Sunday, September 14, 2008

BRITONS LOVE THEIR CURRY


These cash-strapped times have done nothing to diminish Britain’s love affair with curry. The average Briton spends £10 a week on curry and will probably spend a whopping £25,000 on it by retirement. Wow! It seems that men tend to prefer hotter curries like Madras and Vindaloo, whilst women tend to go for milder dishes like Korma. However by far the most popular Indian curry in this country is Chicken Tikka Masala. I enjoy Indian food myself and my favourite dish is Chicken Tikka Masala. I also enjoy a Chicken Pasanda dish too. I find Korma a bit too mild and prefer a medium, sweeter curry with fruits, almonds and spices. Accompanied by my favourite mushroom pilau rice, it’s a real treat. Chicken Tikka Masala started life in a New Delhi restaurant in October 1947. It proved an instant hit, when the first Indian restaurants opened in Britain in the 1950’s and became the U.K.’s No. 1 dish in 2001.

Britons have always been known as a nation of curry lovers, with curry being one of the U.K.’s most popular dishes. It’s also interesting to note that new research reveals that eating curry could help in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. Scientists recently discovered that a chemical called curcumin, found in curry and turmeric can help the body fight the disease. Curcumin helps the immune system to clear the brain of a waste product which is crucial in the development of Alzheimer's. As a curry lover myself, it’s good to know that something you enjoy has health giving properties too. It seems that one in two Britons enjoy cooking a curry meal at home at least once a week. If you would like to have a go, click on the link below to a delicious recipe by Roopa Gulati, courtesy of UKTV Food. Bon Appetit!

Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love curries, I find it helps especially if I have a cold. The hotter the better :D

Sheila said...

Curry has mostly been a "foreign" dish to me. Only this year did my more sophisticated son and daughter-in-law introduce me to some great Indian food, Tikka Masala being one such dish. I liked the style and flavors a great deal. While it is not something I'd attempt to cook at home, I am happy to discover a whole new cuisine. Great post as always.

Naomi said...

Yes I think there is something warming and comforting about eating curry when you have a cold Ria. Experts reckon that the spices help clear the germs out of the system too!

Glad you enjoyed the post Sheila. Your son and daughter in law always sound like they have great taste when it comes to food. Nice to see you again.