What Is Vindaloo Curry?
Vindaloo is a very hot British Indian restaurant-style curry with a sharp, vinegary tang, and the hottest curry in the Curry Club range. Rich tomato, deep-cooked onion, plenty of garlic and bold chilli heat give it its character, while mustard adds bite — it is not simply a hotter Madras.
- Heat:
- Very Hot
- Flavour:
- Fiery · Vinegary · Bold
What Does Vindaloo Taste Like?
Vindaloo tastes hot, tangy, garlicky and full-bodied. White wine vinegar gives it a clean, sharp finish that cuts through a thick tomato and onion sauce.
Kashmiri chilli adds colour, cayenne brings the heat and mustard gives a dry, punchy bite — the combination that makes it taste like Vindaloo rather than just a hotter curry.
How Hot Is Vindaloo?
Vindaloo is rated Very Hot and sits at the top of our heat scale. The heat builds quickly, but vinegar, garlic and tomato keep it balanced and full of flavour.
If Madras feels comfortably hot to you, Vindaloo is the next step. If Madras is already at your limit, approach Vindaloo with care.
Where Does Vindaloo Come From?
Our Vindaloo is a British Indian restaurant-style Vindaloo rather than a recreation of traditional Goan vindaloo. It follows the curry-house version: very hot, sharp and tomato-rich.
What Goes Well With Vindaloo?
Vindaloo works with chicken, lamb, paneer or vegetables, and our kit's shopping list is written for diced chicken. Serve it with rice, naan or chips; fresh coriander at the end adds a fresher garnish.
Vindaloo vs Other Curries
Vindaloo vs Madras
Madras is hot but rounder and deeper. Vindaloo is hotter, sharper and more intense, with vinegar and mustard.
Vindaloo vs Jalfrezi
Jalfrezi brings lively heat with fresh pepper character at a lower, medium-hot level.
How to Make Vindaloo at Home
At home, Vindaloo rewards patience. Cooking the onions properly and reducing the tomatoes until the sauce darkens gives it the depth a restaurant base gravy would normally provide, before the heat and vinegar go in.
Steps at a glance
- 1Brown Protein
- 2Prep Onions
- 3Build Paste
- 4Make Sauce
- 5Simmer
- 6Serve
Curry Club Vindaloo Curry Kit
The Vindaloo kit is built for confident chilli lovers who want real intensity with flavour to match.
- Spice Pouch 1: Vindaloo Base Spice Mix
- Spice Pouch 2: Vindaloo Heat & Vinegar Spice Mix
- Spice Pouch 3: Vindaloo Finishing Spice Mix
- Full Recipe Card (English & Swedish)
Serves 2–3Cooking time: 45 mins approx.
Buy the Vindaloo kitMore from the Curry Guide
- Curry Guide →All six curries, with heat, flavour and kits.
- British Curry Heat Guide →Every curry on one scale, and what each level means.
- Which Curry Should I Choose? →Compare all six curries by heat and flavour.
- Buy the Vindaloo kit →Choose Vindaloo if you love very hot food and want a sharp, garlicky curry with a vinegar edge and real intensity.