National Curry Week: Curry Ideas for Restaurants, Schools and Care Homes

National Curry Week is the perfect opportunity to put one of the UK’s favourite types of food firmly on the menu. Whether you’re running a restaurant, café, school, nursery or care home, curry can be a versatile, flavour-packed and cost-effective menu option.

At Trevors Foodservice, we stock everything you need to create a great curry menu, from ready-to-use sauces and quality ingredients to dried spices, coconut milk, fresh chillies, coriander and ginger purée. We also have all the accompaniments you need, including naan breads, bhajis and samosas.

Here are some ideas to inspire your National Curry Week menu.

Curry ingredients for foodservice kitchens

Creating a great curry doesn’t have to mean starting everything from scratch. Our range gives chefs the flexibility to choose the approach that works best for their kitchen.

For a quick and consistent curry, ready-to-use sauces can make a great base. If you prefer to create your own recipe, we stock essential ingredients including:

• Dried herbs and spices
• Curry powders and pastes
• Coconut milk
• Fresh chillies
• Fresh coriander
• Ginger purée
• Garlic and ginger products
• Mango chutney and other accompaniments
  
  

Then complete the dish with naan breads, onion bhajis, samosas and other popular sides.

Curry ideas for restaurants, pubs and cafés

Curry is a natural fit for hospitality menus, but you don’t have to stick to the traditional curry, rice and naan combination.

Why not give your menu a twist with some curry-inspired dishes?

Mango chutney roast potatoes

Give a familiar side dish a new lease of life by roasting baby or new potatoes with curry spices before finishing them with mango chutney, lime and fresh coriander.

They’re a great accompaniment to a curry, but could also work alongside grilled meats, burgers or as part of a sharing menu.

Take your burger to India

Give one of your best-selling burgers a curry-inspired makeover. Add an onion bhaji, chilli cheese, mango chutney and a cooling yoghurt and mint sauce for a burger with plenty of flavour and texture.

Tandoori lamb chops

For something a little more premium, marinate lamb chops in yoghurt, garlic and ginger, green chilli, garam masala, turmeric and lemon before grilling or cooking on a barbecue.

Finish with fresh coriander and lemon and serve alongside naan, rice and a selection of chutneys.

Curry ideas for schools and early years

Curry can be a fantastic way to introduce children to different flavours and ingredients while creating nutritious and filling meals.

A lentil-based curry or dhal can provide protein and fibre, while vegetables can be incorporated into the sauce for an easy way to increase vegetable intake.

You could even make curry a regular feature rather than a one-off special. For example, a school could offer a different curry-inspired option throughout the week:

• Monday – mild chicken or vegetable curry
• Tuesday – lentil dhal with rice
• Wednesday – bhaji burger with yoghurt and mint sauce
• Thursday – vegetable katsu-style curry
• Friday – curry-inspired sandwich with a mild curry mayonnaise

For early years settings, a mild dhal can be a particularly useful option. The NHS has a delicious dhal recipe which can provide inspiration for introducing lentils and aromatic flavours to younger children.

And why stop at the main meal? Curry-inspired flavours can be used throughout the menu, from mild spiced snacks to drinks such as spiced chai.

Curry options for care homes

Curry can also have a place on care home menus, providing residents with familiar and comforting dishes while giving chefs plenty of opportunities to vary the menu.

For residents with dysphagia, texture-modified meals are an important consideration. At Trevors, we also stock Level 4 puréed and blended curry options suitable for residents who require a puréed diet.

This means care home kitchens can offer curry as part of their menu while having options available for residents who need texture-modified meals.

Don’t forget the curry accompaniments

The right accompaniments can turn a simple curry into a complete meal.

Stock up on favourites such as:

• Naan breads
• Onion bhajis
• Samosas
• Mango chutney
• Raita and yoghurt-based sauces
• Fresh coriander
• Chillies
• Rice

You can also use these products creatively across your menu. Samosas and bhajis make great starters or sharing dishes, while naan can be used alongside curries or turned into a wrap-style lunch option.

Make National Curry Week work for your menu

National Curry Week is a great excuse to look beyond the traditional curry and think about how Indian-inspired flavours could work across your menu.

From a comforting dhal in a school or early years setting, to a texture-modified curry in a care home, or a premium tandoori lamb dish in a restaurant, there are plenty of ways to make curry work across foodservice.

At Trevors Foodservice, we stock the ingredients, products and accompaniments you need to create curry dishes for your customers, residents and pupils.

Looking for curry ingredients for your foodservice kitchen? Speak to the Trevors team and we’ll help you find the products you need.