On Saturday, whilst Hector was enjoying his Lamb (Desi) Korma (€12.90) at Punjabi Zaiqa (Tromsöer Strasse 6, 13359 Berlin Deutschland), Marg was pioneering the appearance of Aloo Keema (€9.90) in these pages. The Soupçon that crossed the table was a rare – Wow! – moment. Hence, the Hector was back today for Aloo Keema, a Curry further down the list of priorities meaning other favourites were foregone. Such are the number of Desi/Apna options at Punjabi Zaiqa, more than the combined total from all the Curry Houses in Berlin, two South Indian outlets excepted.
Arriving at 14.05, on the last full day of this trip, the exterior photo unashamedly records what will be the last day of temperatures above 20ºC experienced this year. I may now have to accept that summer in Britain, 2024, ain’t coming. The same young chap was front of house. There was a sense of recognition, but no conversation. After Sunday’s Khan Baba experience of great host, lesser Curry, the conclusion was clear, Punjabi Zaiqa would benefit from such a personality out front.
Before ordering Curry, I had to make it clear – no Rice! The Aloo Keema was duly ordered, a Naan (€2.50) would accompany. Inexplicably, Marg was not up for Curry-Heute. Daal Soup (€4.50) was her grande amuse bouche. I took a litre bottle of Sparkling Water (€2.00) from the fridge, and obtained paper cups at the counter.
We sat at the same table as on our previous visit. This time, the TV entertained Marg with scenes the Geographer deduced were from north Pakistan towards Afghanistan. Not the Khyber Pass?
As with Saturday, Punajbi Zaiqa had few sit-in customers, but those who departed were soon replaced. May I also point out that not all were Asian, hopefully, more indigenous Berliners shall make the worthwhile journey to the north of the city.
The food was brought on a large tray and assembled on the table. The Naan, what a Naan! Light in colour, yet there were sufficient burnt blisters, this proved to be the very definition of quality Naan. Piping hot, light and fluffy, a sheer delight, and it was served – whole!
Normally, the Hector would manage only half, Marg helped. Bread with Soup, what next?
Daal Soup
We both expected something thicker, resembling a – Daal. Featuring Red Lentils, this was thinner than even a British Lentil Soup, a Shorva by definition. For once, for Hector there was no Soupçon. Sorry. Marg’s words:
A small bowl of taste. Very red in colour and thinner than expected. Red Daal was thinly spread throughout the soup with blasts of coriander as well. A different flavour for me, and I enjoyed having pieces of hot, fluffy Naan bread to go with it.
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Aloo Keema
Presented in a karahi, from which I chose to eat it, this Aloo Keema was quite a portion. Separating Oil had collected on the rim, on Saturday this was not the case. This Keema was otherwise as – Dry – as it is customarily served, no needless Masala, but sufficient moisture. The Potato was well buried. To get some notion of just how much Potato was present, I mixed up the contents of the karahi. The Oil disappeared, as did most of the toppings of Ginger Strips and Coriander, the Potato was revealed. Now we had an Aloo Keema.
No Peas – I remarked to Marg who then admitted that maybe she didn’t have Peas on Saturday after all. An update required. Dark flecks of Herb had been cooked in. As Marg’s eyes had been drawn to the TV screen, so Hector’s had been to a large box of Kasoori Methi on a shelf in the open kitchen.
The Earthy blast of Flavour was anticipated, the Spice Level was well above – medium – but was never going to make a Hector, sweat. Well Seasoned, but maybe this batch of Keema was below that had on Saturday. Maybe not. No – Wow! – for Hector today, more Methi could have taken me there. Also, the Potato had not had time to take in the full Flavour of the threat of Masala. Too fresh a batch, was the conclusion.
Keema, Mince as we, the British, call it, ground meat elsewhere. This Keema was super-fine, very well ground, beyond anything served by a UK butcher or restaurant. Mince so fine, no teeth were required, no chewing, a strange experience. The Potato aside, one could have eaten this Curry through a straw.
Curry through a straw? No way, Pedro!
The Bill
€20.40 (£17.90) An imaginary number?
The Aftermath
See you next month – may have fallen on deaf ears.
And so to visit my new Berlin home and have a word with the gardener, we need to grow more Methi…