Healthy 30-Minute Dinners: Washington Wines + Fast & Curryous Sauces
- Wendy VanArsdale
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Eating local, fresh ingredients is one of the simplest ways to live a healthier, happier life — and it doesn’t have to be complicated. Some of the world’s healthiest diets, including those from the Mediterranean and India, are built around real food made from local ingredients.
And while wine has long been part of the Mediterranean diet, Indian cuisine is discovering its own wine connection. The vibrant spices and sauces of Indian dishes pair beautifully with many Washington wines — especially aromatic whites like Riesling and Viognier, or lighter reds like Grenache that are grown right here in Benton City, WA. It’s proof that eating local can also mean exploring global flavors right here at home.
We’re lucky in the Tri-Cities region to be surrounded by incredible local producers, from small wineries to artisan food makers, who craft products that are fresh, pure, and made with care. No additives, no artificial ingredients, just real food and wine made the way it’s been done for centuries.
Falling in Love with Indian Food
I first fell in love with Indian food back in 2019 during a food-truck lunch at the Pacific Northwest National Lab. Every Tuesday, Fast & Curryous would roll into the parking lot, and I’d quietly plan my meetings around lunch hour — because nothing was going to stand between me and those legendary chicken tikka taco bowls!
Their food was bright, flavorful, and completely different from anything else around — and made entirely from scratch with real ingredients. It was love at first bite.
From Food Truck to Winery Collaboration
Fast-forward to today. Now that I own Experience 46 Degrees, I was beyond excited to team up with the Fast & Curryous team to offer Indian cooking classes at local Benton City wineries.
These classes bring together everything I love: food, wine, community, and learning something new.
It was during one of these sessions that I discovered just how beautifully Indian dishes pair with our local Washington wines. The right wine doesn’t just complement a dish — it transforms it.
Fast & Curryous Sauces – Local Flavor Made Easy
When I learned that Fast & Curryous had launched a line of ready-to-use Indian cooking sauces, it was a total kaboom moment. These are the same sauces that made their food truck so popular — now in a jar!
Made from all-natural, additive-free ingredients, these sauces are available at Yoke’s Fresh Market, the Richland Food Co-op, or online at fastandcurryous.net/simmer-sauces.
They make it effortless to whip up a gourmet-worthy, healthy meal in under 30 minutes. I picked up a broasted chicken from Yoke’s, shredded it, and stirred it into a jar of simmering sauce. Add a quick pot of basmati rice, and dinner was done — flavorful, nourishing, and local.
Two Perfect Food and Wine Pairings
These sauces truly shine when paired with local Washington wines. Here are two combinations that have become absolute favorites:
🍷 Korma + Rosé of Grenache (Heron Bluff Winery)
The Rosé of Grenache from Heron Bluff Winery offers refreshing acidity that cuts through the rich, creamy texture of the Korma sauce. Its low tannins prevent any clash with the dish’s delicate flavors. Honestly, I couldn’t stop myself from taking a sip after every bite — it was that perfectly balanced.
🍇 Chicken Tikka + Riesling (Purple Star Winery)
This pairing was discovered during a recent Fast & Curryous class at Purple Star Winery. Winemaker Kyle Johnson suggested the Riesling, and he was spot-on. The wine’s gentle sweetness and bright acidity beautifully balanced the spice and heat of the Chicken Tikka sauce. Everyone in class agreed — it was a showstopper.
Recreate These Pairings at Home
Heron Bluff Rosé of Grenache – around $18
Purple Star Riesling – around $20
Fast & Curryous Sauces – about $12 each
You can find everything locally or online, making this an affordable, easy, and crowd-pleasing dinner idea.
Eat Local. Celebrate Local.
When you choose local food and wine, you’re not just making dinner — you’re choosing a lifestyle.
You’re eating healthy, with real food made from vegetables, fruits, and natural ingredients instead of chemicals and fillers.
You’re saving money — this meal for four, complete with wine, costs roughly $11 per person.
You’re supporting local businesses, reducing your environmental footprint, and celebrating the incredible Tri-Cities community we call home.
With a jar of Fast & Curryous sauce, a bottle of local Washington wine, and 30 minutes in your kitchen, you can create a meal that’s fast, flavorful, and filled with heart — just the way it’s been done for generations.
Eat local. Drink local. Live well.
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