What makes a Durban curry dish so special and why does it differ with other Indian curries? It could be the hot red curry masala spice blend that goes into the pot.

Durban curry masala is a spice blend you will most probably only hear about in South African curry recipes. Whether it is chicken masala, mutton masala or just masala, in the context of the Durban curry, it is a very hot and spicy blend of curry powder characterized by its red color. Furthermore, it is not to be confused with garam masala, although garam masala can be used as an ingredient in curry masala.

What we have found with curry masala is that the essential ingredient is the heat from cayenne or chili powder, which is what would give it the red color. Some people use paprika, but this would mainly be in order to achieve the color as well. Secondly, it does have a touch of sweetness to the spice, achieved by incorporating cardamom, cinnamon or cloves, or a combination of all three, which is why using garam masala as one of the ingredients makes sense as it gives an aromatically sweet accent to the spice.

Many Durban curry enthusiasts mix up a homemade batch of curry masala and store in an airtight jar for use when needed.