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Simply Wanderfull

Take a journey to the beautiful Seychelle Islands where food, family tradition and travel meet.

Jody Joseph

Simplywanderfulll

As I stand in my kitchen, holding a simple jar of homemade family curry powder from the Seychelle Islands, I feel so honoured to have been given this special gift. My dear friend Deborah shared this treasure with me, a gift that speaks of shared meals and cherished memories.

It’s not just about the curry powder; it’s about the love and stories infused in every sprinkle.

Today, I’m rolling up my sleeves, ready to turn this humble jar into a hearty Shrimp Curry that tastes like home and friendship.

Join me in the kitchen for a journey where flavour meets heart, and every bite tells a story.

I will be sharing some travel information to the Seychelle Islands along with a beautiful recipe for a Curry Shrimp using the homemade Seychelle Curry Powder given to me by my friend Deb along with the cherished recipe.

My friend Deborah’s family is originally from Kenya, however some of her family moved to the Seychelle Islands. Deborah’s grandfather’s sister, Aunty Jane lived in the Seychelle Islands and made her own homemade curry powder. She would gather up whole spices, toast them and then grind them to a beautiful curry powder. Aunty Jane would share her special homemade curry powder with family and friends.

Deb’s Aunty Jane has passed on, however her family continues to make her homemade curry powder recipe and following in her tradition they too share the curry powder with family and friends.

How wonderful that a family recipe and aunty Jane’s legacy could still be passed down through generations.

Travel: Seychelle islands

The Beautiful Seychelle Islands

So where are the Seychelle Islands located? The Seychelles Islands are located in the Indian Ocean, off the eastern coast of Africa.

Located northeast of Madagascar and east of Africa, this cluster of 115 islands boasts an unspoiled beauty. Think powdery beaches, dramatic granite cliffs, and lush greenery that stretches as far as the eye can see.

Whether you’re exploring the bustling streets of Victoria on Mahe, wandering through the vanilla-scented forests of Praslin, or simply lounging on the sands of La Digue, there’s an undeniable charm to Seychellois life that seeps into your soul.

While exploring the Seychelles Islands, don’t miss the chance to marvel at the iconic Coco de Mer coconuts which means the “Coconut of the Sea”, and also encounter the magnificent, larger-than-life Aldabra Giant Tortoises that inhabit these pristine shores. These incredibly cute and large species and are known for their impressive longevity and can live up to 200 years!

With its warm hospitality, vibrant culture, and untouched landscapes, the Seychelles embodies the simple joys of island living, inviting you to slow down, soak up the sun, and revel in the beauty of nature. It is definitely a bucket-worthy destination.

How to get to The Seychelle islands

Travelling to the Seychelle Islands can be a bit tricky to get to as there are no direct flights from North America. The Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) serves as the main international gateway to the Seychelles.

Several airlines offer direct flights to Seychelles International Airport from various cities around the world, including:

From Europe: Airlines such as British Airways, Air France, Edelweiss Air, Condor, and Turkish Airlines operate direct flights from cities like London, Paris, Zurich, Frankfurt, and Istanbul.
From the Middle East: Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways offer direct flights from hubs like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha.
From Africa: Airlines such as Ethiopian Airlines, Air Seychelles, and Kenya Airways provide direct flights from cities like Addis Ababa, Nairobi, and Johannesburg.
From Asia: Some airlines, including Air Seychelles, offer direct flights from Mumbai, India.

I love to use Kayak.com, Google Flights or Skyscanner for researching flights. These sites are great for checking prices, times and you can also track when there are deals on fares.

You may also want to purchase a Travel Guide of the Seychelle Islands.

touring the Seychelles

Explore the Seychelles Islands is captivating and beautiful. If you are planning a trip to the Seychelle Islands you may want to visit these 3 islands specifically: Mahé (the largest and most populated island), Praslin, and La Digue.

The best way to see the Seychelles Islands depends on your preferences, budget, and the kind of experience you’re seeking. Here are some popular ways to explore the Seychelles:

Island-Hopping Tours: Joining an island-hopping tour allows you to visit multiple islands and experience their unique attractions and landscapes. These tours often include transportation between islands, guided excursions, and accommodations.
Yacht or Catamaran Charter: Renting a private yacht or catamaran allows you to explore the Seychelles at your own pace and customize your itinerary. You can visit secluded beaches, snorkel in pristine waters, and enjoy the luxury of having your own floating accommodation.
Resort Stay: Many resorts in the Seychelles offer luxurious accommodations and amenities, along with access to private beaches, water sports activities, and guided tours. Staying at a resort allows you to relax and unwind while experiencing the natural beauty of the islands.
Self-Guided Exploration: For more adventurous travelers, exploring the Seychelles independently allows you to discover hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path attractions. Renting a car or bicycle on the main islands and venturing out to explore local villages, nature reserves, and hiking trails can provide a more authentic experience.
Day Tours and Excursions: Joining guided day tours and excursions allows you to explore specific attractions and activities in the Seychelles, such as snorkeling, diving, hiking, and wildlife watching. You can choose from a variety of tours tailored to your interests and preferences.
Helicopter or Seaplane Tours: Taking a scenic helicopter or seaplane tour provides breathtaking aerial views of the Seychelles Islands and allows you to appreciate their stunning beauty from a different perspective.

