Apple and curry? We hear you! Surely an apple curry is never going to work, you’re asking? Hold on a minute because while this recipe for spicy coconut and apple curry is undoubtedly unique, it’s also absolutely delectable.
This is a beautiful take on the concept of curry because this great recipe combines curried apples, coconut milk, and a hell of a lot of chili peppers. It’s fruity and creamy yet undeniably spicy and can be made with minimal cook time!
Treat a loved one to a special meal, or simply spice up family mealtime. If you’re feeling adventurous, and you want to taste something new and exotic, then keep reading to discover how to make a spicy coconut and apple curry.
What is an apple curry?
An apple curry is simply a take on the standard ‘curry,’ a dish that is found all over the world yet varies significantly from one location to the next. The primary ingredient that holds all curries together, though, is the classic curry powder. This is what makes a curry taste like curry, regardless of whether it’s made in Japan or comes from Sri Lanka.
Curry powders are a mix of different spices, including cumin, turmeric, and bay leaves. Other ingredients can include cinnamon, ginger, and garlic, amongst many more. Adding cloves to the mix creates a sweet curry powder, while cayenne pepper powder results in a spicy curry powder. Still, you can trace its roots to several different dishes across the world, including India, Sri Lanka, Trinidad, and many other countries around the globe.
Curries, in general, are most often thought of as originating in India; but these days, it’s a worldwide favorite. Indian curries are known for being cooked masala spices, or garam masala spices, a unique blend of spices and powders that create that distinctive curry flavor we associate with Indian cuisine.
Curries from Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Thailand, however, are more likely to be coconut-based. Japanese curry powder is almost sweet in flavor, while other curries are often very spicy.
Our apple curry recipe is sweet, creamy, spicy, and an authentic blend of different flavors from all over the world!
How to make spicy coconut and apple curry
Now, let’s get to the recipe! The following apple curry recipe makes enough for several portions; however, you’ll also want to think about serving this alongside rice or naan bread. See the FAQ below for our serving suggestions.
The primary ingredients are green apples, coconut milk, chilies, and your curry powder of choice. There are lots more spices to add, too, that really make this a special recipe.
You’ll need an apple peeler to make sure your apple is peeled and cored before you start cooking them up in the curry. Right, let’s get cooking!
Ingredients
- Two large apples (we suggest large Granny Smith cooking apples)
- ⅓ c of apple cider or apple juice
- ¼ c of coconut milk
- 1 tbsp of curry powder
- Six chili peppers
- One small onion
- Two cloves of garlic
- 1 ½ tsp of mustard seeds
- Two dried bay leaves
- ¼ tsp of turmeric powder
- 1 tsp of cayenne pepper powder (more if you enjoy a spicy curry!)
- 1 tbsp of brown sugar
- Dash of salt
- Cooking oil
Directions
- Start preparing apple curry by peeling, coring, and then slicing your apples into bite-sized chunks. Do not worry about making sure each cut is the same. Dice your onion, and then cut, next season, and finally dice with a dash of salt to taste. Stir everything into the liquids, then leave the curry to simmer for a further 10 minutes (or longer, if you prefer super soft apples).
- Once you’re happy with the texture and consistency of the curry, serve hot with rice or naan bread!
What are the best apples to use?
This is an apple curry, not applesauce, so it’s essential that your apples keep their shape and don’t completely disintegrate to mush when they are cooked. For this reason, we recommend using a large cooking apple with a high heat threshold and a tough exterior.
The best option is always going to be large Granny Smith apples; however, you could always use your own personal favorite type of apple. Granny Smith apples are widely available and perfect for cooking with. They have a tart taste rather than a sweet taste, which works well in a savory curry.
If you’re a fan of a sweeter dish, though, then try using sweeter apples such as a Honeycrisp or a Red Delicious. Be careful when cooking, however, as they’ll soften much quicker than a cooking apple, so you should reduce cooking time depending on your apple of choice.
What can I serve with apple curry?
You can serve your apples in curry with either a rice dish on the side or naan bread or both together if you’re extra hungry!. Both rice and naan bread will work very well indeed with our spicy coconut and apple curry recipe.
In addition, you can try serving apple curry with an apple chutney for added sweetness, or you can cook up a few classic Indian starters and sides, such as samosa, pakora, or onion bhajis.
What other types of apple curry can I make?
There are many beautiful variations that you can try out when preparing an apple curry at home. A top choice is always a Japanese apple curry, which is much sweeter than our curry recipe. To prepare a Japanese apple curry, simply use a Japanese curry powder in the recipe above.
If you’re a carnivore, then this recipe works well with meat. Simply cook through your choice of meat; once fully cooked, all you have to do is add the meat to the curry while simmering. It is advised that you cut the meat into small chunks; however, this is entirely up to you. We recommend that you use chicken. Simply pan-fry the chicken breasts, dice them into chunks, then add them to the curry to simmer, and you’ve got yourself an apple chicken curry.
If you are into fish dishes, then we recommended that you use prawns. However, you may use other fish-based dishes if you so wish to!
Apple curry: the last stir
Spicy coconut and apple curry is a unique twist on classic curry recipes from around the world. It’s slightly sweet yet wonderfully savory, it’s refreshingly creamy, and you can just as easily turn it into a spicy dish if you wish to!
We love to serve our spicy coconut and apple curry with a side of rice or large naan bread, but we’ll leave those finer details up to you, as after all, it’s your meal. If you’re looking for a delicious new curry to try preparing at home, then why not give our spicy coconut and apply curry recipe a go?