Onions, fresh garlic, fresh ginger, you can use powdered but it isn't as good, ground coriander, a good quality curry powder which is just a mix of different spices, garam masala, another type of spice mix, turmeric, red chili flakes, cayenne and salt to taste, you can use coconut milk along with water or just water, some recipes call for a couple of tomatoes, I just use a cup of canned. In beef curry you can also add a cinnamon stick broken up. After the onions are sauteed in a little vegetable oil, I like soybean, you add the spice and let it cook for a minute to mellow out the flavor, then add meat or vegetables, cook a few minutes so that the spice penetrates the vegetables or meat, than add liquid. and cook until done, serve over rice.
