A Look Back at the Vesta Curry
Curry is pretty much a staple meal in Great Britain these days. But, back in the 1970s, having a curry for your tea wasn’t all that common. However, if you were really lucky, you’d be given a Vesta Curry for your Friday night dinner.
Classic British food used to be fish and chips, toad in the hole, and of course, one of my absolute favourites, the Sunday roast dinner. But these days, many families would also include a curry as part of their weekly meal plan. There are loads of different options if you fancy a curry today. You can cook from scratch, grab an Indian ready meal, use a jar of curry sauce, or order from your local curry house. But until the late sixties and seventies, having a curry at home wasn’t all that easy. That was until Vesta Curries became available in the UK.
When did Vesta Curries come out?
Vesta curries, along with some Chinese foods became available as convenience foods in the late sixties. It was at this time that the now famous Vesta Curries and Vesta Chow Mein became readily available. Perhaps this was due to the rise in immigration. Whatever the reason, I’m glad it happened!
What kind of meals were available?
As well as the ever popular Vesta Beef Curry, Vesta released a number of other meals based on foreign foods:
- Beef Curry and Rice
- Chicken Curry and Rice
- Prawn Curry and Rice
- Chow Mein with Crispy Noodles
- Chicken Supreme and Rice
- Beef Risotto
- Paella with Chicken and Prawns
Who made Vesta Curries?
The Vesta Curry was originally made by Batchelors (think cup-a-soups and Pot Noodles) but in more recent years the brand has been taken over by Premier Foods.
Can you still buy a Vesta Curry today?
It’s always such a disappointment when you discover that your favourite childhood foods have been discontinued. Thankfully though, if spicy food is your thing and you fancy trying one of the Vesta meals, they are still available to buy! I’ve found them here on Amazon, and you may also be able to find them in the supermarkets too.
If you do get your hands on one, let me know if it tastes the same as you remember from your childhood.
Vesta Curry Adverts
I don’t remember any Vesta Curry adverts, but I did find this one for the Vesta Beef Curry.
The Vesta Curry was a real treat back in the seventies. Convenience meals were only just really starting to become popular and Indian restaurants weren’t all that common. Having a Vesta Curry on a Friday night was something many of us looked forward to all week.
