Why We Don't Make A Madras Curry Blend
We thought we’d address one of the not-so-Indian elephants in the room when it comes to one dish in particular which we are asked about on an almost daily basis.
At Mrs Balbir Singh, we proudly prioritise and offer genuine Indian culinary experiences. While Madras curry might be a familiar dish to many, we have consciously excluded it from our range for one simple reason: authenticity.
The name itself is so vague: The term Madras curry is believed to have been coined to describe a myriad of South Indian dishes, using Madras (now Chennai), a once major colonial city, as a generic term for all of it.
It would have been all too easy to sell our soul a little and include it in our range simply to generate additional sales. However, our focus is on capturing the rich and diverse culinary heritage of India through traditional recipes. A “Madras” is a product of what many food historians now regard as a tired colonial interpretation and oversimplification rather than a traditional Indian dish. We believe in showcasing the unique dishes and spice blends specific to India, as can be seen for example in our Kashmiri Rogan Josh, Old Delhi Butter Chicken, and Goan Vindaloo to name a few.
“Madras Curry is not a dish generally known, made, served or ordered in India. Those establishments or companies marketing it rarely have much regard for the true authenticity of Indian cuisine. Not only in respect to this rather one dimensional dish but likely in whatever else they are offering.”
~ Mrs Balbir Singh
By promoting authentic recipes, we aim to provide an immersive culinary experience that truly reflects our Indian heritage. We are all about people exploring the diversity and depth of real Indian cuisine, beyond generic curries made with a common base sauce and differentiated mainly by heat levels… which in many cases bare little resemblance to their origins other than by name! Our carefully crafted blends bring you the true taste of Indian home cooking, while our recipes respect the cultural roots of each dish.
We Invite You to Move Beyond the Madras
To experience true Indian food, we encourage you to explore our range, and enjoy the better restaurants which don’t serve a ‘Madras’ to discover the unique flavours India has to offer. Move beyond dishes like Madras curry and delve into the vibrant regional cooking of India, from the bold and tangy Vindaloo of Goa on India’s Western Coast to the fragrant Biryanis of the Southern city of Hyderabad, and to one of Punjab’s most iconic North Indian soul foods, Amritsari Chana Masala.
Indian cuisine is not just about high spicing and heat; it's about flavour harmony, regional traditions, and the art of carefully crafted spice blends. So, instead of offering you a spice blend to make Madras curry, we invite you to embark on a culinary journey of exploration and discovery. We like to call it epicurean enlightenment.
[About the main header image above: Built around the 7th century AD, the Kapaleeswarar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It stands firm, tall and proud amid the ancient, diverse and sprawling city of Chennai - previously known as Madras. A city whose cuisine it is simply impossible to sum up in one generic curry.]
Mrs Balbir Singh
Award-winning godmother of Indian home cooking, and author of Mrs Balbir Singh's Indian Cookery, as featured in "The Best Indian Cookbooks Ever, as Judged by the Experts" - The Telegraph (UK)
