In 2001, former Foreign Secretary Robin Cook famously declared the mild curry to be a ‘true British national dish’.
Resident or tourist, those new to the UK are often shocked by the realisation that chicken tikka masala is considered a national treasure.
Thanks to the East India Company, the English had a presence in India since the early 17th century. Indeed, according to Debabrata Mukherjee, curry was served in the Norris Street Coffee House in Haymarket from as early as 1733.
However, creating an authentic Indian curry out of an English kitchen was not only incredibly challenging due to the lack of fresh ingredients, but it would’ve shocked the distinctly beige palettes of the British populace at the time.
As such, it is believed that milder recipes, such as tikka masala and butter chicken, were developed by Bangladeshi immigrant chefs to appease curious yet spice-averse customers. Hence Cook’s distinction that a mild curry, specifically, is what constitutes a true British national dish.
Despite having never set foot in the country, Queen Victoria was made the Empress of India in 1877. The late monarch nevertheless developed a penchant for Indian culinary practices thanks to the two Indian servants bequeathed to her upon the receipt of the imperial title.
One was Indian servant Abdul Karim, who ensured she was never short of her favourite cultural foods – curry included. Victorian society sought to imitate the monarch’s preferences, and so Indian cuisine became almost as popular among the Victorians as it is today. According to English Heritage, this resulted in a myriad of ‘Indian’ style cookbooks being published during the latter half of the 19th century, such as Anglo-Indian Cookery at Home by Henrietta Hervey (1895).
By the end of the 18th century, formalised recipes for sweet and spicy curry powders had been created, the most notable of which was found in an English cookbook by Hannah Glasse. However, it was Edmund White who capitalised on this with the invention of Selim’s curry powders for home cooking.
These brilliant spice mixes allowed home cooks to craft Indian-style meals in a manner that was far closer to the original than ever before. According to Mukherjee, between 1820 and 1840, the import of turmeric in Britain increased threefold.
Thus, over the centuries, a not-so-national dish was born. These days, there’s no easier way to whip up your very own dish than with the help of a premade curry sauce.
From Patak’s classic supermarket creations to artisan options crafted from family recipes, we’ve curated a selection of the best curry sauce jars to shop in the UK.
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Patak's Tikka Masala Curry Sauce
A tried fan favourite, Patak’s supermarket staple Tikka Masala Curry Sauce is a no-brainer when it comes to the weekly shop. Whether you’re cooking with chicken, beef, lamb, vegetables or paneer, it’s a mild-mannered sauce which is kind to the tastebuds, but nevertheless imbues any dish with aromatic cumin, paprika, fenugreek leaf and more.
Buy now £2.40, Ocado
Gymkhana Vindaloo Cooking Sauce
For those accustomed to spicier sauces, a Vindaloo curry is usually preferred. When attempting to recreate the Kashmiri Chilli-heavy dish at home, there’s simply no better premade sauce mix to use than the Vindaloo by Michelin-starred Gymkhana. Whether for a special occasion or a solo meal at home, you’ll be blown away by this extra-hot cooking sauce.
Buy now £8.00, Ocado
Sharwood's Butter Chicken Mild Curry Sauce
When it comes to smooth, creamy and mild butter chicken, the easiest way to ensure your dish is as wholesome and filling as possible is with Sharwood’s mild butter chicken curry sauce. Suitable for vegetarians and free from artificial colours, preservatives and added MSG, it’s low on the spice scale – so feel free to add chilli flakes for an additional kick.
Vegetarians can swap in paneer or tofu instead of poultry.
Buy now £1.50, Morrisons
Kohinoor Punjabi Karahi Cooking Sauce
We know, this option technically doesn’t come packaged in a jar – but it’s a delicious premade curry sauce nonetheless. Kohinoor specialises in Southeast Asian flavours, and this karahi cooking source offers a hearty combination of onion and tomato spiced with chilli and ginger. The brand recommends stir-frying in a wok with your protein of choice and serving with a freshly baked naan or roti.
Buy now £1.95, Morrisons
Golden Coconut Curry Simmer Sauce
Crafted to simmer over chicken or prawns, Sauce Shop’s coconut curry is a sweet, tangy and mildly spicy delight. Made with turmeric, mild-medium chilli heat, coconut and tomato, the sauce comes together in Nottingham in small batches to ensure consistently delicious and fresh flavour. Sauce Shop recommends pairing it with pork for an alternative Vindaloo, or simply using it as a sauce for your favourite fish curry.
Buy now £3.49, Sauce Shop
Kalonji Curry Sauce
Four Gujarati sisters founded Swaadish on a mission to bring the magical flavour of their home cooking to the masses.
Since the sisters struggled to find authentic flavours in the UK, they decided to create their delicious premium curry sauces off the back of generational expertise. The award-winning Kalonji sauce is made with onions, ginger, tomato puree, an array of delicious spices and kalonji (nigella seeds).
Simply mix with three-quarters of a jar of water and roughly 450g of vegetables, meat, fish or pulses.
Buy now £5.95, Swaadish
Isle of Wight Tomatoes Makhani Tomato Curry Sauce 400g
Inspired by Indian cuisine, this aromatic curry sauce is made with vine-ripened tomatoes, garlic, Kashmiri chilli powder, turmeric, fenugreek, ginger, and finished with cream – making it the perfect addition to a classic paneer dish. Add frozen peas if you’re looking for more a more substantial meal.
To use, simply heat until piping hot and serve immediately.
Buy now £4.50, Isle of Wight Tomatoes
Karma Sauce - Curry Kats’up
A fiery sauce for lovers of all things hot Curry Kats’up makes use of ultra-fresh ingredients and produces the tomatoey, honeyed and spiced sauce in small batches. Their house-blended curry mix is unique and extra spicy, making this sauce a brilliant Vindaloo base.
Buy now £6.69, Some Like it Hot Shop
