Simplify Cooking
When I was about five years old, I was first introduced to curry by my father and I instantly fell in love with the rich aroma and complex taste of one of the world's most delectable dishes. Since I was a young girl, I have spent countless hours in the kitchen, experimenting with spices, perfecting recipes, and creating gourmet, restaurant quality dishes with love. I hope you'll enjoy them and be as hooked as I am!
- Karen
Though Asian and Eastern cuisines can seem intimidating, I have taken the guesswork and the uncertainty out of the preparation by creating a variety of pre-packaged spice blends.
Keep it mild or make it hot: Add some of the extra chili powder provided to suit your taste buds. Whether you're preparing a family lunch, you're a time-pressed college student prepping meals for the week, or you are a party lover hosting an ethnic dinner for 20 of your closest friends with an assortment of curries cooking simultaneously, Karen's Spice Kitchen spice packets are the way to go! The result is a healthy, delicious, easy-to-prepare meal in no time ... no matter your level of culinary expertise.
1. Each dish has a specially blended spice mix, measured so that making the meal is extremely easy and convenient.
2. How to use the spice packets: A recipe with simple, step-by-step instructions is provided with the spice packet, as well as an extra packet of chili powder to add if you’d like to make it hotter. A list of ingredients you need to buy will be found on the outside of the packet. Couldn’t be more simple or delicious!
Chopping, mincing, crushing, or pressing garlic at room temperature and allowing it to sit for 5-10 minutes can help provide enough time for the enzymes in garlic to interact and boost cardiovascular, anti-bacterial and anti-cancer benefits.
Cooked tomatoes have cardiovascular, anti-bacterial, and anti-cancer benefits. The cooking process increases lycopene, an antioxidant in tomatoes that might reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer and macular degeneration. Cooked tomatoes are also high in Vitamin C and iron.
One of the compounds in turmeric; curcumin, is a powerful antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory properties. Black pepper contains piperine and this helps curcumin to be absorbed into the bloodstream. Most of the Karen’s Spice Kitchen spice packets contain turmeric and black pepper.
Cilantro, also known as coriander, has antimicrobial factors and helps to chelate heavy metals from the body. Most of the Karen’s Spice Kitchen spice packets contain coriander and the dishes made with them are even more delicious when garnished with fresh chopped or whole cilantro leaves.
Pre-Blended Spices
Exceptional Cuisine With Great Taste
For non-meat eaters - vegetables, tofu, plant protein can be substituted in most recipes. Adjust cooking times accordingly.
Prep time: 20 mins. Cook time: 1 1/2 - 2 hours for beef or lamb; 45 - 60 mins. for chicken. Serves 4-6
Your choice of protein and/or vegetables simmered in a savory sauce made with onions, garlic, beer and our special blend of spices in this hearty and delicious stew.
Prep time: 20 mins. Cook time: 1-1 ½ hours ~ Serves 4-6
A rich and fragrant South Indian curry with onion, garlic, and tomato.
Prep time: 20 mins. Cook time: 40 mins. Serves 4-6
A mildly spiced Indian chicken dish, cooked in a fragrant and creamy sauce with onions, garlic, and tomatoes.
Prep time: 20 mins. Cook time: 40 mins. Serves 4-6
A sweet and mild curry with onions, garlic, coconut milk, spices and the sweetness of mangoes.
Prep time: 20 mins. Cook time: 40 mins. Serves 4-6
Chicken pieces in a creamy, richly spiced curry sauce, with onion, garlic, tomato, and fresh cilantro.
Prep time: 20 mins. Cook time: 30-40 mins. Serves 4-6
A rich, flavorful curry with onions and chickpeas in a garlic
tomato sauce.
Prep time: 10-20 mins. Cook time: 45 mins. for chicken. 1 ½ hours for lamb ~ Serves 4-6.
Chicken or lamb pieces in a savory sauce with onion, garlic, tomato, fresh cilantro, and a blend of spices.
