Earthy, spicy and a note of umami, curry is widely loved dish to serve with rice. Depending on the vegetable and protein addition, it will vary the flavor slightly.
Red, yellow, or green, curry has bright and aromatic flavors that pair with foods other than plain or flavored rice.
What to eat with curry instead of rice? Curry is traditionally served with plain or seasoned rice. However, other grains such as barley, quinoa, bulgur wheat, and couscous are great used in places of rice as a side dish.
Furthermore, bread is another wonderful pairing with curry to dip in the sauce. Breads that go well with curry are flatbread, naan, roti, and even tortilla.
Curry is a popular meal worldwide because it is versatile, sweet, and aromatic. The savory flavors give it a rich earthy taste, and spices add a dash of freshness.
Most people pair curry with rice, but there’s more options at hand. In this article, we answer frequently asked questions about what to serve with curry instead of rice.
Can you make curry without rice?
Yes, curry can be made without rice. Consider other grains such as quinoa, barley, buckwheat, bulgar, or farro.
In case you are tired of eating rice, there are many ways to make curry without it.
For instance, curry with beans, lentils, or potatoes to make a filling supper in one pot. Also, curry made from whole wheat couscous makes for a wild interpretation.
Furthermore, whole grains are not the only carb option to pair with curry. Bread such as naan, flatbread, roti, and tortilla are a perfect addition to easily scoop over curry sauce.
What to have with curry that isn’t carbs?
Rice and naan are classic sides to serve with curry. Sometimes the carb overload makes you feel full too quickly, thankfully no need to give up curry when minimizing carbs in your diet.
Here are foods to eat with curry that aren’t grain based carbs:
- Vegetables: spinach, broccoli, mushrooms, green beans, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, okra, zucchini, squash
- Fruits: mango, jackfruit, apples, pears, apricots, raisins
- Food: tofu
- Nuts: almonds, pecans, cashews, brazil nuts,
- Legumes: chickpeas
- Condiments: maple syrup, olive oil
- Spices: curry powder, star anise, cinnamon, turmeric, cayenne pepper, coriander, mustard, pepper, clove, cardamom, nutmeg
- Herbs: mint, curry leaves, cilantro, basil
- Seeds: sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds
- Wine: Pinot Noir, Shiraz
What flavor goes well with curry?
Several flavors work well with curry including common ingredients like coriander, pepper, cumin, and fenugreek.
But curry also pairs well with powerful flavors such as cardamom, cloves, star anise, and nutmeg, among others. Cream, garlic, onions, and sugar are other elements that provide an actual sweetness to the dish.
The signature flavor of curry also comes from turmeric, which offers mild flavors that match well with the earthiness and powerful blend of aromatics.
Here are classic flavor combinations that goes well with curry:
- curry + chicken + garam masala + coconut milk + brown rice
- curry + naan + basmati rice + green beans + potatoes
- curry + white rice + mango chutney + spinach + cream
- curry + sweet potatoes + yogurt + lentils
Curry without Rice: Conclusion
Curry and rice are a perfect blend, but there’s more to curry than meets the eye. It can be paired with salads, veggies and other proteins as well.
To try something new other than plain or seasoned rice pilaf, consider switching to barley, quinoa, bulgur wheat, or couscous to complement the flavors and texture that go well with curry.
In addition, bread is classic food to serve with curry. Naan, flatbread, roti, and tortilla are fun ways to scoop veggies, meat, and curry sauce in every bite.
When picking the side dish to serve with curry, consider the amount of gravy in the dish. Curries with too much gravy call for a drier side, while those with chunks and dryness work best with vegetables and protein.