What Are The Best Spices To Use In A Spicy Lamb Curry?
By Holly Thomson
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September 19th, 2019
Lamb is a fantastic meat to cook with. It has its own beautiful strong flavour, which can stand up well to other powerful ingredients, including man spices.
Here’s our guide to the best spices to use in a lamb curry, and the combinations that will deliver a delicious meal every time.
For Serious Heat Go For Naga Bhut Jolokia
Spicy lamb curries can come in many different forms, however, when most people think of spicy lamb curry, Lamb Rogan Josh springs to mind. This particular recipe uses Naga bhut jolokia or the ghost chilli to add a spicy and warm kick without overpowering the dish and leaving you with a burning mouth and watery eyes.
That being said, naga bhut jolokia is one of the hottest chillies in the world, ranking at over one million units on the Scoville Scale of chilli heat - ten times hotter than the scotch bonnet. It’s so potent that in India the chilli powder is used as tear gas, so it should be used lightly!
When used in small amounts, the ghost chilli is able to bring a generous warmth to Indian curries and works perfectly in a spicy lamb curry. You can use a whole pod to infuse a curry sauce and remove before serving or try the smallest dash of Naga Bhut Chilli Powder instead.
For A Milder Curry Opt For Kashmiri Chilli
If you’re looking to add a little less heat to a spicy lamb curry, but definitely want to ensure a bit of warmth, then the Kashmiri Chilli Powder is ideal. Kashmiri powder is used in Indian curry recipes for its vibrant red colour and gorgeous fruity heat which adds rich colour and flavour to many curry dishes.
Kashmiri chillies are popular in tandoori dishes, rogan josh curries, which both work well with lamb.
Don’t Forget The Cumin
Most recipes for spicy lamb curry include cumin, and most Indian curry recipes also will include this essential Indian spice. The strong, aromatic spice adds warmth and an earthy element to curry and can be used a cumin seeds or ground cumin
What Spice Should Be Used For An Easy Spicy Lamb Curry?
Having a madras curry powder in the cupboard can be amazing when you want a huge depth of flavour and medium heat without having to play around with the quantities of spices yourself.
To make the base for a classic curry, add 1-2 tablespoons of madras curry powder to a frying pan with oil, diced onions and crushed garlic. Fry and stir until the spices are intensely fragrant, then add chopped tomatoes or coconut milk to make the sauce.
If you’re feeling excited to start exploring the Indian cuisine, why not take a look at our collection of authentic Indian spices and ingredients?
Alternatively, you can discover our other Indian recipes for more inspiration.
