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Authentic Spicy Apple Curry {Sweet, Spicy & Vegan!}

Curries
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Author: Dini K.
Posted: 10/13/2014
Updated: 4/1/2020

A warm, sweet, spicy Green Apple Curry dish that transforms the sourness of green apples with the earthy spiciness and robust flavours of Sri Lankan roasted curry powder! This Sri Lankan apple curry is an easy, vegan side dish to prepare that’s full of flavour!

Updated: October 2016

(PIN IT FOR LATER)

Spicy Green Apple Curry - a spicy, sweet dish that transforms the sourness of green apples with the earthy spiciness and robust flavours of Sri Lankan roasted curry powder! Vegan + Gluten free. 

Spicy Green Apple Curry - a spicy, sweet dish that transforms the sourness of green apples with the earthy spiciness and robust flavours of Sri Lankan roasted curry powder! Vegan + Gluten free. 

If an apple a day truly kept the doctor away, then I would never need health insurance. I love apples! It’s always been one of my favourite fruits and I always get some when I shop for groceries. Apples are also a key part of many classic desserts like apple pies, apple tarts, apple turnovers, apple cakes etc. But have you ever tried apples in a savoury dish? Like a curry? This is the best time of the year to give those apples a spicy makeover with this amazing Sweet, Spicy Green Apple Curry! It’s perfect for those cold fall and winter nights and with a side of rice this could fill your belly with lots of warmth and flavour. Plus it’s a great vegan dish too.

Spicy Green Apple Curry - a spicy, sweet dish that transforms the sourness of green apples with the earthy spiciness and robust flavours of Sri Lankan roasted curry powder! Vegan + Gluten free. 

When I was growing up, every meal – no matter what we ate – was a chance to appreciate good food and the beautiful power it had in bringing people and families closer together. I’m guessing that’s got something to do with my Asian heritage. Rice and curry were a staple at our house and that certainly had plenty to do with my Asian heritage. We would usually have several side dishes to complement the rice, and the dinner table was a feast for the senses with all the different colours, smells and flavours of good ol’ Sri Lankan-style Asian cooking. That also meant different combinations of fruits, vegetables, meat or fish, that fit together like a weird yet taste-bud tantalizing puzzle.

Curries with fruits are a common occurrence in Asia. My mother had a knack for creating excellent curry dishes with fruits. After we moved back to New Zealand, it was harder to find the same tropical veges and fruits, so she came up with this  deliciously evil green apple curry which I’m sure you’re going to love too!

Spicy Green Apple Curry - a spicy, sweet dish that transforms the sourness of green apples with the earthy spiciness and robust flavours of Sri Lankan roasted curry powder! Vegan + Gluten free. 

The sweetness and sourness of apples go so well with the earthy spiciness of the curry powder to create this truly warm and comforting savoury dish.

My Mum never took out the core of the apple when making this curry, and the first time I made it a few years ago, I did. And I soon found out why I shouldn’t have done that. It makes the apple disintegrate in to the curry sauce. If you would like the apple to have some texture once it has been cooked, cut it into chunkier pieces, or if you like it softer (like I sometimes do), cut it thinner.

Spicy Green Apple Curry - a spicy, sweet dish that transforms the sourness of green apples with the earthy spiciness and robust flavours of Sri Lankan roasted curry powder! Vegan + Gluten free. 

Curry powder is a very regional thing (not all curry powders are the same, not even close!) and I intend do a separate post about all the different kinds of curry powder someday. For this apple curry, I used a Sri Lankan roasted Curry Powder, for which I have now shared the recipe  I’m going to share the recipe, very soon! This has a toastier flavour and is dark in colour with peppery notes.

A simple curry powder with robust flavours can transform a dish. And amazingly enough, it can impart completely different flavours depending on the main ingredient of your dish as well. This green apply curry is a wonderful example of that. You start with the sourness/tartness of  Granny Smith apples and end up with a tug of war between some amazing spicy and sweet flavours.

 

Spicy Green Apple Curry - a spicy, sweet dish that transforms the sourness of green apples with the earthy spiciness and robust flavours of Sri Lankan roasted curry powder! Vegan + Gluten free. 

