Mamta's Kitchen - A Family Cookbook





Fresh curry leaves

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On 28/01/2010 09:01pm, James wrote:

Hi all,

I've just bought a bunch of fresh curry leaves from the asian supermarket I use.

I have always used dried ones in the past.

2 Questions:

1 - Do I use them in the same way as dried?

2 - How long can I keep them and what is the best way to preserve?

Thanks in advance!

James

On 28/01/2010 10:01pm, Andrew wrote:

I'm not a fan of dried curry leaves to be honest and I always tend to use the fresh leaves. I have a few recipes that call for dried curry leaves but I always use fresh instead.

I am not too sure how long you can keep them for in the fridge - but I am sure someone on here has much more knowledge than I do. I freeze my fresh leaves wrapped in foil and placed inside a plastic container with a lid. I seem to remember asking Mamta if it was OK to freeze fresh curry leaves sometime ago, and if I remember correctly she said that it was fine providing the leaves were dry before you freeze them.

Hope that helps.

Andrew.

On 28/01/2010 10:01pm, Mamta wrote:

Yes, Andrew is right. Washed and dried (overnight on a towel) curry leaves freeze reasonably well.

On 29/01/2010 06:01pm, Phil wrote:

Well, I envy you having access to fresh curry leaves. The only time I ever had access to them was when there was a Southern Indian restaurant in Newcastle Upon Tyne, so a local Asian store bought them for the Indian lady who owned the restaurant, and we were able to buy some of it.

Fresh curry leaves here in France are impossible to get a hold of, alas.

Phil

On 29/01/2010 07:01pm, Andrew wrote:

Mail order from spices of India LOL.

On 29/01/2010 10:01pm, SteveAUS wrote:

Phil.....grow your own plant. Being in the south of france you have a good climate for them. Just a thought?

Cheers

Steve

On 29/01/2010 10:01pm, SteveAUS wrote:

"2 Questions:

1 - Do I use them in the same way as dried?

2 - How long can I keep them and what is the best way to preserve?"

  1. Yes

  1. I keep mine in a zip lock back in the crisper section of the fridge. When they start to turn brown and limp they go in the compost. They last a few weeks.

Cheers

Steve

On 30/01/2010 08:01am, Mamta wrote:

I was just looking on the net, the tree Murraya koenigii is available in UK search the net.

Leaves are available quite cheaply from many Indian grocers on line, including http://www.spicesofindia.co.uk/?referrer=mamtaskitchen If you order a few packets by post, along with other stuff, it may not work out too expensive compared to prices in France. You can ask them to quote the delivery charges.

I freeze leaves and they last a few months. When they begin to get brown, I suggest you make Curry Leaves Chutney and freeze it in small jars.

It may be worth grinding the leaves and then freezing the paste in an ice-cube tray. I must try it some time. It works quite well in preserving coriander leaf flavour and might work for curry leaves.

I have a few small trees on my window sill, but they are too small to harvest many leaves from. Don?t be tempted to buy seeds. Old seeds do not grow. I have been told that only new, fresh seeds grow. I don?t know the reason why. Once dry, they are of no use. In India, people harvest small plants from under an existing tree, where the fallen seeds germinate naturally.

On 30/01/2010 09:01am, Andrew wrote:

I'm going to buy a curry plant when I see one. I think I have found an online store in the UK that sells them from May to September.

On 30/01/2010 01:01pm, phil wrote:

Many thanks, all.

I'd thought of mail order but figured that the leaves would be completelty crushed in the post. I'll try.

If anyone can tell me where to buy a curry leaf plant in the UK (well, Edinburgh, actually), I'll try to get my brother to bring one with him when he visits in the Spring.

Phil

On 30/01/2010 01:01pm, phil wrote:

Just checked out Spices of India:

one bunch of curry leaves: 85p

Postage to France: 13 quid!

No way!

How can it cost 13 pounds to send such a light package?

Phil

On 30/01/2010 01:01pm, Mamta wrote:

That is a ridiculous amount to pay for postage. The leaves will only go in an envelop after all! Perhaps your brother can bring a few packets from his local Indian shop?

