Can I substitute green cardamon for black cardamon in curry?
There is quite a difference in the tastes of black vs. green cardamom. In fact, they come from different but related species of plants.

Try asking your Indian grocery store for badi elaichi or badi welchi. It is the Hindi name for black cardamom.

Green cardamom has a minty flavor and is highly aromatic. It is also slightly sweet. It pairs well with spicy-sweet dishes as it enhances the taste. The ground cardamom in the store is probably green cardamom, because the powder is often used in recipes for masala chai (tea).

Black cardamon has a stronger flavor. It is more smoky (kind of like cinnamon - only kind of). It is best used in meat and savory dishes. So that's probably what the recipe uses.


As for Indian curd, also called dahi, it is closest to Greek yogurt in consistency and taste. However, dahi usually has a more tangy, sometimes sour taste. You may want to consider that while pairing up your dishes.