 

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5 from 8 votes

Sri Lankan Spicy Green Apple Curry

Author: Dini K.
Print Rate

Ingredients:

  • 2 large Granny Smith apples or any crisp apple with slight sour notes
  • 3 tbsp oil
  • 1 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
  • 1/2 medium onion roughly chopped
  • 1 - 2 bay leaves dried
  • 1 green chili peppers jalapeno or serrano
  • 5 dried red chili peppers de-seeded, if you prefer a milder curry
  • 1 tbsp Sri Lankan Roasted Curry Powder
  • 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1/2 -1 tsp chili powder/cayenne pepper less for a milder curry
  • 2 garlic cloves chopped finely
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup coconut milk
  • 1/3 cup water or apple cider/natural juice NOT VINEGAR
  • Salt to taste

Instructions:

  • Chop the onions and slice the green and red chili peppers. Remove the seeds if you prefer less heat in your apple curry.
  • Wash and cut apples into quarters. Do not remove seeds or the core. Halve the quarters length-wise for thinner slices or across for chunkier pieces.
  • Heat the oil over medium heat in a non-stick saucepan or skillet.
  • Add the onions, bay leaves, green and red chili pepper and mustard seeds, and saute for a few minutes till onions are softened.
  • Add the Sri Lankan curry powder, turmeric and chili powder and mix for about 30 seconds, just until you start to smell the spices.
  • Add the sliced/quartered apples, garlic, salt and sugar and cook on medium high heat for a few minutes while gently coating the apples all over with the spices.
  • Cook the apples for about 10 minutes - uncovered, stirring occasionally. The apples will start to soften slightly.
  • Add the coconut milk and water/apple cider and stir through with the apples. Return to the stove for another 5 - 10 minutes covered, until the apples soften - PLEASE SEE NOTE.
  • Taste and season with more salt if desired.
  • Carefully stir through to coat the apples with the sauce/gravy - since the apples have softened and you don't want them to break up (add more water if you like more sauce - but I recommend a thicker sauce).

Tips & Tricks

NOTE - cook the apples for only about 5 minutes if you prefer slightly firmer apples that still have a good bite to it. Cook them up to 8 minutes if you prefer softer apples in your curry. I love apples that are very soft, but they are firmer in traditional Sri Lankan apple curries.

“This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.”

Did you make this?Tag me on Instagram!I love seeing what you’ve made! Tag me on Instagram at @TheFlavorBender or leave me a comment & rating below.

So go ahead and try something new and spicy this Fall with those fabulous green apples. And do let me know how it goes. Have you tried green apple curry before? Or any curry with fruits?

If you liked this green apple curry (Sri Lankan apple curry) recipe, don’t forget to subscribe for new (and free) recipes by entering your email address on the side bar (and get all these recipes delivered straight to your inbox), so you don’t miss out on a thing. You can find me on FACEBOOK, TWITTER,INSTAGRAM,  PINTEREST, YOU TUBE and GOOGLE-PLUS too.

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  1. Lv says

    September 11, 2020 at 18:51

    5 stars
    I loved this! Super easy and yummy

    Reply
  2. Alison says

    July 15, 2020 at 12:52

    Delicious, I love this recipe especially the roasted spice mix.
    Many thanks

    Reply
  3. Lynnette says

    July 3, 2020 at 21:24

    Holy moly, this was AMAZING!!! I have never had a curry like this before! Totally different from an Indian curry. I am now making every curry on your site!

    Reply
    • Dini says

      July 5, 2020 at 08:05

      I’m so glad you liked the curry Lynnette! Yes, Sri Lankan curries do have a distinct flavor profile, I hope you enjoy other curries that you try as well! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Michael Alba says

    May 24, 2020 at 12:45

    5 stars
    Refreshing and flavorful. It was fun to make and surprising how well it came out.

    Reply
    • Ganu says

      February 19, 2021 at 03:18

      5 stars
      I’ve made this so many times and it never fails me! It’s authentic, delicious and very easy to make. Thank you for the recipe!

      Reply
  5. Christoph says

    February 6, 2020 at 08:28

    Hej Dini,

    Thank you for this recipe, I did it once and it was great and different. I was wondering which kind of mustard seeds you take, black/brown or yellow ones?

