We cannot seem to make curry taste good

@kieungoc (232)
United States
April 7, 2008 8:25am CST
My husband and I are always trying to make curry, but it never tastes exactly how we want it. It doesn't even taste good. It doesn't even flavor, just spicy. We even buy the premixed curry paste in a can with the lemongrass and everything in it, all you do is add coconut milk and that's it. Noper!!! Anyways, we've discussed this and we think it's because my mom and all the asian restaurants use fish sauce. What do you think? Or if you make a flavorful curry, do you have any advice on how to make it tasteful without fish sauce? My husband is a picky vegetarian. Not vegan, but fish sauce grosses him out!
1 person likes this
3 responses
@capirani (2745)
• United States
14 Apr 08
What kind of curry are you trying to make? I mean from what country? Personally, I make Indian curries alot. I don't use pre-mixed anything except for rare recipes. This way I can spice the way I want to, the way I was taught by people who came from India and cook that way all the time. I also have several Indian cook books that help me. You also can adjust the heat of the spice by mixing your own.
@kieungoc (232)
• United States
15 Apr 08
Hello, I can't seem to make descent thai or vietnamese curry. You know what's weird is my mom makes the best currie, but I haven't learned from her since we live apart! I am Vietnamese and I like my curry a little watery. I love Indian curry, but every time it was too spicy. There doesn't seem to be a way to make it not too spicy.
@capirani (2745)
• United States
23 Apr 08
If by too spicey you mean too hot, just cut back on the amount of chili powder or chilis that you use. Mine always is more to the not spicey enough side of things and I have to work at balancing it to where it isn't too bland.
@ejaji123 (96)
• India
4 May 08
well, i personally feel that fresh spices are more flavorful than the premixed curry pastes. i always use my own fresh spices. also, by using your own set of spices, you can adjust the ratio of ingredients as per your liking. i also use a lot of garlic and onion and tomatoes(freshly chopped) in my curries. i do get some powders such as coriander powder for those ingredients which are not always available though. so i suggest you try out making your own curry paste using all the usual ingredients in the recipes for curry paste. that should definitely taste better than the premixed ones :-)
@kieungoc (232)
• United States
4 May 08
Yes, I agree. I am surprised that the premixed paste doesn't taste good though. There's something missing. I usually think it's msg which we do not use. My mom uses it though and I think that's a key ingredient.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
7 May 08
As one who does not eat a lot of curry I do think it depends on whether or not you really like curry as it has that definite flavor that cannot really be disguised by a lot of other ingredients. I find that I do not really like the taste of curry so I usually do not even make it. my son really likes it and he adds a number of things to it. Ihad never heard of adding fish sauce to it. I do not think I would like that either.my son adds chopped tomatoes and onions to his plus the curry powder.