Curry

I've loved cooking curries from scratch since an Indian friend ran cooking classes in the late 1970s. Tracking down the whole and ground spices was a real adventure in those days! Proper curries take time but are well worth the effort.

I always double up (at least) and try to always have some in the freezer but, if all else fails and I'm in a hurry, I've found that Spice Tailor 'kits' are brilliant. I can get a really lovely curry on the table in about 30 minutes. Everything is provided and there are very clear instructions so nothing can go wrong

Apart from the recipes I got from my friend, I have a 30 year old Madhur Jaffrey book that came out when she did a TV series. DH says it is so covered in splashes etc that you could live for a week by eating it's pages.

Yes Madhur Jaffrey's BBC book! The dry potatoes in ginger and garlic coating with fennel seeds are to die for. I also make a puy lentil version of Minced meat with peas. Not for a diet day though.

I've just added my two favourite Madhur Jaffrey recipes and another one that I use all the time.

I've not tried those potatoes Nellie, I have after all only had the book 30 years . Just looked and they look fabulous. The tomato, onion and green coriander relish is fab, too!

I feel a curry coming on!!

I've never made a curry. My DH makes wonderful ones, grinding his own spices and all that malarkey. I wouldn't know where to start but he enjoys it and I reap the benefits.

Incredible Spice Men BBC 2 8.30

Anyone going to give it a look ? I am !

Lucky you Katy , was there any Indian food on offer yesterday ?

I always make my own from scratch, using my spattered Madhur Jaffrey book from the original BBC series. Favourites are Royal lamb, Mughlai chicken, tandoori chicken and chicken with red, sweet pepper sauce. OH makes naan and we make hot chutney from our veg garden.
Needs must in Normandy, but I always made my own in England too.

When I did my house jobs I was the only British resident. Every Sunday the kitchens would send over a chicken, tomatoes and potatoes. The Indian, Pakastani and Bangladeshi doctors would then take them and cook a curry. That's where I learnt to cook curry.

Kitty You must try those potatoes. I make the sauce to the recipe. Then I use the wok to fry the fennel seed and put the sauce in with a little more liquid than the recipe gives and add the par boiled potatoes and reduce the sauce rapidly whilst stirring gently. When the sauce is coating the potatoes I put them in a pan in the oven and roast them.
I find it much easier to cook them evenly this way that doing them in a pan on top of the cooker. They are wonderful but very moorish. Any left overs get eaten very rapidly.
I am on a fast day today and I so want some of those potatoes.

Mamie The spattered cookery books are always the best.

The first meal I ever cooked from MJ's BBC book was Royal lamb with the cauliflower and potato dish. Still one of our favourites. I don't think any of her later books have added much tbh. Always admired her for not spattering food on her sari though!
We do bring back a Waitrose curry for our meal when we get home from England, though. France is soooo hopeless for other cuisines. I rather agreed with the letter in the Guardian the other day that said "If I had a pound for every good meal I have had in France, I would have about £3 by now."

I have the Camilla wot sit book and find the veg dishes brilliant

I agree Mamie that her later books haven't added much although, as mentioned above, I've still not tried all the original book.

Nellie, I have a couple of curries in the freezer so I will try the potatoes next time I take one out.

Right, Nellie those potatoes sound too good to miss! Will do them later this week. Thanks.

Nonu - sorry a bit late with this. Yes there was Indian, Chinese, Caribbean, French, Japanese, pulled pork rolls, Greek and French cakes, home-made macaroons, cheeses, ciders, beer and wines, breads, lots of exotic burgers (including zebra) - I think I'll stop there, I'm getting a bit carried away! Lots more besides. Really lovely in the sunshine. It's on until 26th August I think. Quite a big festival.

Sounds great where actually about in B"Ham is it ?

My favourite healthy curry cook book is 'Indian Superfood' by Gurpareet Bains. Lots of lovely recipes with nutritional info and not difficult to make.

Nonu - It starts in the middle of New Street and goes right up by the Art Gallery and Town Hall area. They seem to have a few more stalls at the weekend than during the week but it was a bit more crowded at the weekend, but not too bad.

*Katy I know where you mean now , do not they also have German markets there , later in the year and also in the Street Primark is in .
We were at some time back & TBH thought the food / drink overpriced

That's where it is Nonu. Yes perhaps a little overpriced. My friend and I had a French dish yesterday, Provencal chicken with potatoes (or rice if you wish) for £5 each. There was a reasonable amount of it. Not somewhere you would eat every day but lovely for the city and for a change.

Oh I love Provencal Chicken , Katy , I will tell DD the street market is on , as she lives just outside BRUM , although knowing her , is aware already.
She might have time to go as they are not here till Sunday , soooo excited as you can guess as I Haven"t seen them for about 6 weeks .

"s

How lovely for you Nonu. I hope you enjoy it all. This market hasn't been advertised at all, I came upon it by accident although I know it's a yearly event. If they go, tell them to watch out for wasps ! One got me.

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