Turkey Berry/ Susumba Curry

Turkey Berry/ Susumba Curry is a rich, delicious, unique, and creamy vegan curry made with an unusual ingredient, i.e., Susumba. This curry is super easy to make and tastes so good.

There are so many vegan ingredients we haven’t heard of. It’s really amazing how every region has some unique ingredients that are found nowhere else in the world. One such amazing ingredient is the susumba. Also known as gully berries, gully beans, or turkey berries, these medium-sized green berries might have a bitter flavor, but they are loaded with health benefits.

The native Jamaicans use these berries in making different dishes. However, among all these, curry susumba is easy to make, tasteful, and a great way to incorporate it into your diet.

So, if you love to try dishes from different cuisines, read ahead to find out everything about susumba curry!

If you missed eating susumba then you will also love Baby Eggplant Coconut Curry and  Susumba stew

What is Turkey Berry/ susumba?

Susumba is also known as turkey berries or gully beans. These are oval-shaped berries that are native to Jamaican lands. Sumba is green in color and usually grown in gullies, abandoned lands, or even in the backyards. These berries have a bitter flavor; that’s why they are often cooked along with codfish or other vegetables. This way, their bitter flavor is not very prominent when they are harvested before they are mature.

These berries are usually not eaten raw. That’s because they can be harmful and contain toxic compounds. Sumba is first cleaned and prepared before eating, which ensures they are safe. When consumed after precaution, these berries offer many health benefits. For this reason, susumba is widely used in Jamaican cuisine.

Benefits of susumba

Sumba might not have to most delicious taste, but it sure offers many health benefits. These berries are loaded with nutrients and have amazing medicinal properties. Here are a few health benefits of consuming susumba or gully berries:

• Firstly, gully berries have antifungal and antibacterial properties. For this reason, they are widely used in medicines.
• These berries are rich in antioxidants which restrict the unnatural growth of cells in the body. As a result, it protects the body from cancer.
• It also protects the heart from chronic cardiovascular diseases and heart attacks.
• It also naturally reduces the sugar level in the blood.
• Protects the kidneys from chronic diseases and promotes their efficient working.
• Because these gully berries are rich in iron, consuming them helps in treating anemia.
• These berries also have anti-inflammatory properties. As a result, these help in relieving lung inflammation and reducing the production of mucus.
• It also treats digestive problems like diarrhea.

Ingredient breakdown

• Susumba: The main ingredient of this curry is susumba or gully berries. These berries are indigenous to Jamaican lands, but you can find them at certain specialty stores as well. Here in North Central Florida Susumba grows wild.  However, you might have to work a little harder to find these berries. When buying these berries, make sure you choose fresh produce. They should be free from cracks or discoloration. Make sure you wash them at least twice and remove their stems before cooking them.
• Avocado oil: Avocado oil is loaded with nutrients and is high in healthy fat. If you don’t have avocado oil, you can use olive oil, coconut oil for any vegetable oil.
• Coconut milk: Coconut milk is an essential ingredient in this curry recipe. It is creamy, rich, and plant-based. It brings a thick texture to the curry. For more richness and creaminess, choose full-fat coconut milk. Just shake the can before opening it to get all the goodness.
• Water: You will need a little water to help in cooking the ingredients.
• Potatoes: Potatoes make this curry very filling and also balance out the bitterness of susumba. It also aids in the richness and texture of the curry. You can use any type of potato for this recipe. I really love Gold Yakon because they have that firmness that we need in a curry.
• Onion: Finely chopped onions set the base for this curry. You can use yellow, white, or red onions for this recipe.
• Green onions: Freshly chopped green onions have a grassy and onion-like flavor. It is almost umami.
• Garlic: Garlic adds a depth of savory flavor to the dish.
• Thyme: Thyme has a minty, earthy and lemony flavor. You can add either fresh or dried thyme to this recipe.
• Curry powder: The main hero of this recipe is curry powder. It is a blend of spices that is just perfect for adding to any curry. When you add curry powder, you don’t really need any other spice. You can easily find curry powder from any grocery store. However, if you like, you can make it at home as well.
• Bouillon cube: You will need vegetarian bouillon for this recipe. It is a seasoning made from vegetable stock. It is loaded with flavors and gives a depth and umami taste to the curry. Also, you do need to add salt when using a bouillon cube.

How to make curry susumba?

Making susmba curry is super easy. You can make it in 35 minutes and enjoy the rich and creamy flavor. Here are simple steps that you have to follow to make this delicious and unique vegan curry:

Step 1: Start by placing the pot on medium heat. Add curry powder and dry toast it. Make sure you constantly stir it using a wooden spoon. Dry toast the curry powder until it is fragrant and gets brown color. Keep a close eye on the curry powder because you don’t want to burn it!

Step 2: Once the curry powder starts to turn brown, add avocado oil and onions to the pot. Stir and let the onions cook for about 2 minutes or until they are soft and turn translucent.

Step 3: Now add garlic, green onions, potatoes, thyme, and susumba. Mix well.

Step 4: Pour water, coconut milk and add vegan bouillon. Mix well. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat and cover the pot. Let it simmer for about 30 minutes.

Step 5: Once the potatoes and susumba are tender and the thickness of the curry is according to your liking, turn off the heat. Serve the curry susumba.

Can you make curry powder at home?

Yes, absolutely. You can prepare curry powder at home and store it in your spice cabinet. Here is what you will need for making curry powder:

• 2 tbsp coriander seeds
• Two dried red chili peppers
• 2 dried curry leaves
• 2 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tsp fennel seeds
• ½ tsp fenugreek seeds
• ¼ tsp garlic powder
• ¼ tsp ground ginger
• 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tbsp ground turmeric
• ¼ tsp salt

Place the ingredients in a spice grinder and grind until you get a fine powder. This mixture makes about four tablespoons of curry powder. Also, you can adjust the spices according to your liking.

What to serve with curry susumba?

There are so many amazing choices for you to serve with rich curry. Here are a few to name:

• Bread: You can serve this curry with either garlic bread, herb-crusted bread, or cornbread. The richness of the curry goes well with the soft bread.
• Rice: Curry and rice go so well together. You can serve it with your favorite rice dish. Whether it is garlic rice, jerk-spiced rice, or Mexican rice, the curry will taste just perfect.
• Pasta: You can also serve it will your favorite noodles or pasta to add a twist and make this dish more wholesome.
• Vegetables: serve it with your favorite roasted vegetables like broccoli, Brussel sprouts, bell peppers, etc.

How to store leftover curry susumba?

You can store the leftover curry by placing it in an airtight container and refrigerating it for up to 3 days. Furthermore, you can also freeze this curry susumba for up to a month. Reheat it on the stovetop and enjoy!

Other Curry Recipes

1. Green Papaya Curry
2. Jamaican Chayote Curry
3. Jackfruit Seed Curry
4. Coconut Lentil Curry
5. Curry Cabbage

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