting down on meat, Indian spices are the perfect way to add some aromatic flavour to your meat-free meals. After all, India is a veggie’s paradise, with a large population of Indian’s following a vegetarian diet.
Our favourite meat-free dishes are nutritious and simple.
Chickpea Curry is a filling, easy to make and tasty meal. Chickpeas have a lovely nutty flavour and are a great source of protein. This hearty recipe is bursting with the punchy spices of cardamom, cumin, fenugreek and paprika from our Madras Curry Spice Paste.
Paneer is a staple of Indian vegetarian cuisine. Despite what you might expect from cheese, paneer doesn’t melt. So when it’s cooked it retains its texture and shape while taking on the flavour of the spices it is cooked in.
In our Korma Vegetable Stack with Mattar, grilled vegetables and our Korma Spice Paste work together with herbs to make this family favourite. With a low-spice level, this fiber-filled meal can be enjoyed by all.
Aloo Gobi is a classic Indian dish, featuring in-season cauliflower as the main ingredient. We recommend serving it with coriander for extra flavour.
Tandoori Roasted Eggplant is an in-house favourite, incorporating Indian flavour and delicious green herbs in order to bring this recipe to life. This dish can be paired with some papadums for extra crunch, too.
If you’re looking for a veggie showstopper, try our Vegetable Biryani recipe. This dry rice dish is sealed with dough and cooked in its own steam, infusing the rice and vegetables with the aromatic flavours of tomatoes, peppers, coriander leaf and crushed chill from our Biryani 3-Step Sauce Kit.
Whether you are a strict vegetarian or would just like to add some veggie variety to your diet, spice is a great way to bring some excitement to a meat-free meal—and we’ve some recipes to tantalize your taste buds below!
Patak’s® Christmas Inspiration
Spending time with friends and family is our favourite part of the festive season. Whatever festive feast you are preparing, there’s room to spice it up and add some Indian flavour.
We use our expertise in spice blending to create festive recipes full of the flavours of aromatic spices from our Madras, Korma and Mild Curry Spice Pastes—exactly what you need to prepare a festive feast or create something delicious with your leftovers.
Whether you want to ditch the turkey sandwiches for Boxing Day or add a spoonful of creativity to your Christmas meal, these recipes will get the whole family excited about Turkey.
Madras Turkey Curry is a leftover staple in most houses, but our recipes for Turkey Korma with Cranberry and Vegetable Pilau Rice will kick the flavour up a notch. Both curries are simple to prepare and perfect for feeding a crowd.
Traditionally in India, an array of food is served in the centre of the table and everyone helps themselves. We couldn’t imagine a better way to get everyone sharing and talking around the dinner table. Serve your curries with delicious naans, pappadums, pickles and chutneys to make a feast your family won’t be able to resist.
Our family loves all of these recipes and we have many happy memories of the times we have spent cooking and sharing them. We wish you and yours a flavour-¬filled festive season!
Travel the Spice Markets of India with our new 3-Step Sauce Kits
Travel the Spice Markets of India with our 3-Step Sauce Kits. Each curry is inspired by a different region; Punjab, Kerala and Delhi and just 3-Steps can take you on a culinary journey. Simply fry the whole spices, add in the Spice Paste and stir in the rich curry sauce.
The Punjab region of Northern India that is famous for its creamy curries inspires our Tikka Masala 3-Step Sauce Kit. We have combined cumin seeds, green cardamom, bay leaf, fenugreek and dry chili to bring you a rich Tikka Masala with deep rounded flavour.
Why not try it with chicken thighs instead of chicken breast for more flavour? Serve with basmati rice and naan, a classic curry combination.
Our Korma 3-Step Sauce Kit is inspired by the region of Kerala in Southern India. This coastal region is famous for its aromatic coconut curries. Star anise, cinnamon, cloves and green cardamom blended with the tropical flavour of coconut give this curry a rich yet mild flavour. Garnish your dish with some fresh coriander to bring some zingy freshness to this rich curry.
