There’s nothing better than a good curry night, especially when you don’t have to fork out for a takeaway or worry about what’s going into your food. That’s where healthy fakeaways come in – all the bold, spicy flavour you crave, without the guilt or the cost. Whether you’re batch cooking for the week ahead or just fancy a weekend treat that won’t derail your goals, this DIY curry night guide has everything you need to create your own fakeaway feast at home.

I’ll cover what a fakeaway actually is, why slow cookers make curries even better, and I’ll be sharing five of my favourite healthy curry recipes, including a few that are now featured in my brand new cookbook Bored of Lunch: Healthy Fakeaways.

A fakeaway is exactly what it sounds like – a homemade version of your favourite takeaway meal. Think of it as your chance to enjoy all the comfort and satisfaction of a Saturday night treat, but made healthier, cheaper, and often quicker too.

Instead of ordering from your local Indian or Thai, you can whip up a curry that’s packed with flavour, low in fat, and often higher in protein and fibre than what you’d get in a foil container. Best of all, you get full control over the ingredients – less oil, no additives, and you can easily make it gluten-free, dairy-free, or lower calorie to suit your needs.

At Bored of Lunch, fakeaways are one of my favourite ways to make healthy eating exciting. Curries in particular are perfect for this – they’re naturally rich in spices and flavour, so you don’t need loads of butter, cream or salt to make them taste amazing.

In one word – yes.

Slow cooker curries are next-level when it comes to depth of flavour and melt-in-your-mouth texture. The long, low cook time helps the spices soak into the meat or veg, giving you that takeaway-style richness with barely any effort.

Here’s why I love using the slow cooker for curry night:

• You throw everything in and let it cook all day (effortless cooking!)
• The slow cooker does the work without frying or oils.
• Cook once, eat twice. Most curries taste even better the next day!
• Chicken stays juicy, beef falls apart – you just can’t replicate that on the hob.

If you’ve never tried making curry in your slow cooker, you’re going to be blown away by how easy it is to get that authentic flavour – especially with the recipes I’ve included below.

Want to take your homemade curry night to the next level? Here are a few easy ideas:

Add your own sides

Feel free to add your favourite sides when your slow cooker curry is nearly ready. Personally, I love a roti or some poppadoms and mango chutney. Here are some more suggestions:

• Air fryer onion bhajis or samosas are divine
• Lightly toasted naan breads or flatbreads
• Cauliflower rice or brown rice for a lower-carb base

Garnish when serving, so it feels like a proper takeaway

The key to fakeaways is making your dish feel like its from a takeaway so you get the full effect. Garnish your food with the following:

• Fresh coriander
• Chilli flakes or sliced red chilli
• A dollop of fat-free Greek yoghurt or raita
• Lime wedges to brighten the flavours

Feel free to add a bit of spice!

All of the recipes above can be tweaked to your preferred spice level. Add more curry paste or chilli powder if you like it hot, or tone it down with coconut milk or yoghurt if you’re feeding the whole family.

• Cheaper than a takeaway (feeding four people with one curry costs a fraction of a takeaway order!)
• Less salt, less oil, and more whole foods will go into the food you cook.
• You can adapt any curry to suit your diet, allergies, or whatever’s in your fridge.
• Perfect for batch cooking!!

If you love the idea of curry night made healthy, you’ll love my brand new cookbook, Bored of Lunch: Healthy Fakeaways. It’s packed with over 80 healthier versions of your favourite takeaway-style meals – from curries and noodles to burgers, burritos, and beyond. Every recipe is designed to be:

• Quick and easy (perfect for midweek dinners)
• Air fryer and slow cooker friendly
• Lower in calories but full of flavour

Pre-order now! Available in supermarkets and your local book retailers from 23rd October. 

Curry night doesn’t have to mean greasy takeaways or heavy sauces. With these easy slow cooker curry recipes, you can enjoy all the flavour and satisfaction of your favourite Indian or Thai dishes – but made at home, made healthier, and made with love.

So, dust off the slow cooker, raid your spice rack, and give DIY curry night a go 🙂