Irish Curry Sauce Recipe

If you’re a fan of spicy dishes with a touch of Irish flavor, then you’re in for a treat.

This curry sauce is the perfect dipping sauce for Irish chips, also known as French fries.

Irish beef stew in a white bowl with carrots and parsley.

It’s a popular snack in Ireland and England, often referred to as chip shop curry sauce. So let’s dive right in and learn how to make this mouthwatering sauce!

What is Irish Chips and Curry Sauce?

Irish curry is a curry dish that is influenced by both Indian and Irish cuisine.

It typically consists of a thick and sweet with a hint of spice sauce made from a variety of spices such as turmeric, cumin, coriander, and ginger. 

While traditional curry dishes include chicken, vegetables, and rice underneath the sauce, Irish curry sauce is made to be poured over chips.  

Irish and English chips are actually what we know as French fries.

Irish Chips and Curry Sauce Recipe

Ingredients

To make this Irish curry sauce, you’ll need the following ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons of curry powder
  • 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon of turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon of cumin
  • 1 teaspoon of ground coriander seed
  • 1 tablespoon of tomato paste
  • 2 cups of chicken stock
  • Salt and pepper to taste

To make the chips:

  • vegetable or canola oil (to fry)
  • potatoes cut in your preferred shape of french fries
A bowl of beef stew with carrots and peas.

Instructions

Cooking

Now that we have all the ingredients ready, let’s start making the curry sauce:

  1. Prepare the spice blend for the sauce.  Start by adding the curry powder, Worcestershire sauce, turmeric, cumin, and ground coriander in a large skillet and cook it over medium heat for about 2 minutes to toast the spices and release their flavors.
  2. Remove the skillet from the heat and transfer the spice blend to a blender. Blend until smooth.
  3. Return the sauce to the pan and turn the heat to low. Add the tomato paste and chicken stock. Mix everything together to combine.
  4. Simmer the sauce for 15 minutes over low heat, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon to prevent sticking.
  5. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  6. If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can add a sauce thickener of choice and stir well until the desired consistency is reached.
  7. Set aside and allow the sauce to cool a little before serving.
Irish stew in a bowl with potatoes and carrots.

Preparation

Now it’s time to enjoy the classic combination of chips and curry sauce:

  1. Add oil to a large skillet over medium to high heat.  
  2. Place your uncooked chips or fries into the oil. Fry them until they are golden and crispy.
  3. Once golden and crispy, take your curry chips and place them into a large pan or skillet.
  4. Gradually add the prepared curry sauce to the pan and allow the sauce to fill up the skillet.
  5. Reduce the heat and allow the sauce to simmer for 2 minutes. Constantly stir the mixture in the pan in order to allow the sauce to coat all of the chips.
  6. Stir the mixture to prevent any sticking and scrape the bottom of the pan as needed.
  7. Turn the heat off and serve the delicious chips and curry sauce immediately.

Enjoy this mouthwatering snack with friends and family. The spicy curry sauce adds a flavorful kick to the already tasty Irish chips! 

Irish stew in a bowl with potatoes and carrots.

Variations to this Irish Curry Recipe

Looking to change up your Irish Curry chips a little?  Here are some variations to this recipe you may enjoy, tips to make

Add vegetables – You can add a variety of vegetables to the curry to make it more nutritious and flavorful.

Some options include diced carrots, bell peppers, green beans, or peas.

Add a protein – If you want to make the Irish equivalent of loaded fries you can try using chicken, beef, lamb, or even tofu as the main protein in the curry.

Adjust the cooking time accordingly based on your chosen protein.

Spice it up – If you prefer a spicier curry, you can add chili flakes or chopped fresh chili to the curry. Adjust the amount according to your taste preferences.

Make it creamy – You can melt a generous amount of Irish cheddar or Colcannon cheese into the curry to create a rich and cheesy sauce. This works well with mild-spiced curries.

If you prefer a creamier curry, you can add a splash of heavy cream or coconut milk towards the end of cooking.

This will create a luscious and velvety texture to the curry.

Sauce on the side – Leave your chip sauce as a side to dip your fries into as an even easier snack.

A bowl of beef stew with potatoes and carrots.

Tips for your Irish Curry Sauce

Here are some tips to make your Irish curry chips more flavorful.  

Toast your spices – To enhance the flavor of the spices, you can toast them in a dry skillet before adding to the curry.

This technique releases the essential oils and adds a depth of flavor to the dish.

Include Irish whiskey – For a unique twist, you can deglaze the pan with a splash of Irish whiskey after browning the meat. This will add a smoky and rich flavor to the curry.

Garnish with fresh herbs – Top the curry with chopped fresh herbs like cilantro or parsley before serving.

This adds a burst of freshness and elevates the overall presentation of the dish.

Irish beef stew in a bowl with potatoes and carrots.

Final Thoughts

This Irish curry sauce is a favorite late-night snack in Ireland and England. It’s delicious, spicy, and perfect for dipping your chips or French fries.

The sauce is a flavorful blend of spices, including curry powder, Worcestershire sauce, turmeric, cumin, and ground coriander.

While this is not your regular Indian curry dish, this curry sauce for chips is the perfect Irish treat that you and anyone you choose to share with will surely enjoy.

It’s simple to make, and the recipe can be easily adjusted to suit your taste preferences.

So why not try making this chip shop curry sauce at home and bring a taste of Ireland to your kitchen? 

Irish Curry Sauce Recipe

Irish beef stew in a white bowl with carrots and parsley.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons of curry powder
  • 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon of turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon of cumin
  • 1 teaspoon of ground coriander seed
  • 1 tablespoon of tomato paste
  • 2 cups of chicken stock
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • vegetable or canola oil (to fry)
  • potatoes cut in your preferred shape of french fries

Instructions

    1. Prepare the spice blend for the sauce.  Start by adding the curry powder, Worcestershire sauce, turmeric, cumin, and ground coriander in a large skillet and cook it over medium heat for about 2 minutes to toast the spices and release their flavors.
    2. Remove the skillet from the heat and transfer the spice blend to a blender. Blend until smooth.
    3. Return the sauce to the pan and turn the heat to low. Add the tomato paste and chicken stock. Mix everything together to combine.
    4. Simmer the sauce for 15 minutes over low heat, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon to prevent sticking.
    5. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
    6. If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can add a sauce thickener of choice and stir well until the desired consistency is reached.
    7. Set aside and allow the sauce to cool a little before serving.

    8. Add oil to a large skillet over medium to high heat.  
    9. Place your uncooked chips or fries into the oil. Fry them until they are golden and crispy.
    10. Once golden and crispy, take your curry chips and place them into a large pan or skillet.
    11. Gradually add the prepared curry sauce to the pan and allow the sauce to fill up the skillet.
    12. Reduce the heat and allow the sauce to simmer for 2 minutes. 13. Constantly stir the mixture in the pan in order to allow the sauce to coat all of the chips.
    14. Stir the mixture to prevent any sticking and scrape the bottom of the pan as needed.
    15. Turn the heat off and serve the delicious chips and curry sauce immediately.

Here’s the scoop on more recipes like this:

Irish curry sauce recipe in a bowl with carrots and peas Pinterest image

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