One-Pot Wonders

Nigerian-Style Curry Powder

June 15, 2020
5
6 Ratings
Photo by Kitchen Butterfly
  • Prep time 10 minutes
  • Cook time 10 minutes
  • Makes a cup or so
Author Notes

This is my homemade version of a turmeric-forward blend of spices used in Nigerian rice dishes, stews and sauces.

A legacy of British colonial times, it's similar to Caribbean style curry powders - use them as a substitute.

How does this relate to labeled Indian style blends? I think a Madras mix would work
_
Sometimes, I make this with a combination of whole and ground spices. When I do that, I put the ground spices together and gently toast the whole spices on low - medium heat for 3 - 5 minutes. Then I blend and combine that with the ground spice mix —Kitchen Butterfly

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 3 tablespoons turmeric powder
  • 2 tablespoons ground coriander
  • 2 tablespoons ground ginger
  • 2 tablespoons rice flour (or ground rice)
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon (freshly) ground black pepper
  • 1/2 - 1 teaspoons cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground fenugreek
  • 1 teaspoon ground mustard/ scant teaspoon mustard powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground fennel
Directions
  1. Combine all the ingredients
  2. Store in an airtight container

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Emma Epps
    Emma Epps
  • Victoria Asabor
    Victoria Asabor
  • BoulderGalinTokyo
    BoulderGalinTokyo
  • Kitchen Butterfly
    Kitchen Butterfly
I love food and I'm interested in making space for little-heard voices, as well as celebrating Nigerian cuisine in its entirety.

10 Reviews

Tpw1986 December 31, 2021
Love the interesting mix of the usual ’curry’ spices. Used it in the Jollof rice and it was delicious
 
Starlight December 1, 2021
I think the ground rice acts more as a thickener, which in itself is quite a good ingredient. I don't know though why include salt when additional salting will still be done when cooking proper.
 
Emma E. February 4, 2021
I was wondering what the rice flour's purpose is? Does it add some type of flavor or texture? Thank you
 
Victoria A. November 23, 2020
Thanks for sharing.
I wanted to know how authentic is it to use rice flour in making curry and I found this. Please can national food control agency approve this, as I use this as business?
 
Kitchen B. February 14, 2021
This is how I make it - this is authentic to me. I can't speak to any food control agency standards, not especially for business
 
Aldous September 6, 2020
Super yum thank you!! Perfect for the fam :)
 
BoulderGalinTokyo June 25, 2020
I was making a Sengalese Apple Soup and needed curry spice. The bottled curry spice from USA said Indian but smelled dull, & Green or Red Thai Curry were too distinctive, & Japanese Curry too different. Then I found this Spice Mix and decided to try it.

It was spicy enough to satisfy me but not so 'hot' my husband couldn't eat it. It fit the Soup perfect, both hot and cold the next day! Thank you Kitchen Butterfly, a very excellent spice blend!
 
Kitchen B. July 13, 2020
Yay. I'm glad
 
BoulderGalinTokyo June 23, 2020
This was perfect timing for me. Cumin was listed twice, is there another spice instead? Thanks
 
Kitchen B. June 25, 2020
Thanks for spotting that - no ingredient is missing, I duplicated it in error. It should be 1 teaspoon. Enjoy