Vadouvan spices: the refined French-Indian spice blend

Vadouvan is a distinctive spice blend in which French and South Indian influences come together. The blend has its origin in Puducherry (the former Pondicherry), a former French colony on the east coast of India. There a local variation of the traditional Tamil spice paste vadagam emerged, which later became known in Europe as Vadouvan.

The flavor is warm, aromatic and slightly sweet, with subtle notes of onion, garlic and spices. Because of this, Vadouvan is a surprisingly versatile seasoning for fish, chicken, vegetables, curries and creamy sauces.

At Natural Spices you can order Vadouvan in packages of 400 grams or 1 kilo.

What exactly is Vadouvan?

Vadouvan is often described as a mild variant of curry, but has a very distinct character. The spice blend is milder and more complex in flavor than many traditional curry mixes. This is due in part to the combination of aromatic spices with dried onion, garlic and tarragon. Vadouvan also stands out because of its coarse texture. The visible pieces of onion, garlic, tarragon and crushed chilies give the blend a artisanal appearance. During cooking the aromas are released gradually, giving Vadouvan a warm, refined taste to vegetables, fish and meat alike.

Looking for a Vadouvan spice mix without added salt? Also check out our French Kiss Vadouvan. This 100% natural spice mix is specially developed to easily add flavor to vegetables, curries, soups and other everyday dishes, without added salt or sugar.

What do you use Vadouvan for?

Vadouvan is particularly versatile and fits into both Indian and European cuisine.

The spice blend comes into its own in creamy curries, stews and soups, but is also delicious as a seasoning for chicken, fish or roasted vegetables. Mix Vadouvan into a marinade, sprinkle it over potatoes before they go into the oven or add it to a sauce based on cream or coconut milk.

Also surprisingly tasty is Vadouvan in a pasta dish with roasted vegetables or mango. The warm spices combine beautifully with sweet ingredients and a bit of coconut for a subtle exotic accent.

How to use Vadouvan optimally

For the best result first warm a little oil or butter in the pan and briefly fry the spice blend. This releases the aromas of the spices optimally. Then add meat, fish or vegetables and let the flavors gently come together during cooking.

Because Vadouvan already contains a lot of flavor, you often need few additional spices. 

Want to know more? Then read our blog "What is Vadouvan"  

Buy Vadouvan

Would you like to get acquainted with this special French-Indian spice blend? At Natural Spices you can easily order Vadouvan online. The blend is ideal for anyone who loves warm, aromatic flavors with a refined twist.

Also for business customers

Do you use Vadouvan in a restaurant, catering company or food production? Natural Spices also supplies this spice blend in bulk packages, so you are always assured of consistent quality and flavor.