8 Best Curry Sauces in a Jar UK | Holy Cow Blue Dragon and More
Skip the supermarket and browse our list to discover the top curry sauces you can buy in the UK from Tesco, Asda and more by brands like Patak's, Blue Dragon and Sharwood's. Whether it's a subtle chicken korma, a red beef curry or a tangy dollop of chip shop curry sauce you love, we’ve searched high and low for the best easy-to-cook products to help you satisfy your craving.
Quick List - Top Curry Sauces
Holy Cow!
Bring Authentic Spice to Your UK Kitchen
A recommendation service that carefully researches each product and consults with experts across many disciplines. We are constantly creating new content to provide the best shopping experience from choosing ‘cosmetics’ to ‘food and drink’, ‘home appliances’ to ‘kids and baby’ products, reaching users all across the United Kingdom.
How to Choose a Curry Sauce in a Jar in the UK – Buying Guide
Which Kind of Curry Will You Choose? Pick According to Spice Tolerance or Favourite Dishes
First, narrow down which cuisine you prefer for a curry sauce that will hit the spot. Whether you have family from a particular country, want to relive the memories from a holiday or you’re a sucker for spice, it’s good to think about which country you want to venture to in the kitchen this evening.
Indian Curries – Packed With Flavour and Brilliant for Meat Lovers and Veggies Alike
Using spices like turmeric, coriander, garam masala and bags of chilli powder to boot, Indian curries tend to pack a spicy punch. Tikka masala is another of the UK’s favourite dishes, actually thought to have originated here when Indian restaurant owners created a milder curry for sensitive British tongues.
Indian curries can be cooked with vegetables like spinach, potato, tomato and chickpeas and taste magnificent served up with rice, poppadoms, raita, naan bread and lime pickle – perfect for recreating your favourite takeaway for less!
Thai Curries – Fragrant, Coconut-Laced Curries With Lots of Spice
Lemon grass, ginger and garlic are what set Thai curries apart, and they are often made with chicken but work just as well with mushroom or tofu if you don’t eat meat. Though it’s hard to recreate authentic Thai flavours in your kitchen at home, a good curry paste should get you at least half way there.
Chinese Curries – Hot, Rich and Straightforward to Recreate at Home
Whether you want to recreate a curry like your grandma makes or you simply love the hot and sour flavour combinations of Hong Kong and Chinese curry dishes, they are a tasty option and work brilliantly with veg like onions and green peppers plus any sort of meat or fish you fancy.
Japanese Curry – Has a Hearty Texture and Works Well With a Range of Meat and Veg
Japanese curry has a thick, substantial texture and can be prepared easily at home with a ready-made sauce. It often contains meats (breaded pork or chicken are popular) but it can be prepared with vegetables too for variety.
Try Chip Shop Curry Sauce for a Proper British Take on Curry
Tangy, sweet and ideal with chips, a golden splash of curry sauce on an enormous plate of soggy deep-fried potatoes is – for some! – the ultimate comfort food. Having a stash at home means you won’t need to sprint to the nearest chippy for the fusion-food triumph that is curry and chips in one mouthful.
Hot Hot Heat: Keep in Mind How Much Spice You Can Handle Before You Buy
If you find too much spice overwhelms the flavour and/or your enjoyment of a curry, stick with ready-made sauces listed as ‘mild’ or ‘medium’ such as korma and pasanda, dhansak and Britain’s alleged favourite: the tikka masala. They will often have just 1 or 2 chilli peppers on the jar or packaging.
If you grew up eating fiery curries or you love a spicy kick, you may want to pick a sauce labelled ‘hot’ or ‘very hot’ such as madras, jalfrezi, phall or vindaloo, which may have 3 chilli peppers (or more!) to indicate its spice level. Stock up on extra raita yoghurt to serve – or maybe some soothing mango sorbet for pudding!
Decide What Type of Product Will Suit Your Cooking Style Best
For the Quickest and Easiest Curry, Use a Ready-Made Sauce in a Jar or Packet
Obviously the biggest benefit from jar-to-saucepan curry products like these is the time you’ll save, but the key drawback is you can’t do much to change the flavour and any extra veggies you add may not always be an ideal flavour match. Let the experts do the hard work for you and enjoy them as they are.
Pastes, Kits, and Curry Roux Can Be More Authentic, But Require Extra Prep
Kits may contain other extras along with a curry paste, such as powdered spices or coconut milk, saving you time hunting them all down.
Another bonus with pastes, kits, and curry roux is they often feel more authentic as you can combine fresher ingredients and cook them to perfection, rather than simply pouring sauce from a jar. The downside is they require more time and buying the extra vegetables or spices will probably cost more overall.
Gluten-Free or Vegan? Think About Dietary Requirements
It’s also important to check if sauces are vegetarian or vegan – as even vegetable-based curry sauces could contain fish flavourings, milk or cream.
Be Sure the Packet or Jar Is Big Enough to Feed Everyone
The average jar of curry sauce makes enough for two or three servings, but read the small print on the packaging to be sure you won’t run out before serving, or worse, end up with a flavourless curry that you've added too many portions of meat and veggies to!
