Dive into a true South African classic with our Traditional Curry Noodle Salad recipe! This vibrant, sweet and tangy noodle salad is incredibly versatile and utterly delicious, making it the ideal side dish for any braai, family gathering, or a refreshing quick lunch. Packed with colourful peppers, crisp onion, and coated in a rich, flavorful tomato-curry dressing, it’s a truly nostalgic South African favourite. Plus, it’s wonderfully easy to make, budget-friendly, and designed to be prepped ahead and served perfectly chilled. Get ready for a winner that always disappears fast!
Traditional South African Curry Noodle Salad
This easy, traditional South African Curry Noodle Salad is vibrant, tangy, and packed with colorful peppers. Featuring a sweet curry dressing, it's the ultimate chilled braai side or quick lunch.
Ingredients
- 500 grams noodle screws or shells
- 1 tsp salt heaped
- 2 liter water boiled
- ½ red pepper
- ½ green pepper
- ½ yellow pepper
- 1 onion
- 1 tbsp curry powder medium curry
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 cup vinegar
- 1 cup sunflower oil
- 1 cup sugar brown or white
Instructions
Dressing
- Chop onion into fine cubes.
- Dice peppers into fine cubes.
- Add sugar.
- Add oil and vinegar.
- Add tomato sauce.
- Add curry powder.
Pasta
- Boil in salted water until al dente.
- Strain and add to the dressing.
- Mix thoroughly.
- Place in fridge until cold
Video
Notes
Tips for the Perfect Curry Noodle Salad:
- Noodle Choice: While screws or shells work wonderfully, feel free to experiment with other short pasta shapes like macaroni, penne, or even fusilli. Just ensure they are cooked al dente according to package directions, as they will soften slightly as they absorb the dressing.
- Vegetable Prep: Dice your onions and peppers into very fine, even cubes. This ensures a consistent texture throughout the salad and allows the flavors of the dressing to meld beautifully with every bite.
- Balancing the Dressing: The magic of this salad lies in its sweet and tangy curry dressing. Taste the dressing after mixing and adjust the sugar or vinegar slightly to suit your preference. If you like a spicier kick, you can increase the curry powder or add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- Chill Time is Crucial: Don't skip the refrigeration step! Chilling the salad allows the noodles to fully absorb the vibrant dressing, and the flavors to deepen and meld. It also ensures the salad is refreshing, which is key for any good noodle salad.
- Mixing Thoroughly: When combining the noodles with the dressing, ensure everything is mixed very well. You want every noodle coated for that full burst of flavour.
- This Traditional South African Curry Noodle Salad is the ultimate companion to any braai! Its refreshing and tangy profile perfectly complements grilled meats.
- It's a fantastic addition to potlucks and picnics, as it travels well and tastes even better as the flavours develop.
- Serve it as a light and flavorful lunch on its own, or as a vibrant side dish for weeknight dinners.
- Perfect for meal prep – make a larger batch at the beginning of the week for easy grab-and-go meals.
- Add Protein: Stir in cooked, shredded chicken, flaked tuna, or chickpeas for a more substantial meal.
- Extra Veggies: Feel free to include other finely diced vegetables like cucumber, grated carrots, corn, or peas for added color and nutrients.
- Creamy Twist: For a creamier version, you can stir in a tablespoon or two of mayonnaise or plain yogurt to the dressing.
- Herbaceous Touch: A sprinkle of fresh chopped coriander (cilantro) or parsley just before serving can add a lovely fresh note.
- Sweetness Boost: If you like a sweeter profile, add a few more tablespoons of brown sugar, or even a splash of apricot jam to the dressing.
Nutrition
Calories: 4764kcalCarbohydrates: 610gProtein: 72gFat: 228gSaturated Fat: 23gPolyunsaturated Fat: 12gMonounsaturated Fat: 184gSodium: 3637mgPotassium: 2461mgFiber: 26gSugar: 231gVitamin A: 3324IUVitamin C: 259mgCalcium: 289mgIron: 12mg
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