Hungarian Paprika Chicken or Fish
Prep time: 10 mins.
Cook time: 45-60 mins. for chicken, 5-20 mins. for fish ~ Serves 4-6
This spice blend makes a really simple but delicious marinade with smoked paprika, garlic and a hint of lemon. Works perfectly on chicken pieces of your choice and any firm fish. Can be cooked in the oven in the sauce or on the grill after marinating.
Prep time: 20 mins. Cook time: 1-1 ½ hours ~ Serves 4-6
A savory lamb dish of Persian origin, made with onions, garlic, tomato and an aromatic blend of spices cooked in a creamy sauce.
Prep time. 15 mins. Cook time: 20 mins. Serves 4-6
A delicious spin on a classic seafood favorite, cooked with onion, garlic, tomato and coconut milk.
Prep time: 20-25 mins. Cook time: 40-45 mins. Serves 6-8
A savory medley of curried vegetables in a rich, flavorful sauce.
Bobotie (South African Curried Meatloaf)
Prep time: 20 mins. Cook time: about 1 hour ~ Serves 4-6
Pronounced "bo-boo-tea", this is a sweet curried meatloaf (can be made with ground beef or lamb) with a baked egg mixture topping. This delicious, traditional South African dish incorporates fruit (grated apples, apricot jam and golden raisins) to contrast the mild curry flavor.
Thai Massaman Chicken or Beef Curry Blend
Prep time: 20 mins. Cook time: 45 minutes for chicken,
1-1 ½ hours for beef ~ Serves 4-6
A fragrant mild Thai curry with coconut milk, onions, potatoes and peanuts or cashews.
Middle Eastern Burgers or Kabobs
Prep time: 10 mins. Cook time: 10-15 minutes ~ Serves 4-6
It’s so easy to flavor your burgers or kabobs with this spice blend that creates a flavor that is more interesting than your usual recipe. Simply mix the spices into the meat, form into patties or meatballs and cook on the grill. They’ll be a hit served with or without the sauce.
Moroccan Chicken or Lamb Curry
Prep time: 20 mins. Cook time: 40 minutes for chicken,
1 ½ hours for lamb ~ Serves 4-6
A mild dish with dates and honey for a light sweetness that perfectly complements the aromatic curry flavor.
Prep time: 20 mins. Cook time: 40 mins. Serves 4-6
If you like peanut butter you will love this chicken in a fantastic, rich, creamy sauce that will make your mouth water before you’ve even tasted it!
"Everyone loved the flavor and I enjoyed the ease of using the premixed and measured spices." Tiffany H
"OMG! We could not stop eating the Chicken Tikka Masala! Sherry M.
There is no way on earth I could have cooked this or had the patience to try it before this.
The spice packets are a total life changer! Laurie J
"Great product, high quality fresh spices, very convenient." Beth L
"Even our dog was salivating!" Maureen S
"Excellent, with a lot of flavor." Aidree T
"Incredibly delicious and even better the next day!" Elizabeth G
"Excellent! Makes the house smell good too!" Gary T
"The Lamb Korma was our favorite! It was very tender and quite delicious." Meg L
"The flavor was excellent! I will definitely buy these as gifts!" Vickie M
"Absolutely delicious!" Hope C
"Very easy to follow and very flavorful!" Courtney P
The aromatic leaves of several types of plants used in cooking. Usually dried. Used for their distinctive flavor and fragrance.
A flowering vine, cultivated for its fruit, which is often dried and used as a spice and seasoning. Native to South India. Used in many medicinal products for its disease preventing and health promoting properties.
A spice made from the seeds of several plants in the family Zingiberaceae, cardamom has a strong, unique taste with an intensely aromatic fragrance. Used as a spice and flavoring in cooking, as well as medicinally.
A hot chili pepper used as a flavoring in spicy dishes. Dilates the blood vessels and speeds the metabolism due to the high amounts of capsaicin. It is also used as an aphrodisiac and as an herbal supplement.
