Once each year, Hector is drafted in to teach The Leavers how to make Curry as part of their preparation for The After Life. Such has been the level of anticipation amongst the would-be participants, Today is Lesson One of Two. Laura makes her Third Appearance in Curry-Heute.
The Recipe for Aloo Chicken is tried and tested, it works. The Ingredients were laid out in Bundles of Eight, Two places would be taken by Staff and an FP, who just happened to be here… Zoe did not mention of Curry-Heute was up and running in her final year, Zoe had never eaten Spicy Food, well not any more.
Peeling Onions x8 means lots of Nippy Vapour in the air. Nobody, Craig (Staff) excepted, had chopped an Onion before. As small as you can cut them, then smaller again – was the instruction issued by Hector. Craig also demonstrated a way to persuade Cloves of Garlic to part from their skin, pop them in the Microwave for Twenty Seconds, this works. Which side of the Grater to use to deal with the Fresh Ginger, the Cheese Side. Potatoes were peeled, again for the First Time, and chopped Small. The handling of Fresh Meat was another First. Fiona was concerned about the Little Red Bits on her Fresh Halal Chicken. Don’t worry, once cooked you will not be aware of these.
Meanwhile Hector was washing the Basmati and assembling Eight Portions of the Spices. The Pupils were shown each Spice in the Packet with name visible, another First Encounter. The Aroma was also highlighted. Curry is as much about the Aromatic as the Spicy.
Let’s Cook
Eight Chopping Boards were combined for Five Pots only, the number of gas rings available. Three Double Pots, Two Single Pots. The Staff and Jonathan were the Single Pot Chefs. Michael had paired with Zoe, Laura with Fiona, and John with Kirsty. The Onions, Ginger and Garlic were added to the Hot Oil, the start of the Masala.
After some Fifteen Minutes or so, the Spices were added and allowed to permeate the Mash. At the risk of making the whole outcome Too Wet, an entire Tin of Tomatoes was added for each Single Pot, Two per Double. Jonathan’s Pot was much Drier than the rest, to much Heat initially? A dodgy gas ring. Time to add the Chicken and Potatoes. It was getting Hot in the Kitchen.
The Green Chillies and Fresh Coriander was last in. The Potatoes were tested, if they are Soft the Chicken should also be cooked.
Time to Eat
All Five Pots had to be tested by Hector. Jonathan’s looked the best, however, the Potatoes had not cooked, the Chicken had. Hector has experience of Potatoes that refused to cook. The Pot was put back on the gas. Twenty Minutes later, no joy.
Michael and Zoe’s collaboration was Fine, Potatoes cooked.
Then I tried the Kirsty and John Pot, Gosh! Kirsty had spooned off some of the Excess Oil. Somehow they had acquired more Significant Seasoning. I had forgotten how Good this Simple Curry can be, and it was Chicken Curry! The remaining Pots were Good, but the Kirsty/John Collaboration was Outstanding.
Why?
Laura and Fiona had used only half of their Coriander Allocation due to Fiona’s dislike of this wonderful Herb. The rest was added in to the Kirsty/John Pot. The Seasoning stood out, but there was another possibility. As they cooked, we The Staff noticed one of the pots was a Le Crueset. Quality Pot, Quality Curry.
The Aftermath
An exchange of Texts from a Parent/Colleague:
Curry is magnificent.
What did you expect?
Though expected, execution is still all.
Other recipes are available on a well known and reliable Website.