Curry Paste Vs. Curry Powder: The Clash Of The Spice-Titans

As you may have already observed, I enjoy adding spice to both my cuisine and my life (ask my husband about it if you don’t believe me! :)).

Since our life would be monotonous without the priceless spices, our meals would taste dull.

The endless variety and distinctive flavors that spices add to food make us savor each bite and want more. Additionally, they let us explore and develop new flavors, which helps any cook, whether or not they have formal training, find their own unique style.

Because of this, my cupboard is stocked with a variety of spices.

Curry Paste vs Curry Powder

I must admit, though, that some are not used quite frequently (my hubby calls those “dust collectors,” lol), but they all had at least one glorious moment in my cuisine! On the other hand, there are some that are used every so often, such as curry powder and curry paste.

You have probably used them too but believe it or not, not everyone knows the difference between the two. They just read the curry part and think the two are interchangeable or even the same, but that is not the case.

This is why I have decided to confront these two spices, and you can read all about them in the following article! Curry Powder VS. Curry Paste – the battle begins!

Curry Powder Defined

As far as we know, curry powder was first introduced to western civilization in the 18th century. This exotic spice was initially mentioned in a newspaper advertisement in 1784. As this advertisement stated, this spice had been brought from the East Indies.

In an effort to attract buyers, the health benefits of the curry powder were listed as well, and it was believed that it would help your digestion, and better circulation and provide you with a powerful libido and a vigorous mind.

What is the curry powder made of?

It is a mixture of dry ingredients, or better to say powdered spices, and it normally consists of coriander, red peppers, and turmeric. (Do you know what turmeric is?)

Where to find curry powder?

You can probably find it in the supermarket nearest to you or a grocery store you shop in. If you visit India and want to buy curry powder, you are sure to have a problem finding it as there is no actual curry powder being sold in India. Their curry is quite a different story (a different blend made at home rather than bought at the store) worth telling on some different occasions…
There are numerous brands of curry powder being sold in the stores in the USA, so make sure that you buy the one that has a good name and is known to be of good quality.

Variants of curry powder

Yellow curry powder- usually consists of turmeric, cumin, coriander, and salt. It has a mild taste.
Brown curry powder- It consists of the same ingredients as the yellow curry plus the peppers and clove. Thanks to the peppers, it features a stronger taste and more hotness.
There are also green and yellow curry powders, but also numerous other variants with the same basic ingredients and addition of some of the following spices: garlic, ginger, fennel seed, asafoetida, caraway, clove, cinnamon, mustard seed, black cardamom, green cardamom, white turmeric, nutmeg, curry leaf, long pepper, or black pepper.

Curry Paste Defined

The curry paste shares the Asian origin with the curry powder; however, it finds its origin not in India but in Thailand instead.

Curry paste is typically much hotter than curry powder and should be used sparingly.

What is the curry paste made of?

It is a blend of spices, too but contains wet ingredients that give it a moist texture. Most often, the wet ingredients are oils infused with garlic or ginger.

Where to find curry paste?

Most specialized Asian supermarkets or stores will sell packets of Thai curry paste as it is highly appreciated and sought for in their culture. Once again, look for recommendations before you buy if you want to experience an authentic, unique curry paste flavor.

Variants of curry paste

There are three basic variants of Thai curry paste that have different ingredients and are used for cooking different dishes; these are:

Green-colored Curry paste – It contains fresh green chilies. Green curry paste is very popular and mostly paired with poultry such as duck or chicken. It is the hottest variant too!
Red-colored Curry paste- As you can probably already guess on your own, this variant has red chilies. I prefer the red paste due to its well-balanced heat (it is actually somewhere in the middle) and versatility. You can use it in an array of dishes, including poultry, but also seafood or beef.
Yellow-colored Curry Paste- You know by now how the yellow curry paste got its color, right? From the yellow peppers, of course. This variant features the mildest taste, which has a sweet note to it but also a somewhat peppery flavor. It is best used in chicken curry.

Related: Learn To Find The Most Recommended Canned Chili

Curry Powder vs Curry Paste: Who Wins?

It is very hard to answer this question, or better to say, it is impossible for me to answer this question for you. You should form your own opinion regarding this matter, and the only way to do that is to broaden your horizons by utilizing both curry powder and curry paste as much and as often as you possibly can.

Once you acquaint yourself with the curry’s unique and dominating flavors, you will be able to judge for yourself and choose your favorite one among the two.

My advice to you, though, if you are a curry virgin, is to start off with the curry powder as it is less overwhelming than the curry paste. Later on, you can work your way to the strongest, hottest, and most powerful curry paste and be able to enjoy it as well.

In this way, you will avoid being shocked right away and rather be eased into the world of curry..and oh boy, what a world that is!

Curry and Rice? That is a perfect pair, but you will need a good-quality rice cooker!

Curry Powder vs Curry Paste: The Differences in short

Differences	Curry Powder	Curry Paste
Texture	Dry powder mix	Moist paste
Food culture	Thai cuisine	Indian-style western cuisine
Availability	Widely available	Only in specialized Asian stores
Heat Level	Milder	Relatively hot

Further Reading: Favorite cookware sets for your meals

Conclusion

If you have not had a clue about the differences between curry powder and curry paste, do not worry – a lot of good and quite experienced cooks have the same problem.

In general, people tend to assume a lot only by the name, and these two hot spices share a similar title. This tempts you to presume that they are very alike or even the same.

Now you know that curry paste and curry powder are two different ingredients that cannot stand in each other’s place. Substituting one with the other would definitely change the taste of your dish.

So, you might be wondering which to use.

Both curry powder and curry paste have their advantages and disadvantages. You should know when to use which one if you are aiming for a satisfying curry experience.

Learning how to use these spices properly will surely boost your culinary knowledge and make you a better cook, so it is definitely worth trying.

In my opinion, curry powder should be used for stews and other slow-cooked meals, while curry paste works wonders in soups or fast-cooked food.

You are sure to have an opinion on this matter as well, so please share it with me! 🙂