Easy Homemade Curry Recipes from Scratch

These easy homemade curry recipes are simple enough to make at home and just as good as ordering a takeaway! Homemade curries are also far healthier as well as cheaper!

If you are a regular reader of Searching for Spice you'll probably guess that my my favourite meals are curries. I could happily eat curry a few times a week and not get bored. I'm not even a snob about it. I am happy to eat ready meals, takeaways and of course homemade curries.

Are homemade curries easy to make?

Some people may think curries are hard to make. I'm telling you, they're not. A simple homemade curry is one of the easiest dinner recipes you can make!

Some curry recipes have huge lists of ingredients and may be intimidating but you don't have to start there. You can make a good homemade curry from scratch without having to buy too many ingredients!

Of course, if you start to like making curries from scratch then you may find you soon want to buy more spices!

What are the basic spices you need to start making curries from scratch?

If you really don't want to buy lots of spices then just buy a good curry powder to start with. When you want to make more curries then you might also need turmeric, cumin, coriander and garam masala for a mild Indian curry.

Next I would add cardamom pods, cinnamon, cloves and cayenne pepper.

Do you have to make a curry paste?

Curries made without a curry paste can be just as tasty so don't feel you have to make a paste. However, curry pastes help to make the curry sauce thicker. Curries made without a paste can be thinner and more like stews, like this Mauritian chicken daube.

I like to make a curry paste by blending onions, garlic cloves and fresh root ginger. You can buy jars of garlic and ginger paste and these are a great option if you don't have a blender or don't want to get it out just for a quick midweek meal.

If you want to try and make a more complex curry paste then do check out these curry paste recipes.

How to make a basic homemade curry?

If you want a basic recipe for a simple homemade curry, just follow these steps:

• Heat a little oil in a pan then add some chopped onion. Fry gently for 5 minutes till softened but not browned.
• Add a spoonful of ginger and garlic paste, a finely diced chilli pepper and a teaspoon each of cumin, coriander and garam masala.
• Stir and cook gently for a minute and then add some diced chicken. 
• Cook for a couple of minutes and then add a tin of chopped tomatoes. Bring to the boil and then lower the heat and simmer gently for 20 minutes.

This curry is super simple and easy to adapt. You can make it vegetarian by adding veggies and chickpeas instead of chicken.

Can you make these easy homemade curry recipes in advance?

Curries are great recipes to make ahead. How often have you heard people say that curries taste even better the next day? The flavours get better over time and so they are perfect recipes to meal prep. I like to cook these curries in batches and then keep the leftovers in the fridge until the next day or freeze them.

Storing and Freezing

Make sure you cover the curries and put them in the fridge as soon as possible after they are cooked. They will keep for at least 2-3 days in the fridge. If you are freezing them then put them in freezer bags or freezer proof containers. Defrost thoroughly and then reheat until piping hot before serving.

My Favourite Easy Homemade Curry Recipes

I've got delicious recipes for chicken, lamb and vegetarian curries. All of them are pretty easy to prepare and of course the leftovers are delicious the next day too!

Chicken Curries

Chicken Tikka Masala

I have to start with the most popular of British Indian takeaway dishes! This chicken tikka masala is just as good as any takeaway but a little bit healthier too. It's still creamy and indulgent and is a fantastic family friendly curry that will please everyone!

Chicken Tikka Masala

This creamy chicken tikka masala is the best way to satisfy those takeaway cravings without having to order anything! It's an indulgent (but not unhealthy!) curry that is not too hot but you can easily spice it up too! That makes it perfect for your next family curry night.

Check out this recipe

North Indian Chicken Curry

This North Indian chicken curry is a really simple curry that is so simple to make. You don't need to make a curry paste but it is a little more complex than the basic chicken curry recipe above. I often make this curry as a simple midweek meal as the hands on time is very short.

North Indian Chicken Curry

This North Indian chicken curry recipe is a warming comforting dish that's easy to make, tastes delicious and is great for a homemade curry night!

