Homemade chip shop curry sauce
An easy homemade version of proper British chip shop curry sauce! Perfect served on fat, British-style chips.
Before anyone feels the need to point it out to me: I’m under no illusions. I know what this stuff looks like.
Anyone who says that chip shop curry sauce is attractive is literally just plain wrong.
However, I also know what this stuff tastes like, i.e. nectar of the gods. I bet Thor is drinking curry sauce as we speak. Which is why I’m posting this recipe despite its somewhat… questionable appearance.
What is chip shop curry sauce?
If you’re not British, I’m not sure whether you’ll have come across this style of curry sauce before. Here in the UK, you’ll find it in near enough every fish and chip shop. And you get a fish and chip shop on just about every third street… so that’s a lot of curry sauce.
Don’t be fooled by the word ‘curry’ – there’s nothing remotely Indian about chip shop curry sauce. Don’t go thinking this is some Indian delight… it’s not exactly meant to be gourmet. This is the sort of thing you might eat while you’re stumbling home after a night at the pub.
Or, you know, on a Friday night in front of the telly.
How to make homemade chip shop curry sauce
If you ever fancy making your own curry sauce, it’s actually really easy.
To make the sauce, start by cooking up some onion, garlic and apple (I know, it’s weird, but it totally works). Then add some flour, stock, and of course your curry powder.
And that’s literally it. We’re not exactly fussy, us Brits.
How to serve British curry sauce
All that’s left to do is pour the sauce over your chips, and dig in.
Of course you’ll need a big batch of fat British-style chips (none of this thin French fry nonsense). I made my own, but you may well decide to go for frozen ones. They kind of fit the theme here so no shame.
You should preferably eat your chips and curry sauce with a plastic fork, or one of those wooden ones with only two prongs (what’s with those, by the way? Utterly useless. It’s like trying to eat with a stick).
Homemade chip shop curry sauce
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Print Pin CommentIngredients
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1/2 onion, finely diced
- 1 apple, peeled and finely diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp curry powder
- 1 tbsp plain flour
- 150 ml vegetable stock
- Black pepper
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a deep frying pan, and add the onion, apple and garlic. Cook over a low heat for 5-10 minutes, until everything is very soft. Add the curry powder and flour, and mix well. Then pour over the stock and add plenty of black pepper.
- Bring to a gentle simmer, and cook for around 10 minutes, stirring every couple of minutes, until the mixture is thick and the vegetables have cooked right down.
- Your sauce will probably be quite chunky, so if you’d prefer a smoother sauce, just give it a quick blitz with an immersion blender. This will thicken it up a bit too. I half-blended mine, so it was quite thick, but there was still some texture.
- Serve on fat chips.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is approximate, and will depend on your exact ingredients. Please calculate your own nutritional values if you require accuracy for health reasons.
Note: Nutritional information is approximate, and will depend on exactly what ingredients you choose. Information above is for 1/3 of the recipe.
Hi, tried this recipe and though a little sweet I adjusted it to my taste. Very nice thank you.
The only thing I want to know is I have some left over and wondered if it can be frozen? T.I.A.
Thanks Mini! :) I haven’t tried freezing it but I would definitely give it a try, can’t see why it wouldn’t work!
I used this as a guide, and it was terrific! I didn’t have any ginger or garlic, so I used 2 tsp of Massaman Curry Paste. Also did not have apples, so used 1 cup of sweetened tamarind juice. Again, no Worcestershire, so used fish sauce, and ketchup instead of tomato puree.
This was fantastic! I gave it a blast with the hand blender, and finished it with a cornstarch slurry. Definitely authentic tasting – this is the stuff! Thank you!
Haha! Sounds like you changed a lot but I’m glad it worked for you!!
Hi, I’m having trouble getting the taste just right. What type of apples and curry powder has everyone been using?
I’ve made it with all kinds of apples, and it usually works fine – just depends whether you’d prefer a slightly sweeter sauce or a slightly tangier one. And I just use medium curry powder like this: http://www.tesco.com/groceries/product/details/?id=255769961
Well let me tell you my daughter asked me if I could make her some curry sauce like her Grandmother with rice and chips , but she use the instant curry sauce powder , which I didn’t have, cause I never use it. Anyway long story short I went ahead and I made this recipe and she really liked so thanks so much for this recipe I won’t tell her I put apples in it! Yum yum
Glad she enjoyed it, thanks for the feedback! :)
Living abroad. Decided to try this. I didnt chop the apple and onion as fine as i should have done. It didn’t matter. It tasted great. Better than actual fish n chip shop curry sauce. I added a bit of extra chilli to pep it up a bit too. Great and super simple simple recipe. Thank you.
Thanks for the feedback John, hope it made you feel at home :)
“Chip shop” curry sauce is made (at least used to be made) to use up the leftover mushy peas and beans that didn’t sell. Honestly – I used to watch them make it in my local chippy as a child.
Blend a tin of beans and a tin of mushy peas with a tin of tomatoes to slack it – then stir in your ‘curry powder’ – Authentic taste, colour, smell and texture.
If you’re careful to pick low salt beans, it’s actually not bad for you – two of your 5 a day and full of fibre.
Interesting! I don’t think that’s how it’s made these days (at least not anywhere I’ve ever had it) but it’s really interesting to hear about its origins :)
Thanks for this recipe! I wanted some authentic British flavor for my chips. Being from the states, ketchup is usually our only real option! This went perfectly with Rose’s chips… :)
Glad you enjoyed it – can’t beat chips and curry sauce :D
You have made a pregnant-lady-who-lives-abroad-and-is-having-curry-mix-cravings very happy :) it was delicious
Haha yay! Glad you liked it. Now I’m craving chips and curry sauce…
I have curry sauce with chips from the chippy every Friday night! I buy the curry sauce from Tesco though (25p a jar, ha ha) because I don’t think curry sauce in chip shops is ever vegetarian (I think they use meat stock). I keep meaning to make my own and this looks simple enough!
I didn’t even know Tesco sold it in jars?! Will have to keep my eyes peeled for that! The homemade version is so easy and SOOO good :D
This was amazing, thank you! Am currently following Slimming World and wanted a healthier alternative. So was very impressed with this. I did it with a Bramley apple and red onion (that was serendipitous as all we had left!) and also used a splash if white wine vinegar for an extra kick. Fab recipe.
I love that this is Slimming World friendly! Good to know – any excuse for more curry sauce ;) Thanks for your lovely comment!
Fantastic Recipe!
I throw in a handful of sultanas and half a teaspoon of honey, as I like it quite sweet.
I’ll be looking for more of your recipes.
Thanks so much Robert! Hope you find something else you like as much :)