Here are some recommended tour companies and operators that offer various ways to explore the Seychelles Islands:

Creole Travel Services: Creole Travel Services is a well-established tour operator in the Seychelles that offers a wide range of tours and services, including island-hopping tours, day excursions, and customized itineraries.
Mason’s Travel: Mason’s Travel is one of the oldest and most reputable tour operators in the Seychelles, offering a variety of tour packages, resort stays, and transportation services. They specialize in luxury travel experiences and personalized itineraries.
Seychelles Booking: Seychelles Booking is a leading online travel agency specializing in accommodation bookings, island-hopping tours, and transportation services in the Seychelles. They offer a wide range of options to suit different preferences and budgets.
Seychelles Adventures Travel: Seychelles Adventures Travel specializes in customized tours and experiences tailored to individual interests and preferences. They offer a variety of activities, including snorkeling, diving, hiking, and wildlife watching
Helicopter Seychelles: Helicopter Seychelles offers scenic helicopter tours and transfers, allowing you to experience the breathtaking beauty of the Seychelles from the air. They offer a variety of tour options, including island tours, aerial photography flights, and romantic sunset tours.

Seychelle Tour Companies:

Here are some recommended tour companies and operators that offer various ways to explore the Seychelles Islands:

Creole Travel Services: Creole Travel Services is a well-established tour operator in the Seychelles that offers a wide range of tours and services, including island-hopping tours, day excursions, and customized itineraries.
Mason’s Travel: Mason’s Travel is one of the oldest and most reputable tour operators in the Seychelles, offering a variety of tour packages, resort stays, and transportation services. They specialize in luxury travel experiences and personalized itineraries.
Seychelles Booking: Seychelles Booking is a leading online travel agency specializing in accommodation bookings, island-hopping tours, and transportation services in the Seychelles. They offer a wide range of options to suit different preferences and budgets.
Seychelles Adventures Travel: Seychelles Adventures Travel specializes in customized tours and experiences tailored to individual interests and preferences. They offer a variety of activities, including snorkeling, diving, hiking, and wildlife watching
Helicopter Seychelles: Helicopter Seychelles offers scenic helicopter tours and transfers, allowing you to experience the breathtaking beauty of the Seychelles from the air. They offer a variety of tour options, including island tours, aerial photography flights, and romantic sunset tours.

where to stay in the Seychelles:

Here’s a range of accommodations in the Seychelles Islands, spanning from luxury to budget options:

Luxury Stays:

Mid-Range Stays:

Budget-Friendly Stays:

Bed & Breakfast Stays:

Villa Vanilla: Located on Mahé Island, Villa Vanilla offers luxury bed and breakfast accommodation with stunning ocean views, spacious rooms, and personalized service.
Villa de Cerf: Situated on Cerf Island, Villa de Cerf is a boutique guesthouse offering elegant rooms, a tranquil atmosphere, and direct access to pristine beaches.
Coco de Mer – Black Parrot Suites: Nestled on Praslin Island, Coco de Mer – Black Parrot Suites offers luxurious suites with private balconies, infinity pools, and panoramic views of the Indian Ocean.
Villas de Jardin: Located on La Digue Island, Villas de Jardin provides elegant bed and breakfast accommodation surrounded by lush tropical gardens and close to the island’s beautiful beaches.

the foods of the Seychelle Islands

The foods of the Seychelles Islands are a vibrant reflection of its rich cultural heritage and diverse influences. With a blend of African, French, Indian, and Chinese culinary traditions, Seychellois cuisine offers a delightful array of flavours and ingredients.

Fresh seafood, including fish, octopus, and crab, features prominently in many dishes, often prepared with aromatic spices and coconut milk.

Creole-style curries, flavoured with a variety of spices like turmeric, coriander, and cumin, are a staple of Seychellois cuisine, showcasing the islands’ love for bold and savoury flavours. If you like spicy and curry dishes check out my recipes for my Easy Instant Pot Dal Recipe, Mutter Paneer, or a delicious recipe for Jollof Rice.

Generational Spice: A Time-Honored Curry Powder

Deb’s Aunty Jane had made her own curry powder by toasting whole spices, and then grinding them together using a high-grade spice grinder. The result is a smooth, spicy curry powder that has an amazing blend of spices that will have your taste buds dancing with happiness. Her homemade curry powder recipe has been past down for generations and this heirloom recipe is still being used by her family and friends today.