Check out this recipe

Jamie Oliver's Favourite Chicken Curry

This curry is taken from Jamie's book, Happy Days with the Naked Chef. I first made it years ago and it is a good simple curry. Is it Jamie's favourite? Who knows but if you're looking for a simple chicken curry recipe then it is perfect.

Jamie Oliver’s Favourite Chicken Curry

This slight adaptation of Jamie Oliver’s favourite chicken curry is an easy homemade curry that the whole family will love. Fresh tasting and not too spicy, it’s a perfect midweek meal!

Check out this recipe

Simple Dairy Free Chicken Curry

If you like mild coconut curries then this simple dairy free chicken curry is a great one to try. It's the curry I would make for people who really don't like spicy food as it contains no chillies! But, don't worry, you can add some to spice it up. When I make this curry for my family I serve some freshly sliced chilli peppers on the side for those who like a bit more heat!

Dairy Free Chicken Curry

A creamy dairy free chicken curry that's easy to make and mild enough for the whole family to enjoy!

Check out this recipe

Chicken Makhani, also known as Butter Chicken

Another deliciously creamy although not quite so healthy homemade curry is this chicken makhani (butter chicken). It's got double cream in but it still way healthier than a bought curry! It's the perfect comfort food curry recipe.

Chicken Makhani or Butter Chicken

This homemade chicken makhani, also called butter chicken is a rich tomato based curry recipe that's delicious with rice or naan.  It's easy to make so perfect for a homemade curry night!

Check out this recipe

Chicken Curry with Pickling Spices

This chicken curry with pickling spices is beautifully flavoured with mustard, fenugreek, fennel, caraway and nigella seeds. It's a little different but so tasty and it's also a really quick curry to make too. It can be on the table in little over half an hour!

Chicken Curry with Pickling Spices

This chicken curry with pickling spices is a real family favourite.   Adjust the amount of chillies to suit your family.

Check out this recipe

More Easy Homemade Curry Recipes with Chicken

If you love strong flavours of vinegar and tamarind in a curry then try this red Goan chicken curry! It's vibrant and punchy and definitely a favourite in our house. Two more great curries with tamarind in are my chicken patia and my homemade chicken dhansak curry. Or if you like onions then try my chicken dopiaza! And if you like a milder classic then I've also got a korma recipe. Or for just a great all round curry then why not go for chicken bhuna?

If you want a change from Indian style curries then this Chinese chicken curry is a great fakeaway curry option. It's a super easy curry to make and only takes 35 minutes.

For a Caribbean flavour then this chicken and callaloo curry is definitely worth trying. If you can't get callaloo then just replace it with spinach.

Another delicious option with lots of veggies in as well is this Thai inspired chicken curry. I love the flavours and really need to remake it soon! If you like curries with potatoes in as well then this Thai chicken and potato curry is also delicious.

And for a taste of Japan then this chicken katsu curry is so deliciously tempting. My family love the crispy chicken in the Katsu curry sauce.

For a combination of Thai and Indian flavours in one dish then this Burmese chicken curry is one to make! It's slightly different but so tasty.

If you have a pressure cooker it's worth checking out my pressure cooker chicken curry as well.

Easy Homemade Lamb Curries

Although I love lamb curries I don't have quite so many homemade lamb curries to share with you. A lamb curry definitely benefits from being cooked slowly so the lamb is really tender and really soaks up all the flavours.

Bombay Lamb with Potatoes and Green Beans

This easy lamb keema curry is simple to make and really tasty too! It makes a delicious one pot curry recipe that the whole family will enjoy.

Bombay Lamb Curry with Potatoes and Green Beans

Quick to make and delicious too, this Bombay lamb curry is becoming a favourite Indian meal in our house! It's hearty, healthy and beautifully spiced which is exactly the kind of comfort food I want to eat right now.

Check out this recipe

Lamb Saag (lamb and spinach curry)

This lamb saag may take over three hours to be ready but the hands on time really isn't very long. Like all curries, the leftovers are absolutely delicious too so it really  is worth making a big batch.