    Thanks in advance

    Reply
    • Dini says

      February 6, 2020 at 09:17

      Hi Christoph
      Thank you 🙂
      I use black/brown mustard seeds predominantly for south asian cooking. I hope that helps!

      Reply
  6. Dora says

    December 7, 2019 at 06:51

    How many does the recipe serve?

    Reply
    • Dini says

      December 8, 2019 at 08:01

      Hi Dora
      This serves 4 people as a side dish with rice.

      Reply
  7. Daniel says

    May 30, 2019 at 13:56

    *apple

    Reply
  8. Daniel says

    May 30, 2019 at 13:54

    What kind of dried red pepper did you use? I was not sure so I just used medium New Mexico pods. Also how did you go about quartering the .

    Reply
    • Dini says

      May 31, 2019 at 11:36

      Hi Daniel!
      For a Sri Lankan curry I would recommend using south asian red chilis. If you can’t find them (in an asian store), I recommend substituting it with crushed red chili pepper you can find in the supermarket.
      I used a knife to quarter the apples, I didn’t remove the core either. Leaving the core helps keep the apple pieces intact.

      Reply
  9. Thamizh says

    January 21, 2019 at 08:31

    5 stars
    Hi Dini, the green apple curry was delicious! Thanks to you. My whole family liked it, including my little son!

    Reply
    • Dini says

      January 21, 2019 at 17:02

      So happy that you and your family liked the recipe Thamizh! Thank you so much for letting me know! 🙂

      Reply
  10. Cham says

    December 5, 2018 at 11:20

    5 stars
    I made this twice and today going to make it again! Very tasty and love the flavor of Sri Lankan spices combined with apple. Thanks for this wonderful recipe! 🙂

    Reply
    • Dini says

      December 5, 2018 at 11:54

      Thanks so much for letting me know Cham! I’m really glad you enjoyed the recipe. 🙂

      Reply
  11. Erandi Kumarasinghe says

    July 25, 2018 at 02:49

    5 stars
    just like unripe mango curry,that we cook in Sri Lanka

    Reply
  12. Mark says

    June 18, 2017 at 21:54

    5 stars
    Absolutely fabulous recipe! This is the first time that I have tried a fruit curry and I am glad that I tried it. Easy to make and delicious. Tart, peppery and definitely spicy. Thanks for recipe. It will be one that I cook again and again.

    Reply
  13. CakeSpy says

    October 18, 2014 at 15:46

    I got intrigued when I saw your comment on the Perfect Brownie blog, and was SO psyched to click over and find this recipe! I love apples and am intrigued by the idea of making them into a savory and cozy meal like this. Hooray!

    Reply
    • Dini says

      October 19, 2014 at 09:08

      I love apples too! My mum was the one who introduced me to this, and every time I eat it, I just love it more! I hope you do get to try this recipe out. Let me know what you think 🙂

      Reply
  14. Katie @ The Perfect Brownie says

    October 13, 2014 at 10:48

    5 stars
    I am so very much on a curry kick lately. I keep buying different jarred sauces and combining them with various meats, veggies, and some basmati rice. If I’m feeling flush I splurge on naan bread. 🙂

    What kind of meat would you pair with this? My husband likes curry but always wants meat with dinner.

    PS- The new Doctor is bumming me out. 🙁 This season can’t possibly end well…

    Reply
    • Dini says

      October 13, 2014 at 12:55

      Even we at home, just want a good curry from time to time!! 🙂 Whether it be with Rice or a good Roti!! 🙂
      My husband is a meat eater too! you can have this with any kind of meat that you want to have it with! I’ve had this with Chicken, Lamb or Fish and just with other curried vegetable dishes too! 🙂

      I know what you mean about the new Doctor… I’m not sure how I feel about it the series yet… but Peter Capaldi is brilliant! I do miss Matt Smith’s quirkiness though 🙁

      Reply

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Hi! I’m Dini, a third culture kid by upbringing and a food-geek by nature. I was born in Sri Lanka, grew up in New Zealand and lived in Australia, and then the US, before moving to Canada in 2019! My food is a reflection of those amazing experiences!

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