I am so fortunate to have been able to try this curry for myself. I can honestly say that the Shrimp Curry that I made warmed my heart. It was so delicous!

There are 3 curry dishes that Deborah suggests making with this Seychelle Island Curry Powder (you can also use regular curry powder) and they are: Meatball Curry, Shrimp Curry, and Chicken Curry.

Seychelle Curry Recipes: Shrimp, Chicken, Meatball

Here are some great recipes for making a homemade curry. The Shrimp Curry and Meatball curry will be made the same way. The Chicken technique will be slightly different although the curry will be the same.

Seychelle Island Curry: Recipe by my friend Deborah:

For the Curry Recipe:

2 to 3 tbsp. Curry Powder

2 Chopped Onions

1/2 tsp. Saffron

2 tsp. Tomato Paste

1/4 cup Chopped Cilantro

1/4 cup Chopped Parsley

2 tsp. Garlic Paste

2 tsp. Ginger Paste

1-1/2 cups or 2 cups of water

Hot Pepper Flakes (optional)

Salt & Pepper

Instructions:

Saute onions, Saffron and hot pepper flakes for approximately 7-8 minutes.
Season with Salt & Pepper
Add Garlic Paste and Ginger Paste and give it a stir.
Add in the tomato Paste and cook out the bitterness for approximately 1-2 minutes
Add your water, stir and simmer. Adjust your salt if needed.

Shrimp Curry: 2 cups cooked shrimp

Make the curry as mentioned above. Wash your shrimp in fresh lemon/water to clean your shrimp, drain and pat dry with paper towels. After the curry is done add the cooked shrimp to the pan, cover for 3-4 minutes and then take off the heat. Your Shrimp Curry is ready to serve.

Meatball Curry:

Make the curry as mentioned above. To make the meatballs, spice up your ground beef or ground chicken with 1 package of onion soup mix, garlic powder, 1 egg, breadcrumbs, salt & pepper.

Chicken Curry:

For the Chicken Curry you can use legs/thighs/boneless chicken. You will need to brown the chicken in canola oil first. Remove the chicken from the pot and drain the oil. Now follow the directions for the curry as noted above. Add your chicken back to the pot and let it simmer until the chicken is fully cooked through and reads the temperature 165 degrees.

Serve all of these recipes with basmati rice and parantha.

Lets Make it together!

curry-seychelles-simplywanderfull-recipe

Homemade Curry Recipe For Shrimp, Meatballs and Chicken

This homemade curry recipe comes from my good friend. The curry powder is made by her family who lives in the Seychelle Islands. This versatile curry recipe is the base for a shrimp curry, meatball curry or a chicken curry. Its a beautiful heirloom recipe.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

2 to 3 tbsp. Curry Powder
2 Chopped Onions
1/2 tsp. Saffron
2 tsp. Tomato Paste
1/4 cup Chopped Cilantro
1/4 cup Chopped Parsley
2 tsp. Garlic Paste
2 tsp. Ginger Paste
1-1/2 cups or 2 cups of water
Hot Pepper Flakes optional
Salt & Pepper

Instructions

Saute onions, Saffron and hot pepper flakes if you are using them for approximately 7-8 minutes.
Season with Salt & Pepper
Add Garlic Paste and Ginger Paste and give it a stir.
Add in the tomato Paste and cook out the bitterness for approximately 1-2 minutes
Add your water, stir and simmer. Adjust your salt if needed.

Shrimp Curry

Use 2 cups cooked shrimp
Make the curry as mentioned above. Wash your shrimp in fresh lemon and water, drain and pat dry with paper towels. Add the cooked shrimp to the pan, cover for 3-4 minutes and take off the heat.

Meatball Curry

Make the curry as mentioned above. To make the meatballs, spice up your ground beef or ground chicken with 1 package of onion soup mix, 1 egg, breadcrumbs, salt & pepper.

Chicken Curry

For the Chicken Curry you can use legs/thighs/ boneless chicken. You will need to brown the chicken in canola oil first. Remove the chicken from the pot and drain the oil. Now follow the directions for the curry above and then add then add your chicken back to the pot and let it simmer until the chicken is fully cooked through and reads the temperature 165 degrees.
Serve all of these recipes with basmati rice and parantha.

Now Let's enjoy this amazing curry dish

As I sit here enjoying this wonderful bowl of shrimp curry, I can’t help but think of how this dish has been passed down through the years, and the memories behind many shared dinners with families. A timeless recipe spread to family and friends that would bind a family together. Creating lasting memories, embracing culture homemade goodness for years to come. I think we can all agree that a family owned recipe is so very special.

I would love to hear from you! Leave a comment or ask me questions! I really appreciate you taking the time to read my blog and I hope that you enjoy this article on the Seychelle Islands and making this homemade curry recipe!

Thank you Deborah for giving me the opportunity to be a part of your families culinary tradition. I will cherish this memory and taste of this amazingly delicious curry forever.❤️