Sunday, April 11, 2021

The Curry Leaf Trees

They say money don't grow on trees but these curry leaf trees sure save me a lot of money!

Ever since we moved to our condo 25 years ago, I had been unsuccessful in my many sad attempts to grow the curry leaf plant on my balcony. 

Eventually, I gave up.

Whenever a recipe called for a sprig or two of the curry leaves, I would have to dash out to the grocer in my neck of the woods to get them. Sometimes, they were not available. 

Imagine my delight when I stumbled upon this curry leaf plant in an obscure area of the condo grounds!

There are two more curry leaf trees farther down the road!

I am doing the happy dance!

I was told that a resident of the condo turned to gardening during the lockdown and the curry leaf trees are the fruits of her labour.


The tantalizing aroma that is released when a fistful of curry leaves is tossed in hot oil is really quite out of this world! You can smell it a block away!

An amazing Indian recipe to share. The curry leaf is the star of this dish.


Prawn Varuval


46 comments:

  1. What a great find on the curry leaves.

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  2. It loooks delicious and you are lucky find them:-) Happy sunday.

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  3. I had to laugh at myself, Veronica. I didn't know how curry grows lol so it took me a minute to think of it as a spice. I was just thinking it was an interesting tree until I put the two together. Now I'm even wondering if they sell curry leaves here in our stores. We occasionally use curry in recipes but not much. I like the taste of it so I'm not sure why we don't use it more. I'm glad you found some curry nearby for your cooking needs. Looks like pretty plants too! I love to watch food being made so I watched the prawns one. I had to laugh when it said "required salt". Hadn't seen that listed as an ingredient before (the required part). Next time I'm at the store I'm going to look for curry leaves and then make this recipe! I bet it is yummy!

    betty

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  4. I hope that you don't get in trouble for harvesting leaves off those trees!

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  5. Curry leaves go in almost every dish we make. Your Prawns Varuval looks delish!

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  6. We have used curry leaves in a couple of dishes and really enjoyed the flavour they added, but they are hard to find here, and very expensive.

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  7. No more dashing to the store to see if they have curry leaves. You can just pick your own. Happy dance indeed.

    That dish looks so yummy.

    Have a fabulous day and week. ♥

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  8. I've never tried curry leaf - not sure we even have a local source for it - but yours looks so appetizing!
    Thanks for sharing at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2021/04/catbird.html

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  9. Yum! How lucky are you! The leaves taste so much better when they are home-grown :)

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  10. It's so fabulous that you have a tree for fresh curry leaves. Fresh is so much better.

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  11. Yesterday we went to a Thai restaurant, and I noticed these leaves in my curry (with duck, yum!). Now I know which leaves they are:):)
    Thank you for sharing this discovery with All Seasons - I know this is important to you! Have a great week! Jesh

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  12. Let me know if my comment didn't get through:) Jesh

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  13. I would have never thought of curry leaves! LOL
    Thanks for sharing, Veronica!
    Have a nice week

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  14. Lovely photos and that LQQKS delicious I want some heheh!

    Have a curryleaftastic safe week 👍😷😷😷

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  15. Gosh! Such a tantalising post, Vero.

    Two of my favourite things; Curry leaves and curry plant and a drool worthy prawn dish to boot. Though I'm working on turning vegan. Amen to that.

    Thank you for your love and wishes always.

    Hugs. Stay safe, be well.

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  16. By the time I get curry, it is so far removed from its original form that I have never given a thought to its beautiful origin!

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  17. My oh my Veronica. I could really do that prawn curry some damage. It looks absolutely mouth watering. Curry leaves are very difficult to find around here, away from larger towns and cities.

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  18. What a great find. We usually buy a little extra and keep them in the freezer. Not the same but they do in a pinch.

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  19. I am glad you found curry leaves. And they are free - bonus!!! I must check and see if they are available near me. I love Indian food (we are getting Indian take-out tonight - yum!)

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  20. This spice is unfamiliar to me and I can´t find any Swedish information. :( But it certainly looks like a good one from the dich you share. :)

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  21. ...the lockdown has had a few positive effects. Keep doing your happy dance.

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  22. We know of curry as a powder we buy in a jar at the store. Never even thought of it being a leaf. Quite interesting.

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  23. Thank you for joining the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop.

    Have a fabulous Wordless Wednesday. ♥

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  24. I had no idea curry was a tree, what wonderful luck for you to find the trees!

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  25. Due to my limited knowledge of curry, I thought it would be red! I'm happy for you that you now have it readily available.

    Thanks for joining us at 'My Corner of the World' this week!

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  26. Oh Yum! Terrific find! I've not seen curry leaves since I left Vancouver!

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  27. How delightful to have curry trees right there! Fresh is best, right?

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  28. This dish looks very tasty and easy to prepare. However, can't shrimp be replaced with something else? I do not like them. :(

    Have a fine day, Veronica!

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  29. I see a curry tree for the first time! I knew that the "dust" we use from time to time is a plant, but I didn't think it was a shrub. 😊
    Happy Thursday, Veronica!

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  30. I've never seen such a tree! I'm glad you found it and you are happy.
    It's so nice to have a garden and experience growing plants!
    Thank you for the recipe, even I can't promise I'll do it soon.
    I really want to experience these kind of 'compositions', but when something it's complicated or with ingredients new for me, I have a delay in reactions...😊
    Thank you Veronica! Happy Today!

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  31. They are very much in demand here but hard to find, I work part time in a garden centre and have people asking for them.

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  32. I only know dried curry leaves or powder but have never seen the plant ! Interesting !!

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  33. I didn't even know curry trees existed, but I guess I should have known it comes from somewhere! I have only tasted curry a few times in my life.

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  34. Talk about an interesting and useful find! I have to admit that I didn’t know curry spice came from leaves of a curry plant! Yep, call it ignorance. The other thing is that I half expected that leaves from a curry leaf plant would be yellow... I know. :-)

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  35. Oh wow! I'd be all over that! I love Indian food!

    My husband's always been big into gardening. This year he said he was taking a break. We do have some things that come back every year.

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  36. What an interesting and wonderful Plant. In Germany we have "Currykraut", but here they are very little plants.
    Greetings
    Kirsi

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  37. Like bamboo and others, curry leaf tree is invasive. You plant one, and next thing you know, they are all over your yard!

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  38. I am learning something new each time I read your posts. Thanks for sharing.

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