HERE'S some new food for thought for any self respecting curry addict.

If you want curry in a hurry, then help is at hand thanks to an enterprising Dorset mum.

Illana Smith from Poole, has created Hari Hari, an award-winning range of pre-blended authentic Sri Lankan spice mixes.

“Being half English and half Sri Lankan, and having spent a considerable part of my life in Sri Lanka, I developed a true love for the local cuisine," she explains.

"For me, Sri Lankan curries symbolise fresh home cooked food and family, friends and togetherness, a dining experience you won't forget in a hurry.

“Hari Hari aims to make cooking a curry yourself less intimidating, so you too can cook a truly delicious curry in your own kitchen with ease and you also won’t end up with numerous spice jars sitting at the back of your cupboards for years to come."

Illana explains that Hari Hari is a Sri Lankan expression which has a number of interpretations from, “OK OK” to “It's coming!".

"It implies an impatience of someone having to wait, something which I feel every time I cook a curry," Illana admits.

Hari Hari is hand blended from pure, authentic Sri Lankan spices giving a distinctive flavour that aficionados of curry know is unique and cannot be compared with Indian curries.

And for the discerning cook, Hari Hari spice packs are individually blended to suit specific dishes.

"Fish and beef or lentils and beans each have a unique texture, flavour and make, so to use the same spice pack for these would detract from the unique flavour of each ingredient."

Illana adds: “The health benefits of the spices used in Sri Lankan curries is being studied more and more in recent times and have been shown to have a number of positive impacts for those who eat them.

"Turmeric is known to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, coriander has been used to treat mouth ulcers and skin inflammation, cumin is being studied in cancer research and the list goes on."

Hari Hari was awarded gold in the Taste of The West awards 2016.

For more information, visit harihari.co.uk/ or email Illana at hello@harihari.co.uk