Jul 20, 2020 Jan 26, 2026 by [Archana Potdar] · This post may contain affiliate links · 42 Comments

Onion and Tomato Curry Base Recipe

One onion-and-tomato curry base, and the number of dishes you can churn out is endless. Stay with me as I walk you through making a curry base that makes indian cooking easy and quick. Most importantly, your food will taste consistently the same.

Curry base a simple freezer friendly gravy base

Batch-cooking this masala makes my life simpler and faster, and the benefit is a healthy meal as delicious as the takeaway curry. I make this onion-and-tomato curry base for North Indian-style gravies.

Using the same curry base, I make mixed vegetables, korma, or paneer bhurji in a jiffy. My friends used it to make delicious meat curries.

Jump to:

So what is Curry?
Ingredients For Onion-Tomato Curry Base
Method For Onion-Tomato Curry Base
How does making a curry base in advance help?
How to use For Onion-Tomato Curry Base
Protips For Onion-Tomato Curry Base
How do I store my curry base?
Onion and Tomato Curry Base Recipe

So what is Curry?

That is another post I can go on and on about but

Simply put, curry is a complex sauce, a gravy.
A memorable Curry has a rich and flavourful sauce. The spices and herbs complement each other, creating a flavourful blend.
One of the most thrilling experiences is making Indian Curry. A slight alteration to everyday pantry ingredients magically changes the curry.

Ingredients For Onion-Tomato Curry Base

The heart of Curry in India lies in its ingredients, treatment, and variety. This list may seem endless here, but you will have them in your pantry.

Oil: I prefer refined oils, such as peanut oil and sunflower oil.
Onion: I use red onions, but feel free to use white onions if you have them.
Tomato: Ripe red tomatoes makes the the curry base delicious.
Garlic and Ginger: I use garlic and coriander paste along with grated ginger.
Whole Spices: Cumin, green cardamom, black cardamom, cinnamon, bay leaves.
Powdered Spices: Red chilli powder, turmeric, garam masala, pav bhaji masala, coriander seed powder.
Salt: Remember, salt is a preservative; however, use little for this entire batch. I use ½ teaspoon.
Sugar: To balance the taste.

Optional Ingredients:

Coriander leaves: A few sprigs are optional.
Whole Spices: Cloves, fennel seeds, fenugreek seeds, mustard seed, black pepper.
Depending on the dish and region, the cook may include curry leaves, nutmeg, mace, poppy seed, star anise, etc.

Method For Onion-Tomato Curry Base

Cut the tomatoes into a "T" then soak them in hot water for 30 minutes. Peel and puree the tomatoes. Set aside.
Chop the onions roughly, grate the ginger, and use garlic and coriander paste; you can also chop the garlic to a fine paste.
Stir-fry the onions until golden in a tempering of oil, cumin and whole spices.
Stir in the garlic and ginger, mix well till the oil separates.
Add the tomato puree and stir-fry until the oil separates.
You can stop here, cool the base and store the curry base.
But I prefer to add the dry masala and fry for a few minutes.
Cool, then transfer the paste to smaller containers. Freeze.
When ready to use, remove the required quantity and use as needed.

Protip: Make a big batch and freeze it in small containers. Thaw one container at a time, and since the flavours intensify, you will need to adjust the spices to suit your taste.

How does making a curry base in advance help?

Making the curry base took me 40 minutes. But making my bhindi masala took 15 minutes, and that was only because I needed to fry the bhindi.

How to use For Onion-Tomato Curry Base

Use an onion-tomato-based curry base to make

Protips For Onion-Tomato Curry Base

Making a Curry Base is very easy. Do not get upset with the long list or procedure.

As always, use the best quality ingredients.
You can use canned tomatoes, but check if they have any additives. I would rather use fresh tomatoes.
Ripe red tomatoes are very juicy, so go easy on the amount of water. You will need to cook for longer to remove all the moisture.
You can use a puree of onions and tomatoes. Then you do not need to grind the base after cooking. Only fish out the whole (khada) masala.
Store the curry base in an airtight container.
Use the base to cook choley, paneer, kofta, ladyfinger, cauliflower, potatoes, and mixed vegetables. You can also use it for chicken or meat.

How do I store my curry base?

If you have the time, portion out the onion-tomato curry base into ice trays.
However, I freeze the onion-tomato curry base in one container and freeze it.
After 2-3 days, chop the block into smaller pieces using a chopper. Add it to the container and back to the freezer. Use a cube when needed.

So, is it possible to classify curry bases?

You can broadly put your curry bases in these buckets.

This is the tomato-onion curry base you can use to make choley, rajma, mixed vegetable, and potato subzi. Of course, my Bhindi Masala uses this delicious base.
Examples of makhani gravy include Matar Makhani and Bibbe in Makhani Gravy.
A boiled-onion curry base example: Methi Malai Mattar.
Coconut-based curry base examples: Vegetable Stew, in Goan Cuisine; Feijoada; Alsande and Soya Chunks (Vegetarian); Alsande cho Tonak; Alsande Usal; Xauti.
Examples of tomato- and tamarind-based dishes include Sambhar, Saar, and Rasam.

The following are also curry bases and are generally made at home.

Then there are lentil-based curries, such as Palak Kuttu and Khatte Masoor dal.
Some are with leafy vegetables and dal, such as Sai Bhaji and Muddi Pallya.
Then we have yoghurt-based ones, such as Kadhi, to name a few.

The list can be very long. There are some I have never heard of, and suddenly someone springs it on me!

How to use extra tomatoes?

If, like me, you are sitting on a pile of tomatoes and wondering what you can make with them, then here are your options

Deviled Tomatoes, my family is crazy over these delicious appetisers, perfect snack for parties, potluck or a brunch. Make some ahead and relax when your friends show up.
Arrabbiata Sauce for Pasta: Who says you have to use this delicious sauce only with pasta? Use it when making a Vegetarian Casserole, spaghetti, or pizza.
Tomato Saar Recipe for your rice in place of dal.
Make Tomato Sauce, Spicy Tomato Jam Recipe.
Make a Whole Wheat Tomato Basil Loaf Recipe or Whole Wheat Focaccia with Peppers, Tomatoes, Olives and Dried Rosemary.

What is the commercially available curry powder?

The Indians have no such thing as curry powder. The curry powder sold in markets is what the British adopted.

Spice powders are more intricate and depend on the region, dish and preferences. Masala, as we use it in India, is a spice mixture that can be dry or wet.

The dry masala has the advantage of being easier to store and use for longer periods. Depending on where you buy your masala, you will call it a dry powder podi down south. In Karnataka, it's called pudi, in Maharashtra, pud.

For the Foodie Monday

Our hostess this week is Preethi, who blogs at Preethi's Cuisine. Her recipes are simple yet tasty and easy to make, like her Pickle Spiced Beetroot Raita.

Preethi wants us to share our desi curry bases. So these curry bases are something anyone, man or woman, can make and deep-freeze. When you need a gravy, remove a block, thaw it, and use it. That is the simple idea I have been using for some time now.

Our targets are clear:

The curry paste gravy must be easy to batch-make and use.
Of course, there should not be any compromise in taste. You are dealing with a food blogger's family. We have created discerning palates that can tell the use of one extra bit of cinnamon.
A working mother needs help finding delicious curries that are quick and easy to make. After all, being a busy working woman is no excuse for not cooking every day. The family may be okay, but it is the lady who feels guilty.

Summary: A simple and easy onion-tomato curry base is the masala decides the well made gravy. Every day, masala we use makes cooking faster, making your cooking faster and stress-free. If you like this recipe do comment and let me know.