Best Recipes for a Curry Night
When it comes to hearty, warming meals, you can’t go wrong with a delicious curry. A curry night always feels like such a treat, but there’s no need to head to your favourite fast food restaurant or get the phone out to order a delivery – instead, why not have a go at making your usual takeaway order in your own kitchen?
Our slimming-friendly versions of our favourite curry night classics will surprise you with how much Indian-inspired flavour they bring to your plate (and that’s not to mention the pennies and the calories you’ll save!).
Curry Night Starters
When we put on an Indian-style spread we love to go the whole hog, with a selection of starters and nibbles to snack on while we wait for the main event. A curry night wouldn’t be the same without a few Onion Bhajis, and our easy recipe guarantees crispy, savoury bites of onion-y goodness, all for just 59 calories each.
The best bit about these is that they’re made with simple, wholesome ingredients, so you can be sure there are no nasties involved. Who knew you could turn a few onions, a sweet potato, some eggs and a handful of spices into a delicious curry night starter?
Typically deep-fried, we wouldn’t blame you for thinking you can’t enjoy Samosas while you’re trying to lose weight. What you might not realise though, is that our slimming-friendly recipe is every bit as crispy and satisfying, for only 147 calories per serving.
They’re filled with an irresistible mix of spiced vegetables, and baked in the oven until the pastry’s all perfect and flaky. Pop one of them on the side of your favourite curry and you’re onto a winner!
Fancy a kebab before you tuck into your main course? These Seekh Kebabs are ideal for warming up your taste buds while your curry is still simmering. Seasoned until aromatic, we make them using lean 5% fat beef mince to keep them nice and low in calories.
Shaped around a skewer and oven baked until they’re juicy, they’ll set you up for a flavour-packed curry night menu.
If you like having a few picky bits to choose from, you’ll want to rustle up a batch of these Sweet Potato Pakoras to get your meal started on the right foot. Our recipe will make a batch of 12 pakoras, which work out at just 50 calories each – the perfect little appetiser before your curry!
Why not pop these in your air fryer if you want to get them extra crispy? You can find a handy conversion chart here.
Curry Night Main Courses
When you’re finished nibbling on the starters, it’s time to dish up a plateful of piping hot, homemade curry. Whether you prefer meat or vegetarian, spicy or mild, we’ve got you covered with our favourite Indian-inspired recipes.
You won’t be needing an ingredients list as long as your arm to make a homemade curry that rivals your favourite takeaway. In fact, you can even turn your cupboard staples into a tasty Indian-inspired meal. It might sound unusual, but this Mushy Pea Curry is a dead ringer for the mild curries you get from the chip shop.
Give those tinned tomatoes, beans and mushy peas from the back of the cupboard a new lease of life by combining them with some chicken, veggies and a few spices. For only 317 calories per portion, this recipe is far more budget friendly than nipping down to the chippy!
Making your own curry at home doesn’t need to be complicated either! This Oven Baked Pasanda Curry is a one pot wonder that you can leave to bubble away on the oven shelf while you prepare your starters and sides.
Mild and creamy, with a lovely nutty flavour, this pasanda is a family-friendly recipe that’s no hassle to rustle up. At just 191 calories per serving, you’ll want to find a spot for this on your weekly meal plan!
At the end of a long day it can feel so much easier to reach for the takeaway menu than start cooking from scratch. If you’re trying to stay on track, this Slow Cooker Beef Madras is a no-fuss curry night option.
Throw your ingredients in the slow cooker before you head out in the morning and come home to melt-in-the-mouth, spicy, tomatoey deliciousness. This one’s for those who like it hot, so bear that in mind! You can always adjust the amount of chilli powder to make it more or less spicy to suit your tastes.
This Vegetarian Tikka Masala is a crowd-pleasing, vegan-friendly option for your Indian-style meal. Not only is it packed with healthy, filling veggies, it also uses affordable tinned tomatoes and chickpeas (so it’s just as good for your pocket!).
The recipe is finished by stirring in some dairy-free coconut milk alternative, which adds extra flavour, as well as thickening the sauce. Super low in calories, this is a curry night favourite that’ll help you get your 5-a-day!
While we’re on the topic of vegetarian curries, have you tried our Cauliflower Madras yet? It’s so simple to make, yet it turns out every bit as tasty as a takeaway curry. The rich tomato-based sauce is garlicky and spicy, finished with a spoonful of mango chutney and a sprinkle of coriander for freshness.
If you like your curries with layers of flavour and a decent heat to them, this is the recipe for you!
Want to spend minimal time in the kitchen and still tuck into a homemade curry with rice? This All in One Baked Korma is a lazy cook’s dream come true! Throw all the ingredients (even the rice!) into the same oven dish and let the magic happen. Super quick, with hardly any washing up afterwards – what a winner!
To recreate the familiar nutty taste of a korma without all the calories, we’ve used a coconut dairy free milk alternative. It’ll turn your curry creamy and coconutty, while keeping the calorie count at just 450 per portion.
Curry Night Side Dishes
With starters and mains covered, all your curry night menu is missing is a choice of side dishes! A scoop of Pilau Rice or a handful of Homemade Oven Chips are classic curry companions, although you can get creative with all kinds of Indian-inspired side dishes.
We love a spoonful of Saag Aloo alongside our curry. Based on the popular Punjabi dish of spinach and potatoes, our lighter version is a great alternative when you’re counting calories or following a diet plan like Weight Watchers.
Delicately spiced and baked in the oven until the spuds are nice and crispy, everyone will want a scoop on their plates!
Is it even curry night without naan bread? While the big, buttery naans from a restaurant can be far from slimming friendly, our Keema Naan is satisfying to make and surprisingly low in calories.
The soft, fluffy naan bread is made with only a handful of ingredients, before being stuffed with a perfectly spiced and seasoned mince mixture. Bake them until they’re crispy and use them to mop up every last bit of your curry sauce.
Proving that a side of rice doesn’t need to be boring, you’ll want to make this Indian Fried Rice the next time you serve homemade curries. Made with loads of fresh veggies, it’s a speedy side dish that’ll go down a treat with the whole family.
Don’t forget the fresh coriander and a squeeze of lime juice right before serving – it brings all the flavours to life!
What dishes are on your Indian-inspired menu?
We’d love to hear what recipes you’d pick for your next Indian-style fakeaway. Head on over to our Facebook group to tell us what you’ll be making. It’s the place to be for recipe inspiration and slimming motivation. Plus, you can always scroll through our Gallery if you’re looking for more ideas of what to make for dinner tonight.
Don’t forget you can submit your own photos, hints or tips to the gallery for a chance to win some EPIC Pinch of Nom SWAG!