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The Hairy Bikers' Great Curries

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In this book, Si and Dave have put together loads of brand-new curry recipes from around the world - from simple dishes for a quick midweek taste treat to fantastic feasts for a weekend celebration. Their recipes are the real deal, using great techniques and secrets they've discovered on their travels.

384 pages, Hardcover

First published February 28, 2013

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About the author

Hairy Bikers

182 books38 followers
Big hearted, down-to-earth cooks with a love of good food, they have been cooking together for more than twenty years. They have created haute cuisine dishes with Michelin-starred chefs and travelled the world in the pursuit of great food. They've also explored the length and breadth of the British Isles to discover brand new recipes and create their own fresh takes on cooking classics. The stars of several hit television shows, they are the UK's most popular cookery writing duo.

Si and Dave are life-long foodies and passionate cooks; they met through work on the set of a drama (appropriately enough on a Catherine Cookson adaptation) and they take every opportunity they can to pack their panniers and head off in search of authentic culinary and cultural experiences in all corners of the world.

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5 stars
277 (58%)
4 stars
133 (27%)
3 stars
39 (8%)
2 stars
15 (3%)
1 star
12 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
Profile Image for Susan.
3,138 reviews566 followers
December 14, 2014
This huge, colourful book is packed with recipes. It begins with the simple statement, “Who doesn’t love a curry?” Indeed, most of us do, and this book demystifies cooking many different kinds of curries from all around the world. The chapters are split into:

Starters & Snacks
Light Curries
Chicken Curries
Fish and Shellfish Curries
Lamb, Beef and Pork Curries
Vegetable Curries
Curry for a Crowd
Side Dishes
Breads and Rice
Pickles and Chutneys
Sweet Dishes
The Basics
A Curry and a Beer
Great Curry Meals

If you have not done a great deal of cooking before, or feel a little daunted at trying something different, it might be an idea to read the chapter on The Basics first. I can see why the editors put this at the back of the book, but it will really walk you through all the basics – from all the spices used and what they look like to how to prepare chillies and what you will need in your store cupboard. Once you have read this, I am sure that even the most novice cook will feel prepared to try a few recipes and there are some wonderful recipes to choose from. The photography is mouth watering and both Dave Myers and Si King are so exuberant and enthusiastic that you know from first flicking through the pages that this is not a book which will sit on the shelf. It is a book you will be cooking from – a lot.

Profile Image for Cara.
291 reviews14 followers
March 7, 2013
Excellent book! There is a wide range of curries, side dishes, breads and snacks from across Asia included here. Lots of lovely photographs of the finished dishes throughout, along with a comprehensive reference section - spices, techniques, menus etc. are all covered here. The recipes are clear and easy to follow. This is a book that will be frequently used in my house!
Profile Image for Angie.
253 reviews52 followers
November 18, 2014
If I could of given this book ten stars I would of given it that many!! Its so good and I've spent months reading and trying out new recipes. Gone are the days of take out curries or opening a jar.

I can't even give a favs stand out meal as all of them are so good but the Goan fish soup is one I've made a few times. The book has lots of photos and they talk about different regions and where the recipes originally come from. I can't praise this book enough. I've even made all the different rice dishes. If you like cooking I'd say this is a must.
Profile Image for Daniel Verner.
9 reviews
December 21, 2019
Great stuff, full of wonderful recipes with detailed descriptions of many ingredients and spices from around the world, well worth picking up for curry lovers.. (I also met them and they signed my book - lovely chaps!)
Profile Image for Scott Andrews.
455 reviews7 followers
September 28, 2022
Who doesn't like a Hairy Biker Cookbook?
Solid. Just like all the rest.
Only complaint: they make it too easy. How am I going to impress anyone with better-than-resto curry if they publish this stuff?
15 reviews1 follower
August 19, 2020
Brilliant. My favourite is the chicken balti which gets cooked 2 or 3 times a month in our household as we all love Si and Dave's recipe.
104 reviews7 followers
January 1, 2022
Well researched book from two loveable chaps, they've been around the world and seen some great curries.

You won't want to slip in to a korma reading this!
Profile Image for Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all).
2,360 reviews242 followers
August 8, 2013
I love watching the Hairy Bikers. Unlike some TV chefs, they actually tell you quantities etc while they're working, and the camera shows more of the food being prepared than the cooks striking poses and gurning for the camera. Add to that good food and good humour, and you've got quite a combination. I bought their Diet cookbook and enjoyed all the recipes I prepared from it (quite a few) so when I read the magic word, "curry"--I was away.

It's a beautiful book with a wealth of information and recipes, however be warned: many of the recipes are complex and require a lot of steps and pre-preparation. Not everyone in the world owns a food processor; if you have one, it will be easier. There are a lot of ingredients that people who don't live near large Asian supermarkets may have trouble finding. And to be quite honest, I don't see the point of starting a recipe with commercial curry paste and then adding a bunch more ingredients, most of which are already in the paste. I don't feel you have to make your own paste, but starting with a commercial one just seems like, why do you need a recipe? But then I've happily prepared Thai curries using commercial paste and coconut milk. Call me a philistine if you will, but there it is.

Everything I've prepared from this book has been delicious, but I am often put off by the long list of ingredients and the many steps. I'm afraid it will be going to the second-hand bookshop soon.
Profile Image for Sophie Narey (Bookreview- aholic) .
1,067 reviews126 followers
January 22, 2015
Published: 28/02/2013
Author: Hairy Bikers
Recomended for: fans of curries


I wasn't a huge fan of curries......until I tried out some of these recipes they were full of flavour that I cannot describe with words. The Hairy Bikers don't let you down with this book, it is just as good as all their other books that they have done. With easy to follow instructions, with ingredients that are easy to find and buy and not too expensive. Perfect for fans of curry who fancy making thier own or trying out a different kind of one, or someone who like me didn't really like them that much, you are sure to find one in this book that you will love
Profile Image for Ian Anderson.
Author 5 books4 followers
August 5, 2013
One of the best curry cookbooks I have and I have a few!

Realistic recipes and instructions that give good and most importantly, reliably repeatable results.

Love the chicken makhani!
9 reviews
November 13, 2016
I've made about 5 curries from this book and every one of them have been delicious. These dudes know their curries! I recommend the chicken korma recipe 100%.
Profile Image for Kelli.
7 reviews
August 6, 2013
Great recipes! Everything I've made so far has been delicious.
Profile Image for Yasmeen.
248 reviews17 followers
October 26, 2015
Best book on curries. You'll come out of the kitchen with something delicious, I assure you.
17 reviews
December 21, 2018
I thought this might be the ultimate cookbook on Curries and it has come very close. There are many recipes from India to Japan and everywhere in between. If you are looking for a different curry for that dinner party you will find it in this book. A great cookbook.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews