Curry Blog

No Comments » - Friday 20th August 2010

Create ‘Curry-nary’ Cuisine in Comfort

Curry is a dish that most of us in the UK enjoy but few of us are actually daring enough cook for ourselves.  To help give you some flavourful inspiration in the kitchen we have found straightforward and tasty curry recipes to help to create perfect Indian cuisine at home.

Jaime Oliver provides the recipe for all curry novices- Curry base sauce. You can add the meat or vegetables of your choice and as Jaime suggests freeze the sauce so it is always there when you want a curry in a hurry.

If cooking a curry from scratch is new to you then why not try a completely different curry dish? Meen curry is a spicy fish dish that tastes delicious.

Chicken korma one of the nations favourite curry dishes is also simple and easy to make, but don’t just take our word for it give the recipe a go.

Or, if you are feeling a little bit braver in the kitchen try Brian Turner’s onion bhaji recipe. They compliment any curry and they are also a great snack to enjoy with a glass of ice cold Cobra beer.

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No Comments » - Monday 16th August 2010

Curry is good for you!

There’re have been a few stories in the media recently about how good curry is for you  – as if you needed another reason to pop out to your local curry house this weekend! There are in fact other benefits to munching on a Daal and a Vindaloo than just feeling full and content afterwards!

As well as making taste buds tingle, curry spices are known to have several health benefits which makes curry ideal for enjoying with family or friends when cooked well. There are five main spices used to prepare most curries – each with their own set of health benefits.

Turmeric:

Also known as Curcumin, Tumuric gives curry its vibrant yellow colour. It also has antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties – detoxifying the liver, is said to help ease the follow: symptoms of arthritis, reducing nervous tension, boosting the metabolic function and fighting depression.

Caraway:

Caraway has long been called a ‘cure-all’ and has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It supposedly boosts the immune system, soothes irritated skin and when combined with olive oil it can even relieve bronchitis, colds, toothache, eye infections, sore throats and apparently can ward off cancer!

Cardamom:

Cardamom is another wonder spice that contains the antioxidant Cineole which is said to detoxify the liver, strengthen the immune system and calm nerves. It’s can also be used to fight kidney and stomach cancer and treat digestive problems, asthma and urinary tract infections.

Clove:

Clove, also has antioxidant, is said to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and is often used as pain relief for toothaches, joint pain and sore throats – slightly different to popping an Ibruprofen in your mouth!

Fennel:

This seed contains several important antioxidants as well as fibre, folate, potassium and vitamin C. All of which supposedly help reduce blood pressure and strengthen your immune system.

So next time you need an excuse to hit your local curry house, just think of all the good you’ll be doing your body!

We’d like to thank Akash Tandoori in Southfields (London) for helping us bring you this insight into the health benefits of curry.

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No Comments » - Monday 19th July 2010

Review: Mango, Brick Lane

A few weeks ago we hosted the 10th Annual Cobra Brick Lane festival at the Vibe bar on Brick Lane.  It was a fantastic day with four amazing restaurants all showing off their best dishes.  My personal favourite of these was Mango, right in the heart of Brick Lane, so I thought it was about time I headed down and tried out a whole mean for myself.

I headed down to the restaurant with some friends and asked for them to bring us a selection of their house favourites and a couple of Cobra beers.  We spent just 20 minutes nibbling on some poppadoms with some cracking chutneys, admiring the stylish restaurant before the below feast appeared.  And feast it was!  We had to sit on two separate tables!  In total we had 9 different dishes consisting of: Bolloywood Blast, Goshte Hara, Simsima (Sea Bass), Mango Delight, Chicken Tikka Mossala, Tarka Dall, Bendi Bajee, Rice, Garlic Chilly Nan, and finally a Pesware Nan….

Mango at Brick Lane

As you can see it looks terrific.  The food was incredible.  We asked the waiters which one was their favourite and each one liked something different and for good reason – each of the dishes were totally different, but totally delicious! We went round each one starting at the mildest and working our way up to the hottest and determined that we had three favourites, Bolloywood Blast, Goshte Hara, and Simsima.  They were all completely different, the sea bass was creamy and pack full of subtle flavours, the prawns succulent and spicy whist the chicken pack enough heat to keep it interesting but not blow your head off!  We loved every mouthful, especially when washed down with an ice cold Cobra beer!!

So if you’re heading to Brick Lane, maybe on a curry safari, then you should certainly make a visit to the fantastic Mango!

Thanks to Shimu for organising such a feast!

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No Comments » - Wednesday 24th March 2010

Gordon Ramsay Recipe

As I’m sure you all remember a few weeks ago Gordon Ramsay was on TV with his travels around the great country that is India. Well, I finally managed to track down a copy of his book in my local Sainsbury’s and am slowly working my way through the recipes.

It’s a great book – not only does it have some great recipes, but it’s really interesting to read about his travels. I appreciate that he’s a bit of a love/hate character but one thing that cannot be denied is his love of food. He is really infectiously passionate about it and the way people that cook it.

 I gave his Indian butter chicken recipe a go and thought it was delicious. Unlike many Indian recipes all the ingredients can either be found in your local Asda or Sainsbury’s; some are store cupboard essentials. I cooked the dish for some friends who are also die-hard curry fans and they all couldn’t believe it when I said it was a Gordon Ramsay creation – they all expected it to have come from a top Indian Chef. Check out some of his other recipes on the Times’ website if you’re not sure on the book yet, but trust me , it’s certainly worth giving it a go – especially the aubergine bhajis!

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No Comments » - Friday 12th March 2010

Healthy Eating with award-winning Lasan and Warwick University

Recently I came across this fantastic recipe book (which you can download for free here) written by the hugely talented Aktar Islam, from Lasan, with input from Professor Sudhesh Kumar from Warwick University.

The cook book has been created with healthy eating in mind – according to Professor Sudesh: “There has been a dramatic increase in the prevalence of diabetes in people of South Asian origin and they are four to five times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than Europeans.” So by keeping the amount of oil to a minimum and doing a little bit more exercise it’s possible to eat Indian food everyday and keep a healthy lifestyle.

These recipes are brilliant – I’ve tried several of them and not only are many of them quick and easy but they’re also delicious.  My favourite by far is the Keralan Sour Fish Curry with Kokum.  It has some obscure ingredients, but it is possible to find them in your local Indian supermarket or online.  If you’re a regular reader you’ll have realised that I’m a huge fan of Keralan food – it’s got a fantastic clean taste yet is packed full of awesome flavour that you just can’t beat!

This is a great book full of fantastic recipes – I strongly suggest you try it for yourself!

You can download the cook book here for free.

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No Comments » - Monday 15th February 2010

Cyrus Todiwala’s Connoisseur’s Curry Sauce

 “To celebrate National Chip Week I’ve teamed up with Cobra beer to create this rich, unique and luxurious curry sauce which is guaranteed to both complement the great British chip and tantalize the most discerning of taste buds.  Even better, this simple and versatile sauce can be easily stored in your refrigerator for up to five days and makes a delicious cold dip as well“ – Cyrus Todiwala.


 
Cyrus Todiwala’s Connoisseur’s Curry Sauce with King CobraIngredients:

- 2-3 fresh or dried morel mushrooms

- 50gm ground almonds

- 1 tin coconut milk

- 2 heaped tbsp butter

- 1 or 2 green chillis (depending on taste) – slit into 4 lengthways

 - 2 garlic cloves – peeled and very finely chopped

- 1 small banana shallot – very finely chopped

- 1 heaped tsp good English smooth mustard

- 1 level tbsp madras curry powder

- 1 heaped tbsp fresh coriander – chopped

- 1 sheet gold leaf 

 Equipment:

- 1-2 litre capacity casserole or saucepan

- Strainer

- Blender/ liquidizer

- Wooden spatula

- Heat resistant scraper

- Bowl

- High spirits (for the enjoyment) 

To serve:

- A portion of your favourite chips.  For the ultimate homemade chip, why not try Heston Blumenthal’s triple-cooked chips

- King Cobra – best served shared and ice cold

 

Method:

- Clean and chop your morel mushrooms into very tiny pieces. If using dried morels, soak them for a while (or as instructed on your package) drain and chop

- Puree the ground almonds with the coconut milk and set it aside ready for use

- Take the casserole or saucepan and heat it on a medium flame

- Add the butter and, once melted and foaming, add the mushrooms and sauté for a minute or two. Drain over a small bowl in the strainer

- Return the butter to the pan and add the slit green chillis.  Sauté for a minute or two, then add the finely-chopped garlic

- As soon as the garlic turns pale add the finely-chopped shallots and continue to sauté for a couple of minutes until the shallots turn pale

- When the shallots turn pale add the chilli powder, incorporate the pureed almonds and coconut milk – stirring until well blended

- Bring to a boil and simmer for three to four minutes before adding the mustard paste

- Remove from the cooker and add the sautéd mushrooms.  Keep mixing until the mustard settles down – this might take a minute or two

- Check the seasoning and see that it is to your liking

- Now add the chopped coriander and stir it in – ensuring the mixture is blended into a smooth sauce

- Finally, garnish with a flourish of gold leaf before serving with a portion of your favourite chips and a glass of ice cold King Cobra.

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1 Comment » - Tuesday 22nd December 2009

What do you do with Christmas leftovers? Turkey curry of course

Come Boxing Day and there is one huge dilemma that always needs to be resolved?  What on earth do you do with all the Turkey leftovers? Make them into sandwiches (again)?  Feed them to the dog?

 Well how about turning them into curry?

Dr Spice recommends Anjum  Anand’s very own Turkey Naag.  It’s really simple and best of all takes just 30 minutes to cook, and let’s face it, on Boxing day the last thing you want to do is actually cook!

Needless to say it’ll certainly be making an appearance on Boxing Day in my household and everyone but the dog will be happy!

I hope you all have a very merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year!

 

 

 

~~~ Anjum Anand’s Turkey Naag ~~~

 

Serves 4-6

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 25-30 mins

Anjum’s top tips:

-   If you’re tight on time, replace ginger and garlic with garlic and ginger pastes

-   For a richer dish, stir in a dash of cream or sour cream before serving

 

Ingredients:

-   3 tbs. vegetable oil

-   2 tbs. ghee or butter

-   1 tsp. brown mustard seeds

-   750g turkey (cooked)

-   7 baby potatoes, par boiled, peeled and quartered

-   1 medium onion, finely chopped

-   Handful of finely chopped coriander leaves and stems

-   330ml of water

 

Paste:

-   5 fat garlic cloves, peeled

-   3/4” ginger, peeled

-   3 medium tomatoes, chopped into 2 cm chunks

-   3 rounded tbs. full fat Greek yoghurt

-   1½ tbs. coriander powder

-   1¼ tsp. garam masala

-   ¼-½ tsp. red chilli powder plus some paprika for colour (optional – add more chilli if you like it a little hotter)

-   ½ tsp. turmeric powder

-   1 tsp. cumin powder

-   Salt to taste

 

Step 1:

Create a fine paste of the ginger, garlic and tomatoes (ideally use a blender but if you don’t have one then grate the ginger and garlic to create a rough paste and chop the tomatoes).

Stir in the powdered spices, salt and yoghurt. Add the potatoes and leave while you get going with step 2.

 Step 2:

Heat the oil and butter/ghee in a medium non-stick saucepan. Add the mustard seeds and cook until you can hear that they‘ve all popped – this shouldn’t take any more than a minute. Add your onions and cook over a moderate flame, stirring often, until the onions are browned on the edges – this takes around 7-8 minutes.

 Add the potatoes and paste and cook over a moderate-high heat, stirring occasionally at first but more often when the paste starts to thicken. Once the sauce begins to release oil droplets back into the pan (look at the edges of the pan), around 10-12 minutes, it is cooked. If you are not sure, taste it – the sauce should taste delicious without any raw garlic flavours. If it is not cooked or has reduced too much while cooking, add a splash of water and continue until you can see the oil around the edges.   

 Step 3:

Add your turkey and enough of the remaining water to come halfway up the pan (or a little more if you like a little more sauce) and bring to the boil. Simmer for a few minutes, taste and adjust the seasoning. Stir in the chopped coriander and serve with some lovely pure Basmati rice and an ice cold Cobra.

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4 Comments » - Thursday 26th November 2009

Shopping For Indian Ingredients

One of the biggest problems with many curry recipes, especially the ones found in those glossy cook books that everyone loves, is where to get the more obscure ingredients.  I’m lucky enough to live just 10 minutes on the tube from Tooting, a haven for Indian shops of all types, and in particular food shops. 

Passing one of the many Sari shops are some great family-run Indian food shops where you can get everything from Asafoetida (a spice to help digestion) to Charmagaz (dried melon seeds).  These shops are great and full of smells and sights that you certainly don’t get in Tesco’s.  One of the great things about these small independent shops is that there is always someone on hand to help out whether that’s finding an alternative spice or giving cooking advice and tips.

If you’re unable to get to an Indian supermarket in person then I recommend the website Spices of India.  You’ll be able to find all the ingredients you want and delivery time is usually a couple of days.

I think the most important thing to remember is try not to be intimidated when buying ingredients, I’m sure it puts many people off but it really shouldn’t.  If you’re in a shop then people are usually more than happy to help and if anything love talking about cooking Indian. I actually ended up leaving with a handful of recipes which I cannot wait to try!

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21 Comments » - Sunday 22nd November 2009

Dr. Spice needs you!

Since our Facebook page went live this morning, we’ve been overwhelmed with the fantastic number of comments from budding curry chefs around the country. A huge number of you like to add a bit of spice to your own kitchens and dinner tables, and we’d love to hear about your own individual tips, recipes and methods for getting the perfect curry.

We’ve partnered with some great curry chefs and restauranteurs to provide a few recipe ideas and even have videos of some amateur cooks proving just how easy it is. But we can’t cover it all, and who knows? – one of you might have a secret recipe that could become the next Chicken Tikka Massala! So if you’ve got your own special set of ingredients, or even just a simple tip for perfecting a sauce, just add a comment to this blog post and share your love of curry with our other readers during National Curry Week.

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