Fresh curry leaves?

[gabbyh]

I'm watching a show on Indian Cuisine on the Food Network and one of the recipes uses "fresh curry leaves"...anyone ever used or seen these?

[schuh]

Never heard of them. I always thought "curry" referred to a blend of spices.

[Grace]

It is also a plant, and it confuses a lot of people. Many people think that curry (the spice blend), is the dried leaves of that curry plant. I don't know why it's named curry, maybe because it tastes similar to the Indian curry spice blend? Sorry I don't have any ideas for the use of the plant (plenty of ideas for the spice blend, though! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif)

[Alisa]

Last year I was surprised to find "curry plants" at my local nursery. I assumed the name came from its smell and not its relation to curry - which is a mixture of spices. Unfortunately I have never cooked with it so I can't tell you how it tastes.
Alisa

[sal]

Gabby, I have a curry plant (herb) in my garden - I will make a note to myself to taste and let you know what its like. sally

[kumu]

Hi, curry leaves are used widely in south indian cooking. You can get them at Indian grocery stores. Mostly, they are used to add some flavour to the oil in which you are going to cook. Just add a few leaves(dried can also be substituted) when you heat oil for cooking/sauteing and then proceed with the onions or veggies or whatever.In most recipes, you can omit them , if you don't have them.
The flavour will be altered just a little 'cause there will be a lot of other condiments/spices which contribute to the taste of a dish.
Hope this helps.