These 6 Tempting Regional Curries You Must Try This Monsoon

As the monsoon rains cool the air, there's nothing quite like indulging in a bowl of hot, flavorful curry to warm the senses. Indian cuisine, with its rich tapestry of regional dishes, offers a plethora of curries that are particularly satisfying during the rainy season. Here are seven tempting regional curries you must try this monsoon, each boasting seasonal produce and a hearty dose of spices.

1. Chettinad Chicken Curry

Originating from Tamil Nadu, Chettinad Chicken Curry is a spicy and vibrant dish perfect for a rainy evening. Known for its aromatic spices and unique cooking techniques, this curry features chicken, black pepper, star anise, fennel seeds, curry leaves, and coconut. The spices are typically dry-roasted and ground to create a robust masala. The result is a rich texture and a deep, satisfying taste that warms you up instantly.

Recipe Highlights:

• Ingredients: Chicken, black pepper, star anise, fennel seeds, curry leaves, coconut.

• Cooking Technique: Dry-roasting and grinding spices for a rich masala.

• Flavor Profile: Bold, spicy, and aromatic.

2. Kolhapuri Chicken Curry

From the fiery cuisine of Kolhapur comes Kolhapuri Chicken Curry, a dish that embodies the region's bold flavors. The curry is made with Kolhapuri masala, which includes red chili powder, cloves, black pepper, and dried coconut. Its intense heat and rich flavors are balanced by tamarind's tanginess and coconut's sweetness, making it perfect for monsoon days.

Recipe Highlights:

• Ingredients: Kolhapuri masala, tamarind, coconut, chicken.

• Cooking Technique: Dry-roasting spices and coconut, then grinding into a masala.

• Flavor Profile: Fiery, tangy, and rich.

3. Prawn Malai Curry

Hailing from the coastal regions of West Bengal, Prawn Malai Curry, or Chingri Malai Curry, showcases Bengal's love for seafood. This creamy, coconut-based dish includes fresh prawns, coconut milk, mustard seeds, turmeric, green chilies, and garam masala. The mild heat of the green chilies and the aromatic spices blend harmoniously with the natural sweetness of prawns and coconut milk, creating a luxurious taste.

Recipe Highlights:

• Ingredients: Prawns, coconut milk, mustard seeds, turmeric, green chilies, garam masala.

• Cooking Technique: Simmering prawns in a coconut milk-based curry.

• Flavor Profile: Creamy, mildly spicy, and aromatic.

4. Rajasthani Gatte Ki Sabzi

From the arid state of Rajasthan comes Gatte Ki Sabzi, a unique vegetarian curry that uses gram flour (besan) to create dumplings called gatte, simmered in spiced yogurt gravy. The combination of tangy, spicy yogurt-based gravy and chewy, hearty gatte is perfect for the rain.

Recipe Highlights:

• Ingredients: Besan, spices, yogurt.

• Cooking Technique: Making and boiling besan dumplings, then simmering in yogurt gravy.

• Flavor Profile: Tangy, spicy, and creamy.

5. Goan Fish Curry

Goan Fish Curry is characterized by its use of coconut and tangy ingredients like kokum or tamarind. Fresh fish such as kingfish or mackerel, coconut milk, kokum, and spices like turmeric, coriander, and green chilies form the base of this curry. The tanginess of kokum, combined with the richness of coconut milk, makes it a perfect dish for monsoon weather.

Recipe Highlights:

• Ingredients: Fish, coconut milk, kokum/tamarind, turmeric, coriander, green chilies.

• Cooking Technique: Simmering fish in a coconut-based curry with tangy ingredients.

• Flavor Profile: Tangy, slightly sweet, and mildly spicy.

6. Kashmiri Rogan Josh

Kashmiri Rogan Josh is known for its aromatic spices and tender lamb, reflecting the Persian influence on Kashmiri cuisine. Essential ingredients include lamb, yogurt, Kashmiri red chili powder, fennel seeds, dry ginger powder, and asafoetida. Cooked in ghee, this curry provides a thick, luxurious sauce that is perfect for cold, rainy days.

Recipe Highlights:

• Ingredients: Lamb, yogurt, Kashmiri red chili powder, fennel seeds, dry ginger powder, asafoetida.

• Cooking Technique: Cooking lamb in a ghee-based, spice-infused sauce.

• Flavor Profile: Aromatic, moderately spicy, and rich.

These six regional curries showcase the diversity and richness of Indian cuisine, each offering unique flavors and comforting warmth perfect for the monsoon season. Whether you prefer the fiery heat of Kolhapuri Chicken Curry or the creamy indulgence of Prawn Malai Curry, these dishes are sure to delight your taste buds and keep you cozy on rainy days.