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Sri Lankan roasted curry powder

Dark-roasted Sri Lankan curry powder of coriander, cumin, fennel and warm spices — toasty and smoky, for meat and fish curries.

Also called: roasted curry powder, black curry powder, badapu thuna paha, thuna paha, jaffna curry powder

Around the world: බැදපු තුනපහ (si) · வறுத்த கறித்தூள் (ta)

A kind of curry powder

1 recipe with it

Read the full spice guide: flavour, history and how to use it

Make it yourself: Sri Lankan roasted curry powder

What it is

A curry powder made by roasting coriander, cumin and fennel seeds with cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, curry leaves and often a little raw rice until deep brown, then grinding them fine. It is darker, smokier and less turmeric-yellow than British or Indian curry powders, and usually contains no chilli, which is added separately.

How it’s used

  • Rubbed onto pork, beef or chicken for black curries
  • Fried with onions, curry leaves and pandan as a curry base
  • A pinch in coconut gravies and devilled dishes

Characteristics

Taste
Toasty, slightly bitter-smoky, with fennel sweetness and warm cinnamon.
Aroma
Strongly roasted, like dark coffee and curry leaves.
Appearance
Fine powder from chocolate to dark coffee brown.
Sold as
ground
Cooking uses
Mainly a seasoning, Commonly cooked
Common in
Sri Lankan

Storage

Cool, dry and dark. Airtight, away from light and heat; best within 3 months.

Diet, allergens and safety

No major allergens in typical versions.

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Dairy-free
  • Egg-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Nut-free
  • Soy-free
  • Caffeine-free

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy
325 kcal
Protein
14.29 g
Carbohydrate
55.83 g
Fat
14.01 g
Fibre
53.2 g
Sugars
2.76 g

USDA FoodData Central: Spices, curry powder (a close stand-in).

Substitutes

Optional — what works if you don’t have it, and how it changes the dish.

  • Curry powder — Toast ordinary curry powder in a dry pan until a shade darker; it will still taste more of turmeric.

Related ingredients

Recipes with sri lankan roasted curry powder

  • Lamprais: yellow rice with curries, frikkadels, egg and sambols on a banana leaf

    Lamprais

    Sri Lankan · 2 h 35 min · 948 kcal

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