Curry

[heypaulie]

I was told a while ago that Curry's were originally created to disguise meat that was off by putting lots of hot spices on it. Is there any truth in this? If so, can you point me in the right direction for the facts.

[EuanC]

http://www.menumagazine.co.uk/book/curryhistory.html

[spk]

It is true- Places like India and Asia didnt have any fridges or freezers so the spices basically preserve the food and make its shelf life longer.

[heathfield]

A high percentage of the population of India have always been vegetarian. Their diet includes rice, chappatis, and a huge variety of pulses. On their own, these are totally boring, flavourwise, and curry spices have always been added to give the food some interest by way of taste. I think that's how curries originated. I've never believed the 'bad meat' theory. But have a look at.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuisine_of_India

[Pippa68]

I wouldn't agree with the bad meat theory either. That notion tends to come from the same sources who say that the 'local KFC use rats' etc..;o) it seems to stem from the immigration in the 50's/60's which has been passed down from generation to generation

Actually, my mother in law insists that the French cook all their meat in wine 'because it's rotten old meat'.

I once had a curry from a takeaway..they used chicken which was off ~ and I kid you not, the madras sauce didn't cover the stench!

Inclined to agree with heathfield.

[jan15]

I very much doubt the notion that spices were first used to disguise the taste of spoiled meat. I lived for a time in a traditional village with no electricity or running water, and one of the most striking things about that experience was the extremely fresh taste of everything, as compared to the world of refrigerators, supermarkets, and restaurants that I grew up in. Beans and grains in the village were stored in dry form, the grain being ground immediately before baking. Fish were eaten within a few hours of being removed from the water, and any kind of meat was cooked immediately after being killed. Leftovers were given to the animals. If anything was to be kept longer, it was either dried or preserved with salt.

Spices have not only taste but also nutritional benefits, just as other natural foods do. Most spices are extremely high in particular vitamins and/or minerals. Many have medicinal value. So there would be a practical reason to add spices to food even if it didn't improve the taste, though that seems reason enough even without introducing the idea of spoiled meat. It is we moderns who have problems with spoiled food, spending all our waking hours tapping on computer keyboards rather than harvesting and preparing wholesome food, and leaving things in the refrigerator until they grow hairy mold.