Correspondent photo by MICHELLE COLLINS Masala Dosa, Meena’s Kitchen, Nashua
Correspondent photo by MICHELLE COLLINS Curry Box (with tofu), Dynamite Sushi, Hudson
Correspondent photo by MICHELLE COLLINS Mini Burgers with Curry Mayonnaise, The Peddler’s Daughter, Nashua
Correspondent photo by MICHELLE COLLINS Chicken Curry, Cafe India, Nashua
Correspondent photo by MICHELLE COLLINS Singapore Style (Curry) Rice Sticks, South Garden Restaurant, Merrimack
Correspondent photo by MICHELLE COLLINS Masala Dosa, Meena’s Kitchen, Nashua
That much-needed vacation may not be happening this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t pretend to visit another country. The local culinary scene has become increasingly cultured, and one specific South Asian flavor is sweeping the pages of nearby menus: curry. Used to describe a general variety of spiced dishes, curry is smoky, spicy and downright delicious. So put away the passport and grab a fork; here are five local places serving the spicy stuff.
Masala Dosa
COST: $6.99.
WHERE: Meena’s Kitchen, 113 W. Pearl St., Nashua. 204-5025 or www.meenaskitchen.com.
As if bread and potatoes couldn’t taste any better, Meena’s Masala Dosa is one authentic dish done right. Masala Dosa is a thin and flaky sourdough crepe filled with spicy potato curry, and Meena’s serves its with chutney and sambhar (a vegetable stew) on the side. The potatoes were perfectly soft, and the fiery curry was slightly toned down with the fresh, cool chutney and the airy sourdough.
Curry Box (with tofu)
COST: $7.99
WHERE: Dynamite Sushi, 30 Lowell Road, Hudson. 889-0055 or www.dynamitesushi.net.
Dynamite Sushi’s Curry Box is Thai curry served over rice, with the diner’s choice of chicken, beef, pork, tofu, shrimp or salmon. This curry craver opted for the tofu, which was perfectly firm and coated in a thick curry sauce. Also in the mix were large, crisp chunks of fresh vegetables and pineapple. The sticky white rice it was served with even acted as a necessary sponge to sop up the irresistible curry coating. The box came with several side dishes, but they merely acted as background singers to the tofu curry’s performance.
Mini Burgers with Curry Mayonnaise
COST: $7.95.
WHERE: The Peddler’s Daughter, 48 Main St., Nashua. 821-7535 or www.thepeddlersdaughter.com.
The Peddler’s Daughter usually serves its mini burgers with relish, but if you ask nicely, the staff will gladly smear the curry mayonnaise on the buns instead. This smoky, unique concoction was a surprisingly good combination with the beef burgers that left this eater wondering why she liked it and why she wanted more. This curry condiment wouldn’t work as well with every burger or sandwich, but the zesty spices Peddler’s uses in its beef meshed perfectly with the smoky mayonnaise.
Chicken Curry
COST: $11.50.
WHERE: Cafe India, 6 Elm St., Nashua. 882-8100 or www.cafeindianh.com.
Cafe India knows its curry. Its chicken dish devoted to the South Asian flavor consists of large chunks of moist, tender chicken, cooked in a thick, hot curry sauce and garnished with fresh cilantro. Served with Himalayan basmati rice, this dish was extra spicy, but full of fresh, addicting flavor. Cafe India even serves this meal at varying levels of spice, so make sure to ask for it mild if preferred.
Singapore Style (Curry) Rice Sticks
COST: $7.75.
WHERE: South Garden Restaurant, 559 Daniel Webster Highway, Merrimack. 429-4289.
This dish is the least spicy of the bunch, considering it’s coated in a subtle layer of curry. The rice sticks are thin spaghetti-like noodles, accompanied by an ideal amount of plump shrimp, tender pork and crunchy vegetables. The curry flavor is barely evident, but with every few bites, there’s this mysterious jolt of spice and smokiness that can’t be denied. This is a great dish for those who like the taste of curry, but not the heat that normally comes with it.
