What is curry?
There is a common misconception that all curries are made from curry powder or that a certain meat or vegetable is curried. In India, the word curry is in fact rarely used. Most dishes involving lentils are called dahl, or else are referred to by a name specific to the spices used in the preparation. Meat or vegetable dishes are likewise given specific names that indicate the method of cooking or the particular spices used.

Is all Indian food spicy?
Spice and Indian food are commonly associated with one another leading to a generalization that ALL Indian foods are spicy. Although many dishes do come with a medium to high level of spiciness, many dishes offer no heat level at all and are instead quite mild with a range of different and often interesting flavour profiles.

How can I make my Indian food spicier?
Try adding a little fresh, chopped, green chili peppers, or dried cayenne pepper to make your dish spicier. To avoid having an overdose of fiery heat, remove seeds from the peppers before adding them to your dish.

How can I add some Indian flair to a traditionally non-Indian dish?
Adding a traditional Indian twist can spice-up traditionally non-Indian dishes, such as pizza or chicken wings. Try adding some of our Devya Indian Gourmet Tandoori Marinade or Organic Vegetable Curry Simmer Sauce the next time you cook something up.
Click here for some of our recipes.

How can I decrease the amount of fat in my cooking?
To remove some of the fat content from any recipe, buy leaner cuts of meat,
substitute regular sour crème for fat free and remove the skins from chicken.

 What can I do to make my Indian meal more complete?
The meat or vegetarian dishes are never the main part of an Indian meal. These dishes are always accompanied with rice, naan, dahl, achaar (pickles), papadum, chutneys and other dishes.

Naan- Much like flatbread, this Indian dish is used often to accompany many dishes and tastes great when dipped in chutney.

Dahl- A spicy dish made from lentils, chickpeas, or beans, as well as tomatoes, onions and various seasonings. Dahl is often pureed and served with curried dishes.

Achaar- An East Indian word that refers to pickled and spiced relishes. Achaars can be made either sweet or hot depending on which seasoning is added.

Papadum- Puffy and delicious, these deep-fried Indian wafers are made from lentils.

Chutney- Made from a wide range of ingredients, these are used as a side dish to add spice to
many traditional Indian meals.