Butter Chicken is one of the most popular curries at any Indian restaurant around the world. Aromatic golden chicken pieces in an incredible creamy curry sauce. The dish was developed in 1947 by founders of Moti Mahal restaurant in Delhi. So the story goes, the cooks of Moti Mahal would mix leftover marinade juices with butter and tomato, and then stew the tandoor-cooked chicken in it. It’s unlikely that they had even the faintest idea of what they had stumbled upon—that is, an internationally loved delicacy. But it is an irrefutable truth of the world that often the best things in life are discovered quite a by accident.
We have combined cumin seeds, green cardamom, bay leaf, fenugreek and dry chili to bring you a rich Butter Chicken 3-Step Sauce Kit with deep rounded flavour.
Meals Worth Sharing
Curry night is always guaranteed to the whole family around the table and we love nothing more than seeing a whole family come together to share a meal.
Traditionally in India food is served in the centre of the table. An array of curries, rice, naan, pappadums, pickles and chutneys make a feast for the eyes. Guests then serve themselves, picking and choosing from the dishes they most enjoy. We couldn’t imagine a better way to get everyone sharing and talking.
Naan bread is a delicious side but it comes into its own when used instead of cutlery. Children love to eat with their hands and this is a great way to get the whole family involved. We guarantee that your children will giggle seeing their parents scoop up their curry with their bread.
No meal in our house would be complete without pappadums, although they often spark debate. Some people snap them and some people smash them. Ask your family how they eat theirs and watch as a raucous display of smashing and snapping happens around you. No matter how you eat them, no Indian meal would be complete without this crunchy accompaniment.
Our range of pickles and chutneys go perfectly with pappadums, but did you know that adding them to your curry can enhance the flavour? Encourage your family to add some Mango Chutney to their Tikka Masala or some Lime Pickle to their Korma and soon everyone will be sharing their favourite pickle/curry combos.
We would love to hear how you get your family sharing. Share your tips on our Facebook page.
Ways to make a Great Curry
We all love curry and there are a few ways to make one (let us know if you can think of any others). This page gives you a brief overview on each method, so have a quick look, then go to our recipe pages and start cooking!
With a sauce
By far the simplest and quickest way is to use one of our sauces. They’ve been expertly blended to give a great taste but in as short a time as possible. All you need do is fry some onions, brown off whatever meat you’re using, then pour over a jar of sauce and simmer for around 15 minutes. Easy, delicious and it definitely doesn’t count as cheating.
With a curry paste
Our curry pastes make the most delicious and authentic-tasting curries. It’s not too different to what goes into a curry from scratch (check out below to see how that’s done) but it is a whole lot quicker. That’s because the spices are ground for you, then immediately blended with oil. This way the ground spices are caught at their freshest, before air gets to them and starts to change their flavour profile. To use our curry pastes, simply do the following:
Fry onions in oil until soft. Add some curry paste and gently cook for a few minutes. This allows the spices to release all their wonderful flavours and aromas. Next, add your meat or vegetables and cook until sealed. Finally, add some water and leave to simmer for 15-30 mins depending on the recipe.
So a curry paste does take a little bit more work than a sauce, but we think the end result is well worth the effort. A lot of Indian restaurants and curry houses make their curries using our curry pastes, so it really does give you that great authentic taste without the fuss of cooking from scratch.
Plus our curry pastes are really versatile—unlike the sauces you can add more or less curry paste to the recipe depending on how rich or spicy you like it. And you can use it in loads of other recipes aside from curry—like marinades—they are a great way to add spice and flavour to any dish. We have lots of recipe ideas using spice pastes on our site, so take a look.
From scratch
Of course, the most authentic way is to cook the curry from scratch. It involves getting all the whole spices you need and grinding and blending them yourself. Or you can buy all your spices already ground. Once you’ve done that the process is fairly similar to using a spice paste (but just takes a bit longer.) But if you want to give it a go, check out our recipe section for some ideas.