Curried chicken and chicken curry are two chicken dishes that have some similarities but are ultimately different foods. While both dishes use chicken as the main ingredient and incorporate spices associated with Indian cuisine, they vary in ingredients, cooking methods, and origins.
What is Curried Chicken?
Curried chicken is a dish that originated in the Indian subcontinent and was brought to the West during the expansion of the British Empire. It involves cooking chicken pieces in a sauce flavored with curry powder, which is a blend of various spices such as turmeric, coriander, cumin, fenugreek, and chili peppers.
Traditional curried chicken is made by sautéing onion, garlic, and fresh ginger, then adding chicken pieces and browning them. Curry powder and other spices like garam masala are then stirred in, along with tomatoes, yogurt or coconut milk, and vegetables like potatoes or peas. The chicken simmers in this sauce until the meat is very tender and the flavors have melded, usually at least 30 minutes. The dish has a prominent curry flavor along with aromas of the other spices used.
Curried chicken can be served on its own or with rice or flatbread like naan. It is a staple of Indian restaurants and also appears in various fusion cuisines. The exact blend of spices may vary between recipes.
What is Chicken Curry?
Chicken curry refers to a wide range of dishes found in the cuisines of Southeast Asia, including Thai, Malaysian, Indonesian, and Singaporean food. These curries use chicken as the protein and incorporate a curry paste or powder along with coconut milk for a sauce.
To make a chicken curry, chicken pieces are browned then simmered in a sauce made with curry paste or powder, coconut milk, fish sauce or soy sauce, fresh herbs like basil or cilantro, and sometimes vegetables like eggplant or bamboo shoots. Spices like turmeric, cumin, and coriander add flavor. The dish often contains potatoes or other starchy vegetables to absorb the rich, creamy sauce.
Chicken curries can range from wet curries swimming in coconut-rich sauce to drier stir-fried curries. They may include warming spices but are not as intensely spiced as Indian curries. Chicken curry is served with jasmine rice and eaten across Southeast Asia.
Differences Between Curried Chicken and Chicken Curry
While both curried chicken and chicken curry use poultry as the base and incorporate curry powder or paste, they differ in the following ways:
- Origins: Curried chicken comes from South Asia while chicken curry originates in Southeast Asia.
- Spices used: Curried chicken relies on curry powder while chicken curry uses curry pastes rich in spices like lemongrass, galangal, and kaffir lime.
- Cooking method: Curried chicken braises in a sauce while chicken curry can be braised or stir-fried.
- Sauce ingredients: Curried chicken uses yogurt or coconut milk while chicken curry relies on coconut milk.
- Flavor profile: Curried chicken has a prominent curry powder flavor while chicken curry showcases Thai or Malaysian herbs and aromatics.
- Side dishes: Curried chicken is served with rice or naan while chicken curry goes with jasmine rice.
So while both dishes have “curry” in the name and use chicken, curried chicken aligns more with Indian cuisine while chicken curry follows Southeast Asian cuisine traditions.
Common Ingredients
Though curried chicken and chicken curry vary based on regional styles, they do share some common ingredients:
- Chicken: Both dishes typically use bone-in chicken legs and thighs or boneless chicken breast cut into pieces.
- Onion: Onion is sautéed as the aromatic base for curries and curried chicken.
- Garlic: Garlic adds a savory punch to curries and curried chicken.
- Ginger: Fresh ginger adds a little heat and brightness to both dishes.
- Curry powder or paste: This adds the hallmark curry flavor, though the specific blends vary.
- Vegetables: Potatoes, peas, carrots, cauliflower, and spinach can add nutrition and texture.
- Herbs: Cilantro is commonly used to finish both types of dishes.
Differences in Ingredients
While curried chicken and chicken curry do overlap with some ingredients, there are also distinct differences:
| Curried Chicken | Chicken Curry |
|---|---|
| Curry powder | Curry paste |
| Tomatoes | Lemongrass |
| Yogurt or cream | Coconut milk |
| Fenugreek, turmeric | Galangal, kaffir lime leaves |
| Garam masala, cumin | Thai basil, fish sauce |
These ingredient differences reflect the regional spice blends and flavors associated with each dish.
Cooking Methods
The cooking methods for curried chicken and chicken curry also differ:
- Curried chicken: Chicken pieces are sautéed with onions, then braised in a sauce of curry powder, tomatoes, yogurt or cream, and spices until very tender.
- Chicken curry: Chicken can be stir-fried or braised. It is cooked in an aromatic sauce of curry paste, coconut milk, fish sauce, herbs, and spices.
Chicken curry recipes have some variation in cooking methods depending on if it is a wet or dry curry. But curried chicken relies on a consistent braising method to let the chicken fully absorb the curry-flavored sauce.
Serving Suggestions
These dishes are served with appropriate side dishes and condiments:
- Curried chicken: Usually served with basmati rice or naan bread. Mango chutney provides a fruity, sweet contrast and raita (yogurt sauce) helps cool the palate.
- Chicken curry: Jasmine rice is the typical accompaniment. Cucumber or pickled vegetable relishes add crunch and acidity to balance the rich curry.
Conclusion
While curried chicken and chicken curry might sound similar, they are different dishes originating from distinct food cultures. Curried chicken has Indian origins and uses curry powder, while chicken curry encompasses the curries of Southeast Asia, which rely on curry pastes and coconut milk. Both dishes use chicken as the protein along with onion, garlic, and ginger. However, curried chicken features spices like cumin and fenugreek while chicken curries highlight citrus flavors from kaffir lime and lemongrass. The cooking techniques also differ, as curried chicken is braised but chicken curry can be stir-fried or braised. Furthermore, they are served with side dishes suited to each region – naan or rice for curried chicken and jasmine rice for chicken curry. So in summary, the names are related but these dishes have unique ingredients, cooking methods, and culinary traditions.