Anda curry or Indian egg curry is a rustic, dhaba-style recipe that's easy and so tasty. Best had with naan or rice, it is guaranteed to leave you satiated and happy! Stovetop and instant pot recipes included.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAVE THIS POST?
Psst...we will also send you a FREE eCookbook: INDIAN DINNER PARTY MENU as a thank you for signing up!
About Anda Curry
What to do when it's a weeknight, you know there's nothing much in the fridge (no meat, no veggies) and dinner has to be made?
You make egg curry, of course!
Eggs have come to my rescue so many times when I'm out of ingredients or ideas for dinner ... in the form of this easy egg curry recipe.
It's a wholesome, no-frills dish that is very filling too, and everyone in my house adores it. All you need are some basic ingredients like eggs, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, ginger, garlic and a few spices.
More easy weeknight curries: aloo palak, instant pot vegetable korma, matar paneer.
Ingredients
Ground masala ingredients:
Other Ingredients:
Stovetop Instructions
1. Make the ground masala (curry base): Since we are making a curry, we need some wet ground masala. It's the easiest thing ever to make this masala. Put the ingredients (first image) in a blender along with a little water and blend away to get a smooth puree.
Tip: Make a large batch if you are planning to make cook more curry-based dishes during the week. Put it in a clean and dry glass jar and seal. Store the jar in the fridge and use as required. I always have some of this masala in the fridge, ready to be spooned out at a moment's notice.
2. Boil the eggs and fry them: I use my trusty instant pot (3 minutes on high pressure with a 5 minute release) to get perfectly boiled eggs. If the pot's not free, boil them in a saucepan. The yolks should be firm and not runny. Once cool, peel the eggs and shallow fry in one teaspoon oil until lightly browned.
Note: You can skip shallow frying the eggs if you want to. It is not terribly essential, and when I'm in a hurry, I add the eggs directly to the curry after halving them.
3. Make the curry
- Fry the whole spices and onions in hot oil until the onions are browned.
- Add the ground masala you prepared in step 1, salt and spice powders. Roast this masala on medium heat until fragrant. It will splatter a bit, but if you stir it around vigorously with a spoon without stopping, it gets roasted faster and doesn't get a chance to land all over your stovetop!
Tip: Roasting the masala in oil (bhunai) is the most important step in making a successful curry. After you add the ground masala to the caramelized onions, use a large spoon to stir the masala continuously on medium heat for about 5-8 minutes until you see it turning dark and glossy and the oil separating from it. At this point, the masala is fully roasted and ready.
- Add the yogurt and stir for another 2 minutes or until the yogurt is fully incorporated in the masala.
4. Add the potatoes: Once the curry is ready, add the potatoes (peeled and cut into medium-sized chunks), and 1 cup water. Cover the karahi or wok with a lid and allow the potatoes to cook in the curry for about 20 minutes or until the potatoes soften.
5. Add the eggs: Halve the boiled and fried eggs and add them to the curry. Garnish the curry with chopped cilantro and slit green chillies, and it is ready to be served. Egg curry goes well with both homemade Indian bread (roti), and rice. Take your pick.
Tip: Don't cook the curry or stir it around after adding the eggs. We don't want the yolks to break and spread into the curry.
Instant Pot Instructions
1. Make the ground masala and boil the eggs as outlined in steps 1 and 2 of the stovetop instructions. These are prep steps that you will want to do before starting to make the curry in your instant pot.
2. Heat the oil on sauté (medium) and add the whole spices and sliced onions. Fry until the onions are golden brown.
3. Add the ground masala, salt and powdered spices. Sauté until the masala is glossy and fragrant, and the oil has left the sides (5-8 minutes). You can add a few splashes of water to prevent the masala from sticking to the bottom of the pot. Roasting the masala (bhunai) is an important step so don't skip it.
4. Add the yogurt and continue sautéing the masala for 2 minutes more or until the yogurt is fully incorporated into the masala.
5. Deglaze the pot and add peeled and cut potatoes along with 1 cup plain water. Pressure cook on high for 2 minutes. When the timer beeps, wait for 5 minutes before opening the pot.
5. Halve the boiled eggs and add them to the curry, or arrange the halved eggs in a platter and pour the curry over them. Garnish with chopped cilantro and slit green chillies. Egg curry is ready to be served with some warm naan or rice.
📖 Recipe
Indian Egg Curry
Equipment
- Blender
- Medium-sized wok (karahi) or 6-quart Instant Pot Duo
Ingredients
For the ground masala
- 1 red onion small, chopped roughly
- 1" piece ginger chopped roughly
- 6 cloves garlic peeled
- 1 tomato medium, chopped roughly
Curry ingredients
- 4 eggs boiled
- ⅓ cup cooking oil
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 black cardamom
- ¼ tsp peppercorns
- 5 cloves
- ¾ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 red onion sliced finely
- ½ teaspoon chilli powder
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- 3 potatoes small, peeled and cut into medium chunks
- 3 green chillies Thai chillies, chopped or sliced
- 2 tablespoon cilantro leaves
Instructions
Preparation
- Put the peeled and chopped onion, ginger, garlic and tomato in a blender with a few tablespoons water and blend to get a smooth puree.
