is it something where they want you to cook it for a lot longer so the oil/water boils off? What you're describing reminds of the box recipe on this fish curry box mix ... I think I did what you did, or maybe something similar, and it wasn't what it was supposed to be, I'm pretty sure.
― sarahell, Saturday, 28 December 2019 04:49 (four years ago) link
i would have thought so but no, it gives you times like "10 minutes" and i was using a big saute pan with a lot of surface area. i was thinking it might thicken because it contains corn starch but it must have only been a trace amount. and i was using cut-up chicken breast so i didn't want to cook it too long.
― forensic plumber (harbl), Saturday, 28 December 2019 14:39 (four years ago) link
i'm not familiar with this masala mix, but the more you cook and stir cornstarch the more likely you are to lose the thickening power. the thickened product will get watery as the network which the starch causes to form breaks. personally i would just make the sauce by hydrating the spice mix and making a slurry, then slowly add that to the simmering water/fat while whisking and finding out how thick it ends up. and cook everything else separately and add it to the sauce. seems that would be more foolproof? sorry for completely unasked-for opinion!
― one charm and one antiup quark (outdoor_miner), Saturday, 28 December 2019 23:43 (four years ago) link
no--that does make sense, but i wouldn't want to cook the meat and then coat it in stuff. i think it's just meant for lazy people. i will try the slurry when i use it with chickpeas though, since they'll already be cooked.
― forensic plumber (harbl), Saturday, 28 December 2019 23:54 (four years ago) link
This person's videos have been a revalation for me:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qV38aaJSlTE&t=222s
The base technique there of ghee, frying off seeds, then onion, then spices, then tomato, is (I'm assured by my indian coworkers) basically the base for any curry. Ive tried it with toor dal, and as a base for saag, and it made such a freaking difference doing it properly.
Its a PITA having so many different packets of spices and seeds though. And they cook everything in pressure cookers so its hard to know how long to cook dal/lentils for.
― Stoop Crone (Trayce), Monday, 30 December 2019 05:55 (four years ago) link
Oh and watch the mustard seeds. One time I poured wayyyy too many in and also burnt them and the taste was bitter and horrid :(
― Stoop Crone (Trayce), Monday, 30 December 2019 05:56 (four years ago) link
trayce can you paste link to the video with a space in it to stop the autoembed? "an error occurred"
i am in the middle of rearranging/jarring all my various spices and seeds and it's a mess. i had too many bags in the cabinets.
― forensic plumber (harbl), Monday, 30 December 2019 13:49 (four years ago) link
The base technique there of ghee, frying off seeds, then onion, then spices, then tomato, is (I'm assured by my indian coworkers) basically the base for any curry.
Without being able to see the video I can at least agree with that statement! I did an Indian cuisine cooking class a couple of months ago and the one useful thing was the chef showing us 3 ways of bringing out spice flavors: bloom in ghee (for curry sauce), add to a liquid & simmer (dal), and...I forgot the third one but it must have involved the rice because that's the other thing we made.
Anyway the curry was boring as. She admitted it was just a "base" to be tailored by regional & family preferences.
― There's more Italy than necessary. (in orbit), Monday, 30 December 2019 20:59 (four years ago) link
can vouch for meera sodha's books as great curry recipe tomes; made in india is a bit better than her purely-veg fresh india, and has lots of great veg recipes too.
this is pretty much how every curry i make or attempt begins, cannot make any claims for their authenticity but they are often really nice! (Onion section is often a slurry of blitzed onions/garlic/ginger)
― Pinche Cumbion Bien Loco (stevie), Monday, 30 December 2019 21:30 (four years ago) link
Eep I never came back to see the link hadnt worked!
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=L32CGVxvdVE
Or look up Swasthi's Recipes on YT.
― Stoop Crone (Trayce), Friday, 17 January 2020 01:49 (four years ago) link
i made chicken tikka masala and a spinach-onion pilaf both from 660 curries
the sauce for the tikka masala was a bit too sweet. i did make my own mistake by putting in one can of tomatoes instead of one CUP of tomatoes. but it has raisins in it (blended up with everything). the marinade is very good. i added lemon juice. pilaf is good, would make again. probably try a different CTK recipe next time but not bad or anything.
― forensic plumber (harbl), Tuesday, 25 February 2020 00:21 (four years ago) link
CTM obvthe raisininess is not a bad combo with the hotness of the marinade, it's growing on me
― forensic plumber (harbl), Tuesday, 25 February 2020 00:28 (four years ago) link
chana masala, i questioned the 660 curries recipe because it had raw onions added at the end. i don't mind the act of eating raw onions but i don't like the aftermath. no thanks. so i went to the old standby smitten kitchen (a madhur jaffrey copy). it has 1 tablespoon of amchur and lemon juice but i need more sweet/sourness. some recipes have anardana, dried pomegranate seeds. i will get the anardana, soon.
― forensic plumber (harbl), Wednesday, 26 February 2020 23:21 (four years ago) link
I've never tried it with anardana, sounds interesting
― frederik b. godt (jim in vancouver), Wednesday, 26 February 2020 23:26 (four years ago) link
I went and made chicken tikka masala for the first time last night. The flavor wasn’t quite right but the texture was perfect and I enjoyed it. Could have been sweeter, actually. Think maybe because I used diluted tomato paste instead of puree/sauce but idk
― brimstead, Saturday, 7 March 2020 17:24 (four years ago) link
The new David Chang on netflix has a curry episode that is very good. It's the only episode of the new series that I probably will watch.
― Yerac, Sunday, 8 March 2020 16:51 (four years ago) link
xpost raisins!
― Yerac, Sunday, 8 March 2020 16:52 (four years ago) link
madhur jaffrey ground lamb and peas curry. i believe i have made it 100 times now and it never fails.
― forensic plumber (harbl), Tuesday, 17 March 2020 00:56 (four years ago) link
That is a stone cold classic. Haven’t made it in a while but will now.
― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Tuesday, 17 March 2020 01:38 (four years ago) link
kheema matar! ive also made various versions of that like a million times
― just sayin, Tuesday, 17 March 2020 02:16 (four years ago) link
i got the anardana at the chinese store i visited for the first time today, had a very random assortment of indian ingredients. plus more amchur powder.
― forensic plumber (harbl), Friday, 20 March 2020 21:59 (four years ago) link
Threw out a whole, unopened packet of amchur powder last night bc full of MOTHS. THE WASTE.
― There's more Italy than necessary. (in orbit), Friday, 20 March 2020 23:22 (four years ago) link
i have looked for amchur powder at three different Indian grocery stores and haven't found shit, so I bought the pomegranate powder and am about to make another large batch of chana masala because i have a 4 lb bag of dried garbanzos that aren't going to cook themselves
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Sunday, 22 March 2020 20:16 (four years ago) link
That seems weird that three places would not have had it. In demand!
― Yerac, Sunday, 22 March 2020 20:23 (four years ago) link
I don't really know what sort of packaging I am looking for and I haven't asked for help either -- nor did I google to see what packages look like.
wait i just googled -- it's the same as asofoetida powder?!!?!?
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Sunday, 22 March 2020 20:29 (four years ago) link
no not the same thing, right?! i am confusedeven after googling i don't think i have seen amchur powder in the stores i have shopped in and they are for sure the sort of places that would have such a thing.
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Sunday, 22 March 2020 20:30 (four years ago) link
it is NOT lol
― forensic plumber (harbl), Sunday, 22 March 2020 20:45 (four years ago) link
it has a very unassuming appearance and should come in a bag. every indian store should have it. i can mail some to you?!?
― forensic plumber (harbl), Sunday, 22 March 2020 20:46 (four years ago) link
i'm going to make chana masala tonight too. maybe a naan.
― forensic plumber (harbl), Sunday, 22 March 2020 20:48 (four years ago) link
i'm probably just looking in the wrong place -- i should have googled to see what it looks like after i failed to find it the first time but here i am!
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Sunday, 22 March 2020 20:56 (four years ago) link
wrong place in the store i mean
when i bought it in an indian store in london it was actually just labeled mango powder instead. You should ask at the counter, they might have it in a weird bulk bag.
― Yerac, Sunday, 22 March 2020 21:07 (four years ago) link
i found amchur powder last weekend hanging out near asafoetida and other spice type things. i had never tasted it before—pretty cool stuff!
― call all destroyer, Sunday, 22 March 2020 22:09 (four years ago) link
after hearing about the moth incident i'd advise against buying bulk. could mess up your whole pantry. = unasked-for $.02xpost
― medicate for all (outdoor_miner), Sunday, 22 March 2020 22:58 (four years ago) link
i think bulk means by the pound in this context
― forensic plumber (harbl), Sunday, 22 March 2020 23:04 (four years ago) link
i was just thinking it not being packed in a commercial container. I've never had pantry moths. Is this a common thing?
― Yerac, Sunday, 22 March 2020 23:30 (four years ago) link
i had them once about 10 years ago because they got into a bag of pumpkin seeds. then i realized they were elsewhere. a lot of vacuuming up moths and throwing out food.
― forensic plumber (harbl), Sunday, 22 March 2020 23:35 (four years ago) link
reporting back about the anardana: tasty but i should look for the powdered form. these are the actual seeds and they were not grindable with mortar and pestle.
― forensic plumber (harbl), Sunday, 22 March 2020 23:37 (four years ago) link
Huh, the stuff I found was already powdered/pulverized.
