I feel like curry tonight

It’s not like we need a special week to enjoy a good curry but as National Curry Week has arrived, why not do what the Romans would do in Rome? Here in the UK, we love our curries so much that we spend tens of millions of pounds buying curry ready meals, ordering curry takeaways and eating them in restaurants, so it is no surprise that it is often voted as one of Britain’s favourite foods!

To take part in National Curry Week – simply enjoy a curry! Whether you enjoy mild or hot, veggie or meaty, Indian or Thai, here at WLWA we do not want you to waste your money or your curry at any time of the year let alone during National Curry Week. So whether you’re going to make a curry from scratch, buy a ready meal, order a takeaway or enjoy a curry at a restaurant, we have some tips to help you make your money go further!

Cooking up a curry

1. Use what’s already in your fridge, freezer or cupboards. No need to buy more if you’ve already got something you could use – leftover lamb or chicken or vegetables, tinned tomatoes or spices? Substitute these things into the recipe you choose.
2. Choose a recipe. There’s lots of places to find one or two – recipe books, on the internet or on the side of a curry sauce jar.
3. How many are you cooking for? If your chosen recipe doesn’t serve enough or will make too much then double or halve the recipe or cook what it says and freeze the extra for another day.
4. Make a plan. Choose the day for your homemade curry feast, invite who you want to enjoy this delicious meal with you and write out a shopping list (including quantities) so you don’t forget anything you need – remember to include rice, naan bread or mango chutney if you want these too.
5. Cook your curry.
6. Plan your portions. If you’re having rice to enjoy with your curry – remember to cook the right amount – for each adult cook 75g and for each child cook 35g of rice. A coffee mug of rice will feed 4 adults when it’s cooked. Not everyone can eat the same amount so to avoid your delicious dinner finishing the meal unwanted on a plate serve small portions or let people help themselves to more than one serving.
7. If you have any curry left at the end– portion and freeze. Freeze in a plastic container with a lid and label it with the name of the dish and the date you made it. You can now enjoy your curry again within the next 3 months.

Buying a ready meal from the supermarket

Plan your curry in your meals for the week. If you don’t get round to eating it on the day you thought just freeze it until you’re ready.

Add it to your shopping list. Write curry for however many people you’ll be feeding on your list.

Make your choice and read the label. At the supermarket, remember to read the serving size on the packet – is it enough? Check the ingredients too, if there’s anything you really don’t like just pick up a different one.

A bit leftover? Freeze or enjoy for lunch the next day – curry on toast can be surprisingly nice!

Buying a takeaway

What night will you order your takeaway? Check what you’ve got in the fridge that needs to be used up and make sure you eat it or freeze it before ordering your curry. No point buying more food if you’re going to have to throw something else away that has already cost you money.

Remember the last time you ordered takeaway – did you have lots leftover or not enough? Check how many you’re ordering for and only buy what you need. You could get your rice portion right by cooking it at home and serving alongside the curry when it arrives, this might save you money too!

Feeling too full to finish it all? If you have any leftovers, put them in a container with a lid and keep for up to 2 days in the fridge. If you know you won’t get around to eating the leftovers or want to save it for later – let it cool, freeze in a plastic container, label the contents and put the date on it – remember to eat within 3 months.

Going to a restaurant

When are you going for your treat? Plan your curry night so whilst you’re eating out, food you bought to eat at home doesn’t need to be thrown away because it goes out of date or mouldy.

Talk to your waiter. They should know the menu and be able to recommend a dish you’ll enjoy with as much or little spice as you like. As curry will usually be made fresh for you remember to ask them to remove something you won’t like. No point paying for dinner out and then not eating it!

Can’t finish it? If there is any leftover, don’t be shy, ask for a doggy bag as it will taste just as good tomorrow at home! The takeaway container you’ll get will also make a great lunchbox.