Lockdown Curry #25 – Aberdeen – Lahore Karahi

Having seen family, it was time to catch up with friends. Sandy and Tracey extended an invitation to visit, Marg suggested we collect a Takeaway en route. Lahore Karahi (145 King St, Aberdeen, AB24 5AE) was the supplier. Our hosts were keen to discover which venue Hector would choose, they have not enjoyed any of the Indian Takeaways they have ordered during Lockdown.

It is a year since Hector last dined here. Reviews have been mixed on Curry-Heute, as Hector has tried to have a once wondrous Fish Curry with Methi replicated. Tonight I decided to stay safe and just have the Fish Curry (£9.00) accompanied by Mushroom Pilau Rice (£3.00). Marg was up for Lamb Karahi (£8.50) with a Butter Roti (£1.50). Strange, normally she would order Keema Aloo or Peas (£8.50) from Lahore Karahi. Our hosts were invited to consult a well known and reliable Curry blog to make their choices. Sandy chose Lamb Rogan Josh (£8.50) with a Tandoori Naan (£1.40) whilst Tracey went down the Biryani route – Sindhi Chicken Biryani (£7.50) with a Roti.

If we are doing starters, Onion Bhaji and Vegetable Pakora please – Tracey had texted.

Vegetable Pakora (£3.50) is available at Lahore Karahi, Onion Bhaji is not. I decided to double up on the Pakora. Lamb Seekh Kebab (£5.50) comes as four pieces, this would be sufficient for Marg and Hector to share.

The Order was phoned in at 17.00 with a collection time arranged for 18.30. As always, the – no Capsicum request – was relayed for the Fish Curry and the Karahi.

Arriving punctually, the bell was rung and the locked door was opened. The Order was sitting on a table at the front of the house. In five days the tables will be restored to their new normal position, the end of Lockdown is in sight.

The Bill

£54.70 I had £50.00 in my hand, this proved to be sufficient. One would expect Takeaway prices to be lower than those for dining in.

Eight pieces of Pakora? I have consistently praised Lahore Karahi for their realistic pricing of Breads in Aberdeen, however, in Glasgow, one would expect two dozen pieces of Pakora in a single Takeaway portion. It’s just as well I ordered two.

The Pakora was OK – remarked Marg – it’s never hot enough when it comes like this.

Indeed, and a quick microwave does it no favours.

The Seekh Kebabs came with a bag of foliage and separate sauces. It was good to taste Lamb Seekh Kebabs once again, two each was sufficient. The Red Sauce which Marg eschewed added more bite, but as Marg observed, the Kebabs were Spicy in their own right.

The Naan appeared to be on the Thin side, but was a decent size.

The Butter Roti puzzled. One was the well presented article, the other clearly too well fired. The second should never have been served. I believe the ladies shared out the best parts of both.

Tracey had given the Mains a quick blast to bring them back up to scratch. The Mushroom Pilau was the first container to be decanted. This was more than a plateful, enough to share but nobody else was really wanting Rice. Marg took a couple of spoonfuls.

The Pilau had the welcomed Spicy hue, the Mushrooms had been well cooked in. This was truly excellent Pilau, the perfect foil for the Fish Curry and every grain on Hector’s plate was eaten.

Fish Curry

Whilst the blended Masala and lack of toppings may have been the negatives, everything else about this Fish Curry impressed. Once arranged on the Rice, the Thickness of the Masala became evident as did the quantity of Fish.

This Fish Curry restored my appreciation of Lahore Karahi, it was a sheer joy to eat, every mouthful, and there would be many. With a decent level of Spice and Seasoning, the full Fishy Flavours came across, too often this is not the case. I was taken aback momentarily on spotting green slivers mixed through the Masala, these turned out be Green Chillies. All was well, no contamination here.

The Mushroom Pilau deserves another mention. The Mushrooms acted as the – Interesting Vegetable – whilst the Spices in the Rice helped create a synergy. This meal, this combination, was way more than – Curry and Rice.

Hector was last to stop eating such was the volume to get through. Marg aside, I have little in the way of quotes for the remainder of the meal, as yet.

Lamb Karahi

Marg has had some of Glasgow’s finest Lamb Karahi during Lockdown, but all have been on-the-bone. Tonight she had taken the opperchancity to go – Boneless – though Lahore Karahi do serve Karahi in the proper style when ordered.

The Masala looked to be out of the same pot as the Fish Curry, so whatever Chef had done, if anything, to make this a – Karahi – remains his secret. For once no Soupçon came Hector’s way, there was no desire to spoil the impact of the Fish Curry. Marg ate most of her Curry, and all of the Roti and Rice, but decided to leave some for Sandy. Eh?

The Lamb Karahi had great texture and very tender lamb. A good taste, and complemented by my crispy Roti. I wanted to leave a little bit for Sandy to taste it.

Lamb Rogan Josh

This was only distinguishable from the Lamb Karahi by having a big blob of Capsicum floating at the top of the container.

It were lovely – said Sandy who must have been to Yorkshire at some point in his life.  We must get them down to Bradford.

This was after he had described his previous Curry from a well known but no longer great Aberdeen Curry House, let’s say they have misplaced their – crown.

Sandy ate just more than half of his Rogan Josh, and on saving the rest for later, took a sample of the Lamb Karahi. Little difference was the pronouncement.

Sindhi Chicken Biryani

Tracey had chosen Biryani this evening because of her disappointment with the – Soupy Curry – she has been served up by other Aberdeen sources. Tracey considered her Biryani was essentially the same as my Pilau but with added Chicken. I would hope that there was more to it than this, however, Hector only ever orders a Vegetable Biryani when the price is right and to provide an array of Interesting Vegetables.

Dry – was Tracey’s verdict on her Biryani, but not in a negative sense. She had successfully avoided – Soup.  Whatever happened to the accompanying Masala that was standard once upon a time?

I would like to think that the Masalas for each of the above Dishes had been treated differently.  However, Takeaways are often nowhere near the quality of that served in-house.  Tonight, we had four happy customers.