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Sunday, 22 March 2020 23:38 (four years ago) link
yeah, i forgot to check when i was at the indian store and saw this at the chinese store (indian brand) and grabbed it not thinking too hard about it. i'm sure the indian store has the powdered form.
― forensic plumber (harbl), Sunday, 22 March 2020 23:39 (four years ago) link
this look intersting, will try soon https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017746-meera-sodhas-chicken-currymy mistake reading the comments but idiots are arguing about how "authentic" it is. i will paste in case ppl get paywalled (i don't pay & don't understand why the recipes sometimes work for me and sometimes don't).
INGREDIENTS2 tablespoons unsalted butter or ghee1 tablespoon neutral oil, like canola1 teaspoon cumin seeds2 cinnamon sticks, approximately 2 inches long2 large white or yellow onions, peeled and finely chopped1 2 1/2-inch piece of ginger, peeled and grated or minced6 cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed2 green cayenne or jalapeño peppers, stemmed, seeded and cut into half-moons Kosher salt, to taste¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons puréed tomatoes2 tablespoons tomato paste1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin½ teaspoon ground turmeric3 tablespoons whole-milk yogurt, plus 1 cup to serve with the meal1 ¾ to 2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch chunks3 tablespoons slivered almonds1 teaspoon garam masala Pinch ground cayenne pepper, or to taste.
PREPARATIONMelt the butter or ghee in the oil in a large Dutch oven set over medium heat, and when it is hot and shimmering, add the cumin seeds and cinnamon sticks. Cook for a minute or two, stirring often, to intensify their flavors, then add the onions. Cook, stirring occasionally, until they are golden, approximately 15 to 20 minutes.Meanwhile, put the ginger, garlic and peppers into a mortar and pestle with a pinch of salt, and smash them together into a coarse paste. (You can also do this on a cutting board, with a knife.)Add the paste to the onions, and cook for 2 minutes or so, then pour in the tomatoes, and stir. Allow to cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes, then add the tomato paste, ground cumin, ground turmeric and another pinch of salt, and stir to combine.Add the yogurt slowly to the mixture, using a wooden spoon to whisk it into the sauce. It may be quite thick. When it begins to bubble, add the chicken. Lower the heat, put the lid on the Dutch oven and allow the curry to cook gently for 30 minutes or so, or until the chicken is cooked through. Add the almonds and the garam masala, along with a pinch of cayenne, and cook for 5 minutes more or so. Serve with basmati rice or naan, and the additional yogurt.
― contorted filbert (harbl), Sunday, 9 August 2020 19:09 (three years ago) link
i am missing BIR-style indian food a lot, so i've become a big fan of this guy http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC95tDLezE8WD3p3tBRBVjfw
true BIR-style because everything he makes starts with the same gravy, which he keeps in the freezer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbW2NyoXVts
― 𝔠𝔞𝔢𝔨 (caek), Sunday, 9 August 2020 19:21 (three years ago) link
i would like to can a curry base like that. there aren't any recipes in the standard tested canning sources so i need to convert a spaghetti sauce recipe or something.
― contorted filbert (harbl), Sunday, 9 August 2020 21:35 (three years ago) link
cute channel lol. he'd benefit from a pressure cooker for this task imo!
― contorted filbert (harbl), Sunday, 9 August 2020 21:52 (three years ago) link
meera sodha is fantastic, her books are wonderful and in constant use in this house
― Pinche Cumbion Bien Loco (stevie), Sunday, 9 August 2020 21:58 (three years ago) link
mr veg accidentally bought an 8 pack of canned chickpeas (instead of black beans) so i’ve been exploring “660 Curries” chickpea curries chapter & picking ones to try. this week will be chickpeas in coconut sauceAND, most excitingly, finally acquired fresh curry leaves at an asian market today for the first time ever — have never been able to find them so v excited to up my curry game now
― terminators of endearment (VegemiteGrrl), Sunday, 10 January 2021 22:52 (three years ago) link
i love 660 curries. iirc the chana masala recipe was a bit complicated? i may not rc though. but there are a lot of good, simple ones out in the universe. and curry leaves are awesome!
― superdeep borehole (harbl), Monday, 11 January 2021 00:59 (three years ago) link
harbl do u know this blog?
https://myheartbeets.com/recipe-index/#all
got instant pot recently and was thinking of trying a chana tn
― flopson, Monday, 11 January 2021 01:51 (three years ago) link
i found that blog when i was looking for IP recipes!
― call all destroyer, Monday, 11 January 2021 02:09 (three years ago) link
i have this one bookmarked which means i probably cooked it tho it would have been in the blurry early pandemic days and i can't say i remember it. https://myheartbeets.com/instant-pot-green-chicken-curry-hariyali-chicken/