Looking for the best blender for Indian cooking? UK curry cooks, I've got a treat in store for you. Today, I will talk you through some great options and show you some cool features that will make curry prep that much easier. I'll offer some suggestions and tell you all you need to know about blenders for cooking Indian! Let's get plugged in and whizzing along…
Short Answer | Which Blender is Best for Indian Cooking? My Top Pick…
Ok, I absolutely love the Wahl ZY025 James Martin hand blender. As the best blender for Indian cooking, Uk chef James Martin has teamed up with a well-known brand to produce something that does practically everything. Here's why I chose it: -
- It's really easy to clean
- It dices, grates, chops, slices and blends.
- You are unlimited on the quantities of sauce and gravy you can prepare.
- It is really reasonable priced
- It is easy to store
In fact, it's got very few downsides!
Best Blender for Indian Cooking | UK Buyers Guide: -
Alright, let's get stuck in.
You'll have seen that there are plenty of options out there when you are choosing a blender. But which to go for?
Here's my handy guide for the things I look for when choosing the best blender for Indian cooking; UK chefs, take note!
Why Use a Blender for Indian Cooking?
There are plenty of reasons to use a blender for making curry. Here's a rundown of why it pays to get one
- It makes life easy!
- It's great for making your own curry powders and spice mixes
- You can make tasty base gravy in bulk
- You can make chutneys and purees easily
Power
Ok, I'm going to say it simply.
The higher the power, the more efficiently a blender… er, blends. It really is that simple.
Most blenders are rated in terms of Watts. This is a measure of the power output of the motor within the blender. The higher the wattage, the faster and stronger the blades spin. This is particularly useful if you are looking to blitz foods that might be considered 'hard', such as cinnamon or coconut.
Bowl Material
This one is often overlooked.
Choose your bowl material carefully.
Why?
A lot of the spices you use for cooking curry tends to stain. A glass bowl or vessel is all good and well, but if you are making a lot of Indian food, you might find that it discolours over time. Glass isn't too bad…
But here's a top tip…
Stay away from plastic bowls and cups. They tend to tarnish really quickly.
The answer?
You'll find some of the best blenders for Indian cooking have stainless steel bowls. These are super easy to keep clean, and even if they stain, they don't make your kitchen look unsightly.
Easy Clean?
Speaking of cleaning, pick something easy to clean.
I don't just mean the bowl, either.
Some blenders have all sorts of hidden nooks and crannies. They can be a real pain to clean, and you'd be amazed at how the odd splash of curry sauce can sneak into these corners, never to be seen again.
If that sounds rancid, that's because it is…
The solution is to look for features such as the following: -
- Removable blades
- Wide open-topped cups or bowls
- Modular blenders that can be taken apart for cleaning
- Rubberised and removable seals
Capacity
Now, this depends on how much Indian food you want to make. For the odd pot of spice mix or to make homemade garlic and ginger paste, you aren't going to need anything massive.
However…
For making litres of base gravy, you are going to need something with pretty decent capacity. As a general rule, I'd suggest going for something with a minimum of 1.5-litre capacity. That's enough to make about 10 portions of curry base sauce, eat now and freeze some curry sauce for later.
Speed Control
We all love having options.
One thing that you definitely want is the ability to control the speed of your blender. Look for multiple speed dials or buttons. Sometimes you'll want your food to be smooth. Other times you might want a little texture.
Having the option to control the speed opens up a world of possibilities, and you'll miss it if it isn't there.
7 of the Best Blenders for Indian Cooking | UK Top Picks
Ok guys, with all of the above in mind, I've had a little look around and here are some of the best blenders for cooking UK Indian recipes.
Listen, I said, 'the best'… I didn't say 'the cheapest'. If you are serious about making Indian, then this blender is pretty decent.
Here's what's so great…
First off, I love that it has huge capacity. There's nothing messier than trying to blend 4 litres of base gravy bit by bit in a tiny cup. This removes the problem entirely!
If you take a look at the wattage, you'll see that it is 1400 watts. That's powerful enough to make light work of pretty much anything you throw in! Because it's so powerful, you can be assured of a nice smooth gravy, but it will also pulverise dried spices with ease!
Basically, it's a fantastic allrounder!
Let me ask you a question…
Have you ever blended something only to find a few 'missed' chunks?
This isn't a problem here. Phillips has included 3D technology to ensure that every part of your sauce or spice is broken down.
I also like that it looks super easy to clean. The bowl and the lid are dishwasher safe. The blades are also removable, meaning you can give them a quick rinse and get rid of any pesky bits that are lurking.
What I Liked:
- Pretty good capacity
- Really powerful motor
- Easy to clean
What I Didn't Like
- It might be a bit big, especially in smaller kitchens.
- I'm not the biggest fan of huge glass bowls. Drop it, and you are going to have a bad day
This Would Be Great for…
Curry cooks who indulge often. It is great for serious enthusiasts who want to blend a range of liquids and dried herbs. It might be overkill for those who make Indian food infrequently.
This one is pretty business-like. While it won't win any awards for looks, it should get the job done.
At 550w, the motor is a little on the low side when it comes to power. That said, if you use this blender for Indian foods, it shouldn't be too much of an issue. It will make light work of most dried seeds and spices. It is also really sweet for making batter and sauces.
There are a few standout features for me…
I love that you get three stainless steel cups (in various sizes). You can choose the right cup for the task at hand. The small one is great for making spice powders, while the large one is best when you are bubbling up a batch of BIR gravy.
The clear plastic lids will still allow you to keep an eye on things.
It also comes fitted with four durable rubber feet. This stops the blender from 'walking off' when it is going at high power.
What I Liked
- Loads of variety in cup sizes
- Variable speed
- It feels really good quality
What I Didn't Like
- For the money, the motor could be a bit stronger
- The plastic lids may get stained over time
- It is a bit noisy
This Would Be Great For…
Intermediate Indian cooks who want a range of options. It is mid-priced and should have you covered for 90% of your cooking.
For years I used a nutribullet in place of a home blender.
Want to know why?
They are super simple to use. Throw your ingredients in, screw the top on, push down on the base… Instant pureed ingredients.
But…
Pureeing isn't the only thing this unit does, oh no…
You'll be able to chop onions, grate garlic and ginger, make dips, grind spices… Pretty much everything. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say this is one of the best blenders for Indian cooking in the UK.
And the best bit?
It's amazing value. It is about 80% cheaper than some premium blenders!
You can even make a breakfast smoothie (just make sure to give the pot a really good clean)
What I Liked
- How simple this is
- Its really easy to clean
- It blitzes pretty much everything
- Chop, dice, grate and puree. It's all possible
What I Didn't Like
- The cup size is smaller than dedicated blenders, not good for big portions
- It doesn't have variable speed
- You can't run it for a long time (the motor overheats)
This Would Be Great For…
If you want a good allrounder that offers nearly as much as a dedicated food process for a fraction of the cost, this is a great option.
This blender is built like a tank, with the power 'under the hood' to match. I really like the squat and square appearance. It looks somehow…
Business-like.
The performance is great too. You'll find a high powered 1200 watt motor, but that's not to say it's noisy. In fact, the standout feature is how quiet this blender is. If you are making curry at night or in the morning (or you have neighbours), this could be the one.
A great key feature is the heat resistant borosilicate glass jug. Often you can find that adding ladles of boiling stock can cause cheaper blenders to shatter. With this one, not so.
And here's something else.
The jug is huge. At 1.8 litres, it is one of the biggest in my range, and it would be ideal for creating a massive quantity of curry sauce to freeze later. The 8-speed control and super-efficient blades mean that you'll have only the smoothest of blends.
The removable blades and square shape of the jug make this super easy to clean too!
What I Liked
- I kinda like the square shape. It looks neat and compact
- The Huge capacity
- The Super strong motor
What I Didn't Like
- It's good for big things… Small blends tend to get 'lost' in the bottom
- It isn't the cheapest, for the money it doesn't offer much more than cheaper models
This Would Be Great For…
If you are a serious cook and use a blender for foods other than Indian, this would be a good addition to your kitchen counter. For those looking to create small batches, take a look at something smaller.
Did someone say 'smaller'?
For those looking for the best blender for Indian cooking, UK chef James Martin has a few tricks up his sleeve.
The beauty of hand blenders is that you don't need to worry about a bowl or jug. You can whizz your sauces to smoothness in the pan you've cooked them in.
Another benefit is that if you make gallons of sauce or gravy, you are pretty much unlimited. The chefs in my old restaurant used a hand blender for precisely this reason!
And it doesn't end there.
Because the 'arm' of the blender detaches, they are so easy to clean. It takes little more than a rinse under a tap!
If you are looking to make spice powders and mixers, Mr Martin has you covered. The hand blender comes with a few small pots that will contain any dry spices and herbs.
At 800 watts, it's a pretty powerful and compact unit too!
What I Liked
- Unlimited in the quantity of food you can blend. Great for huge quantities.
- It's less mess and easy to clean
- You can also chop on dice vegetables like onions. (careful with onions!)
What I Didn't Like
- Honestly? Not much. This offers pretty much everything that you need. The best blender for making Indian food? UK chef James Martin has surpassed himself!
This Would Be Great For…
Anyone. I'm not normally one to pour over a product. But I really like this. If you only choose one blender, this would be the one to go for!
Alright, so you don't want to be blowing a week's worth of curry budget on a blender?
I've got you covered.
This one is great value and does a fabulous job, considering the price.
If you are just embarking on your curry journey or aren't too bothered about having something fancy, this budget hand blender could be just the ticket.
It doesn't come with any pots, fancy settings or promises…
But what it does come with a two-speed function, meaning you can create a variety of textures as you whizz your way around the pan. As with the more expensive James Martin blender, this will allow you to blitz unlimited quantities of base gravy and sauces.
The plastic blending leg is also detachable making it easy to keep clean.
There are a few downsides, however (you do get what you pay for).
First, the white plastic will stain over time, especially if you make a spice-laden curry with strong colours (like turmeric or tikka).
Second, it doesn't have pots, so you will be limited to making large sauces and little else. This one is not ideal for chutneys and such as you tend to need a small, custom made receptacle.
What I Liked
- It is great value
- Easy to store
- It is fairly easy to clean
- It does a passable job at making smooth sauces and gravies
What I Didn't Like
- The white plastic does stain over time
- I found that occasionally food residue could escape into the shaft of the blending leg
- It is only 200 watts
This Would Be Great For…
For those on a budget or those who make curry infrequently (why?), this would be a superb choice. I have one as a backup that I keep in a kitchen drawer.
Are you looking for something that's properly authentic?
This wet and dry Indian mixer is made in India. Authenticity, here we come!
It is rated at 550 watts, so it isn't the most powerful on my list, but that said, it did a great job of pulverising everything thrown at (or into) it!
This one is custom made for making batters too, so if you like a little dosa every now and again, then it's well worth a look! It is also useful for making chutneys, puree and masalas.
The looks won't be for everyone. It isn't quite as 'polished' as some of the big-name brands…
But that said…
When you've whizzed up a tasty mango chutney in seconds, do you really care?
I have to mention a few downsides that I really didn't like. It can be very noisy when running at 'max chat'. This isn't an issue per se, but some might find it a bit much.
The other thing that left me a little peeved was that the interior of the jars can get a little scratched, especially if you are using metal spoons to scoop out your blends.
However, they are both minor things. Overall, this is a pretty tough unit and one that is used by professionals.
What I Liked
- It's properly authentic. You'll find these in Indian kitchens
- You have flexibility with a range of cup sizes
- It's great for masalas and chutneys.
What I Didn't Like
- It isn't the most powerful
- It can be a pain to clean
- The 'vintage' red and white colour won't fit in with most kitchens.
This Would Be Great For…
If you are looking for something authentic, then it's a great shout. You can be fairly flexible, and the blades do a really nice job of making batters for things like dosa.
The Best Blenders for Making Indian Food | FAQ
What is a Wet and Dry Indian Mixer?
In India, people don't tend to buy premade spice powders. They make them at home. A wet and dry grinder or mixer allows you to pulverise seeds into powder. It also includes different sorts of blades that are great for blending wet ingredients like batters and pastes.
Back in the old day's wet grinders were little more than a rock and a bowl. Nowadays (and as you'll have seen above), they are much more advanced.
Hand blender or Fixed Based Blender for Indian Food?
In all honesty?
It all boils down to personal preference. A hand mixer is great as it allows me to make larger quantities without being limited by jug or bowl size. They are also much easier to clean and store too!
If you are looking to make spice mixes or batters, then a stand blender could possibly be a better option.
Can NutriBullet Be Used for Indian Food?
Absolutely! In fact, a nutribullet is one of the best things for making smaller quantities of food. You can whizz up chutneys, spice pastes and powders. They are also great for chopping onions and other vegetables like ginger and garlic. At a push, you can even use them to blend batches of gravy (although it can get messy and takes a lot longer).
Which Blender is Best for Dosa Batter?
From the list above, I'd definitely go for either the Geepas Indian mixer or the Magimix blender. Both will give you a super smooth finish, and they both have ample size to accommodate a fair amount of liquid.
Can a Hand Blender Be Used for Making Chutney?
Yes, a hand blender can be made for chutney.
With a caveat…
If you want to do this, then it's best to choose a hand blender that comes with a selection of dedicated cups and bowls. Trust me, it's not fun taking chunks out of your favourite bowl set as you try and pulverise a few stray bits of onion at the bottom. Hand blenders require careful use too!
Conclusion
So, hopefully, you'll be in a great place to choose the best blender for Indian Cooking. UK based Indian chefs tend to use a hand blender, but you do lose a little versatility. My favourite is the James Martin hand blender as it gives you plenty of options. Do you make your own Indian Spice mixes or chutneys? Why not share the recipe in the comments? I'll even see about adding it to my blog!
