Mind of a Chef

Curry

How did curry become so popular in England? When colonial occupiers returned to England, they brought back an appetite for fiery Indian cuisine. Ultimately, this craving resulted in the mass production of the pulverized spice blend known as curry powder. British curries caught on, with chicken tikka masala, which combines grilled, marinated chicken cubes with a hearty tomato-cream sauce, becoming England's national dish. In this episode, April explores the originals and her homeland's versions of this historic cuisine. Legendary cookbook author Madhur Jaffrey takes April to her favorite curry spot in New York City, then cooks. In London, April hangs with her chef friend Stevie Perle and makes and eats English and Pakistani curries. Harold McGee breaks down the magic of curry.