- Hard boil the eggs and peel them.
- Optional step: Fry the hardboiled eggs in a teaspoon of oil until slightly browned.
Cooking: Stovetop Instructions
- Heat oil in a wok or karahi and add the whole spices and sliced onions. Fry on medium heat until the onions are golden-brown.
- Add the ground masala, salt and powdered spices. Stir continuously on medium heat until the masala is thick and glossy and the oil leaves the sides of the pan (5-8 minutes). Add a few splashes water if needed.
- Add the yogurt and sauté for another 2 minutes.
- Add the potatoes and 1 cup water. Cover and cook on low heat for 20 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender.
- Check the consistency of the curry. If it is too thick, add a quarter cup water to loosen it. Halve the boiled eggs, add them to the curry, and top with fresh cilantro and green chillies. Serve hot with roti or rice.
Cooking: Instant Pot Instructions
- Turn on your instant pot to sauté (medium) and heat the oil in the inner pot. Add the whole spices and sliced onions and fry until the onions are golden brown.
- Add the ground masala, salt and powdered spices. Stir continuously on medium heat until the masala is thick and glossy and the oil leaves the sides of the pan (5-8 minutes).
- Add the yogurt and stir the masala for another 2 minutes. Cancel sauté and deglaze the pot.
- Add the potatoes and 1 cup water. Secure the lid and set the pot to pressure cooking on high for 3 minutes. Make sure the steam release handle is sealed. When the timer beeps, wait for 5 minutes before releasing the steam and opening the pot.
- Check the consistency of the curry. If it is too thick, add a quarter cup water to loosen it. Halve the boiled eggs, add them to the curry, and top with fresh cilantro and green chillies. Serve hot with roti or rice.
Notes
- Choose the reddest tomato you can find for a pleasing looking curry. Roma tomatoes work well.
- Don't over-brown the onions while frying them, or the colour and taste of the curry will be compromised.
- Don't co0k the curry or stir it a lot after adding the eggs, or the yolks will mix with the curry.
Elaine Benoit says
I have never heard of egg curry! Where have I been? This looks absolutely scrumptious and I can imagine dipping naan in it as I gobble it up!
Saima says
Haha! Welcome to Indian food!
Aleta says
Wow I thought I had eaten eggs as many ways as was possible.. I was wrong! This curry looks absolutely delicious, I love that eggs can save the day and feed a family a yummy healthy dinner.
Saima says
Here's one more, Aleta! Do try it.
Pam Greer says
I have never had egg curry! I usually have all these ingredients, though, so this is going on the "what to make for dinner list!" I can think of a bunch of uses for that ginger garlic paste too!
Saima says
Do make it Pam, if you haven't before. And yes, ginger garlic paste can be put to so many uses. It's the not-so-secret ingredient of a gazillion recipes!
Veena Azmanov says
I love egg curry and use to be my favorite growing up. This sounds so delicious. I still make it often when i'm in the mood for something Indian but quick.
Saima says
Ditto! It used to be a regular in my parents' home too. Surprisingly, I didn't care for it then and rediscovered it much later!
Analida Braeger says
Ahhh this looks fabulous. I love simple meals that are more what people eat on a typical day, not so much the bells and whistles dishes. This looks absolutely PERFECT for a weeknight meal. I'll be giving it a try soon.
Saima says
Thanks Analida. It is a hearty meal when had with fresh Indian bread like naan or a plateful of rice.
Carrie Ditton says
This looks fantastic! My husband loves all things curry but I can honestly say I have never seen or heard him mention egg curry....Pinned! I am making this for him this weekend!
Saima says
Thanks Carrie! Hope your husband likes it!
Amanda M Mason says
I eat eggs all the time and these spices are right up my alley! Love this dish! Such a quick go to recipe for those nights we all end up having! I've so been in your shoes! What a great solution to that type of night!!
Saima says
I know, right! If you love eggs, then this is right up your alley!
Allison says
How have I never heard of heard of this before?! I'm always on the lookout for tasty and filling meals - thanks for sharing!
Amy says
I’ve never heard of this before but it really looks amazing. I’m going to have to give it a try!
Jagruti Dhanecha says
My dad loved this curry when mum used to make, she would add some potato too. Easy and fuss-free recipe can be enjoyed with some hot paratha.
Saima says
Thanks for the comment Jagruti. I add potatoes too!
Natalie says
I absolutely love this. It's super easy jet so flavorful and delicious meal. I bet my husband would love this too, so I'm saving this recipe to give it a try.
Andrea says
This looks fabulous! I love curry but never had egg curry before, so I'm super excited to give it a try!