The dried, pulverized fruit of one or more varieties of chili pepper. It is used as a culinary spice to add pungency and flavor to dishes. Contains up to seven times the vitamin C of an orange and has many health benefits, including fighting sinus congestion, aiding digestion and helping to relieve migraines, as well as muscle, joint and nerve pain.
A spice obtained from the inner bark of several trees from the genus Cinnamomum that is used widely in both sweet and savory dishes. Cinnamon was so highly prized among ancient nations that it was regarded as a gift fit for monarchs and even for a god. Has a plethora of impressive health benefits including helping to treat muscle spasms, infections, and the common cold.
An annual herb in the family Apiaceae (also known as cilantro). Generally used as a spice (in seed form) or as an added ingredient in other foods or recipes. The fresh leaves are an ingredient in many Indian foods (such as chutneys and salads) or chopped as a garnish on Indian dishes such as dal. A wonderful source of dietary fiber, manganese, iron and magnesium, as well as Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and protein.
A flowering plant in the family Apiaceae, native from the east Mediterranean to India. Its seeds are used as a spice in the cuisines of many different cultures for its distinctive flavor and aroma. Has many uses as a traditional medicinal plant, including aiding digestion and improving immunity, respiratory and skin disorders.
An herb native to South Asia, and an essential component of south Indian cooking. Adds aroma and complexity to almost any dish. Curry leaves are full of vitamins C, A, B, and E, help improve heart function, and have anti-inflammatory properties.
Garam masala comes from the Hindi, garam ("hot") and masala (a mixture of spices), and is a blend of ground spices common in North Indian and other South Asian cuisines. The composition of the mix differs regionally and the components are toasted and ground together. A typical Indian version of garam masala contains: black and white peppercorns, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, bay leaf, and cumin.
A flowering plant in the family Zingiberaceae whose rhizome, ginger root (ginger), is widely used as a spice and as a folk medicine. Ginger produces a hot, fragrant spice that is a key ingredient in Indian cuisine. Commonly used to treat many types of stomach and digestive problems, as well as nausea.
Lemongrass is a tropical herb and originated in India and then traveled onto Southeast Asia, becoming a staple ingredient in the cuisines of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Lemongrass has a fresh, aromatic, citrus flavor with a trace of ginger. It has many health benefits including antiseptic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and curative properties. It can also relieve pain and reduce fever.
Madras curry or Madras sauce is a moderately spicy curry sauce, red in color and with heavy use of chili powder.
Mustard seeds are the small, round seeds of various mustard plants. Known in Hindi as sarson, these are frequently used as a spice in Northern India and Nepal. A rich source of essential oils, minerals, and vitamins, including selenium, omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, and manganese.
One of two spices derived from several species of tree in the genus Myristica. Used for flavoring many sweet and savory dishes, usually in ground or grated form. Has a long list of health benefits, including its ability to relieve pain, soothe indigestion, strengthen cognitive function, detoxify the body, and increase immune system function.
A spice made from air-dried fruits of the chili pepper family of the species Capsicum annuum. Used as a seasoning to add color and flavor to many types of dishes, such as rices, stews, and soups, or as a garnish. Rich in vitamin C and carotenoids, providing a variety of health and beauty benefits.
A crystalline mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl). Essential to the health of people and animals and is used universally in cooking and as a seasoning. (Natural Himalayan Crystal Salt) contains all 84 elements found in the human body. Many health benefits including: regulating water content in the body, promoting healthy pH balance in cells, promoting healthy blood sugar, and helping to reduce the signs of aging.
A rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae. Native to southwest India. Ground into a deep-orange-yellow powder that is commonly used as a spice in savory Bangladeshi, Indian, and Pakistani cuisine and curries, as well as for dyeing. Frequently used medicinally, especially in India, for its supposed antimicrobial properties and as a remedy for stomach and liver ailments.