8 Best Curry Sauces in a Jar in the UK
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mae Ploy 1. Mae Ploy Thai Green Curry Paste | | The Easiest Way to an Authentic Thai Curry | |
2 | The Spice Tailor 2. The Spice Tailor by Anjum Anand Fiery Goan Curry | | A Fresh, Authentic Indian Feast | |
3 | Holy Cow! 3. Holy Cow! Delhi Tikka Masala Curry Sauce 6 Pack | | Bring Authentic Spice to Your UK Kitchen | |
4 | Blue Dragon 4. Blue Dragon Thai Red Curry Kit | | An Award-Winning Kit That's Easy to Cook | |
5 | Pataks 5. Patak’s Rogan Josh Curry Sauce | | Mouth-Wateringly Simple Indian Curry for a Snip | |
6 | Goldfish 6. Goldfish Hot and Spicy Chinese Curry Sauce Concentrate | | Rich and Thick for Depth of Flavour | |
7 | Loyd Grossman 9. Loyd Grossman Tikka Masala Sauce | | Low On Authenticity But High on Taste | |
8 | Sharwood’s 10. Sharwood’s Jalfrezi Curry Sauce | | A Straightforward Classic for Four With Minimal Fuss |
The Easiest Way to an Authentic Thai Curry
Absolutely ideal if you have some basics in the fridge that need jazzing up, this delectable paste sings with ginger and lemongrass to create a subtle flavour that’s as authentic as you can expect when you’re cooking in a one-bed in Hackney. Warm, vibrant flavours worth sharing with a pal or two!
The Spice Tailor2. The Spice Tailor by Anjum Anand Fiery Goan Curry
A Fresh, Authentic Indian Feast
Entirely free from preservatives, colourings and artificial flavourings, the Spice Tailor range work well if you want a curry that’s at once fine-tasting and pretty healthy too. The fiery Goan curry has a slightly intimidating rating of 3 chillis but there are plenty of other options in the range for less daring diners.
Holy Cow!3. Holy Cow! Delhi Tikka Masala Curry Sauce 6 Pack
Bring Authentic Spice to Your UK Kitchen
No extras may even be necessary as the incredible depth of flavour in these simple sachets is noted in more than one customer review. Holy Cow! have a huge range of flavours and mixed packs to try out, almost all of which are gluten-free and vegan, so they may well become a dinner party staple!
An Award-Winning Kit That's Easy to Cook
The cream of the coconut milk mixes tremendously with the sweetness of shallots and the twang of lemongrass for a really memorable flavour. Easy to prepare and with a high-quality taste, you’ll be booking a Thai beach getaway before you’ve started the washing up.
Mouth-Wateringly Simple Indian Curry for a Snip
Four servings worth come in this handy jar, so you can host a mini dinner party or treat yourself and your partner to a mighty feast. Patak’s know how to do curry right, and their blend of plants and spices gives a timeless classic flavour.
Goldfish6. Goldfish Hot and Spicy Chinese Curry Sauce Concentrate
Rich and Thick for Depth of Flavour
The spice level is not overwhelming, but it livens up your curry nicely. You will need to add meat, fish or veggies as well as other extras to create a fully rounded dish, so this one is best for seasoned cooks or people with imaginative curry ambitions and plenty of time.
Low On Authenticity But High on Taste
Serving up to 3 people (or leaving enough leftovers for tomorrow’s lunch) this creamy, fruity masala is perfect for veggies too and won’t burn the roof of your mouth with any wild chilli flavour. A great pick if you have fussy kids too!
A Straightforward Classic for Four With Minimal Fuss
Being a jalfrezi, it will pair well with some creamy yoghurt or a peshwari naan, and is sure to be a winner when you need something effortless after a busy working day or for undemanding guests. However, it does taste quite sweet from the added sugar, and even though it has 3 chillis, it's actually quite mild.
More Lip-Smacking Additions to Dinnertime
Looking for more quality spices and sauces from around the world to transform a packet of rice and some bendy veg into a plateful of flavour? Below are three more delectable culinary shopping guides we think you'll love!
Summary
We’ve done the hard work so you don’t have to: A simple rundown of the best curry sauces you can have delivered straight to your home faster than you can say ‘korma.’ Whether you went for low-fat, natural ingredients, a vegan sauce or authentic traditional flavours, what could be easier or more fun than a flavourful curry straight from the jar or packet?
Author: Annie Hopkins
Top 5 Curry Sauces
No. 1: Mae Ploy｜1. Mae Ploy Thai Green Curry Paste
No. 2: The Spice Tailor｜2. The Spice Tailor by Anjum Anand Fiery Goan Curry
No. 3: Holy Cow!｜3. Holy Cow! Delhi Tikka Masala Curry Sauce 6 Pack
No. 4: Blue Dragon｜4. Blue Dragon Thai Red Curry Kit
No. 5: Pataks｜5. Patak’s Rogan Josh Curry Sauce
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.