Lamb Saag – Lamb and Spinach Curry

This tasty lamb and spinach curry is slow cooked to make the meat super tender.   It's a healthy choice too and is great when reheated

Check out this recipe

Lamb Meatball Curry with Coconut Gravy

This lamb meatball curry with coconut gravy is absolutely delicious! If you have never thought to make  a curry with meatballs in then why not? The meatballs are amazing and my children ate it too!

Lamb Meatball Curry with Coconut Gravy

An easy meatball curry that's great for midweek or curry night!

Check out this recipe

Lamb Vindaloo

This lamb vindaloo curry is another recipe that really deserves to be made. It's full of flavour and perfect for a weekend fakeaway.

Easy Lamb Vindaloo

Full of spice and with a delicious kick of vinegar in the sauce, this easy lamb vindaloo recipe is one that many curry lovers will love! Just make the marinade the day before so all the delicious flavours can soak into the lamb before you cook it.

Check out this recipe

Lamb Rogan Josh

If you're looking for a classic homemade curry recipe then why not try my lamb rogan josh? It's really tasty and healthy too!

Lamb Rogan Josh

This lamb rogan josh recipe is perfect for a homemade curry night!   It's delicious, easy to make and a real crowd pleasing curry recipe too.  Why order a takeaway when it's so simple to make your own curry?

Check out this recipe

Easy Homemade Vegetarian curries

Tofu Katsu Curry

This vegan tofu katsu curry is delicious and the crispy tofu is so good it is a great recipe for anyone regardless of whether they are vegan or not!

Tofu Katsu Curry

This tofu katsu curry is a brilliant choice if you're looking for a delicious spicy vegan curry. The slightly sweet and spicy Japanese katsu curry sauce is perfect with the crispy breaded tofu slices. Ideal served with rice for a weekend fakeaway.

Check out this recipe

Butternut Squash and Chickpea Curry

Chickpeas are great in curries and this gluten free butternut squash, spinach and chickpea curry is simple to make and full of flavours and textures. It's a really healthy vegan curry and you can easily adapt it to use different vegetables.

Simply Gluten Free: Butternut Squash and Spinach Curry

This vegan butternut squash and spinach curry from Simply Gluten Free is perfectly spiced and ideal with a side of rice, yogurt, lime pickle and a few poppadums.  

Check out this recipe

Nutty Roasted Romanesco Curry

One of my personal favourite vegetarian curries is this nutty roasted romanesco curry. If you can't get your  hands on a romanesco then just use cauliflower instead.

Nutty Romanesco Curry

This nutty roasted romanesco curry is a great recipe for showcasing the beautiful flavours of a romanesco cauliflower.   It's easy to make,  relatively quick and vegan too.  If you're looking for a healthy curry to make at home then this is it!

Check out this recipe

More Vegetarian Curries

This stuffed aubergine curry is deliciously nutty and a real treat of a vegetarian meal! I think you'll also love this dry Indian vegetable curry. It's a copycat of the one from our local takeaway! It's also worth trying this roasted cauliflower curry.

What to serve with a curry?

I love rice with a curry but there are so many other side dishes that go really well too. Why not make some pea pakoras or onion bhajis to go on the side.

I love to make a spinach raita or my tomato, onion and cucumber raita. How about some nigella seed flatbreads?

And if you want some thing to drink then you can't go wrong with this mango lassi recipe!

More Recipe Collections

Most of these easy homemade curry recipes are ideal for batch cooking, preparing in advance and reheating. I try to cook meals like that as often as possible to make life easier to myself. If they're the kind of recipe you like too then do take a look at my Cook Once Eat Twice recipe collection. I'm sure you'll find loads of meal planning inspiration!

I've also got great collections for easy air fryer recipes, easy spicy midweek meals, frozen dessert and snack recipes, main meal salads and easy homemade soups!

Keep in touch

Do let me know if you make any of these curries or any of my other recipes. I love to get feedback from readers.

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