On 30/01/2010 01:01pm, Andrew wrote:

Hi Phil, I looked earlier for curry plants in the UK and low and behold the place I came across is based in Scotland (I think). try this.

On 30/01/2010 03:01pm, Phil wrote:

Many thanks!

Nine quid is quite expensive for a plant, but I'll get my bother to give it a go.

On 30/01/2010 05:01pm, Andrew wrote:

I intend to buy one mail order in May(ish) when they are available. I don't mind paying 9 quid for one - even if it will be about 10 years before I can start to eat the leaves LOL. I have a bay tree in the garden that someone bought me about 10 or more years ago and I never started using it until last year. By now it is huge and for the most part I use the leaves fresh, but I do dry them out occasionally - which reminds me, I think I need to do another harvest. :-)

On 30/01/2010 09:01pm, Lapis wrote:

it may seem expensive, but the seeds of the small tree (don't call it a 'curry plant', there are several plants that that describes) are only viable for a very short time, so producing a small plant is no mean feat.

The full grown tree is about the same size and disposition as a rowan tree. You may need to keep it small enough to keep under cover in winter, especially in view of our current weather in Europe, as it is not hardy.

On 31/01/2010 10:01am, Phil wrote:

A bay bush came with this house when we bought it: it's really hardy, and the fresh leaves are really scented. A Frenchman who used to be a chef says to cut off branches and hang them upside down to dry. It's not clear to me why we should do this: why would dried leaves be any better than the fresh ones? Wouldn't they lose their scent?

On 01/02/2010 02:02am, SteveAUS wrote:

The only thing I can think of Phil is that when dried they will last a lot longer. I'd be using the fresh ones anyday over dried (either bay or curry leaf). I got some fresh curry plant seeds from a friend over in Perth (AUS). Even with my green thumbs I couldnt get them to germinate :o( Theres a place in NSW I found recently that grows and sells them. Will suss them out next spring.

Cheers

Steve

On 01/02/2010 05:02am, Mamta wrote:

This site talks about growing it from cuttings, worth a try, if you know someone who has a plant with branches. All mine only have one single stems at the moment, so I can't try it;http://www.plantcultures.org/plants/curry_leaf_grow_it.html

Mamta

On 01/02/2010 09:02am, James wrote:

All,

Thanks for your input!

James.

On 20/02/2010 02:02pm, Patricia wrote:

Hi Phil,

13 pounds to send a few leaves, - I don't think so. I fancy someone is having a laugh don't you.

I am going to the UK the 1st March and will be going to an Asian supermarket in Birmingham with my brother in law. If there are any fresh ones there I will bring you some back with pleasure. After the week I have had trawling the shops looking for ingredients, I have now made out my list of all the ingredients I need from the UK.

On 20/02/2010 03:02pm, Mamta wrote:

Hello Patricia

There is no question that you will find these leaves at many Indian stores in Birmingham.

Mamta

On 20/02/2010 03:02pm, Phil wrote:

Hello Patricia

That's really kind of you: thanks!

I can give you my postal address here in France.

The UK is great for many herbs and spices, which can be hard to find here in France.

Cheers

Phil

On 21/02/2010 08:02pm, patricia wrote:

Let me have your postal address and I will see what I can do. If there is anything else you require that we can't buy here in France let me know.

Regards

Patricia

On 22/02/2010 04:02am, Mamta wrote:

It is a shame that I can't bring plants from India, otherwise I would have got you all a baby curry leafe sapling each!

On 23/03/2010 08:03am, patricia wrote:

Phil,

No luck with fresh curry leaves and getting them back here to France but have bought packet of dried if that's any good.

I live near Mirepoix so could hand them to you, failing that give me an address and I will send them to you. Either way is not a problem

Regards

Patricia

On 31/03/2010 07:03pm, Phil wrote:

Hi Patricia

Thanks a lot!

I'm not sure where Mirepoix is (though I note that it's a name for a French cookery ingredient).

We're in the Languedoc: are you anywhere near? Perhaps not.

Phil

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