Curry-Heute

Walking along the streets of Vinhorady (Praha) on Wednesday evening, Hector was passing a Spice shop, Fish Masala caught the eye. It turned out to be out of date and so the featured box was purchased. Tonight, Hector would serve Baked Fish and Aloo Taare Ko, a variation on Fish & Chips. This was also the first opperchancity to try out the new Tawa. One Paratha Doughball was defrosted.

The packet suggested the Spice Mix be mixed with Garlic Paste which was not my original intention, why not?

The Paste was applied to the Haddock and allowed to sit for the afternoon. A Baked Vegetable Topping was envisaged and so Tomatoes and an Onion were finely chopped, some Fish Oil was mixed in to add more bite.

The Fish was wrapped in aluminium foil and baked for half an hour which gave plenty of time to prepare the Aloo Taare Ko. The Paratha was rolled and heated on the Tawa. All was going well until the point of serving, I needed more hands.

The Paratha therefore got a bit burnt and turned too crispy. The Fish came out of the oven far too wet for my liking. Next time, no Garlic or Tomato. The Aloo Taare Ko always works, fried Onions and no pre-boiling of the Potatoes.

Having missed Hector’s cooking, Marg was most appreciative, no Salad for tea tonight. The Paratha was still enjoyable, although crispy, it was far from biscuit-like which I cannot tolerate. I suspect I had rolled it too thin.

Despite the wetness, the Fish was still edible but had nothing like the hoped for Flavours, this was little more than a Fish Stew. The Aloo Taare Ko saved the day, Dry, Spicy, full of Flavour. I should make this more often.

For those expecting Butter Chicken, get real, Karahi Gosht trumps all! Watching Parveen’s Sunday morning TV programme has made Hector determined to make Bread. Chapattis were tried years ago, yeuch! Parveen showed how to make a Stuffed Paratha, however, this was far from the style Hector seeks. Cue a YouTube site which revealed all. Meanwhile someone on a Social Medium posted a link to a radically different approach to creating an authentic looking Karahi Gosht. Such were the time-outs in preparation both could, in effect, be prepared simultaneously, but it did make for a very busy afternoon.

Whilst I appreciate people’s efforts in posting videos, I still prefer to see a Recipe as a list with clear instructions which can be referred to with ease.

Mughlai Karahi Gosht

Ingredients – Part 1:

1 kg Lamb on-the-bone

1 dessert spoon Ginger Paste

1 dessert spoon Garlic Paste

2 tsp Salt

The Salt, Ginger and Garlic Pastes were stirred into the Lamb and left to marinade overnight.

I have tried a similar approach but have added Yoghurt at this stage. So when does the yoghurt go in, and how much?

Ingredients – Part 2:

4 tbsp Vegetable Oil

1 tin Tomatoes or 500g fresh, sliced

Onion by weight to match Tomatoes, thinly sliced

1.5 tsp Chilli

2 tsp Salt

This is appreciably less Oil than appears in Hector’s Recipes.

The Oil was heated the Lamb added and partly browned. A Restaurateur in Glasgow told me once that in Punjabi Cuisine the Meat is not browned, so a different start.

For a change I used Fresh Tomatoes and was amazed at how much liquid there was in the pot. Finely chopped Onions is what I was taught, large slices was another departure from the norm. I used a Red Onion as two White Onions would have spoiled the balance of Tomato and Onion.

On a low gas, the mixture was covered and cooked for thirty minutes. At the halfway mark the now Mash was stirred. It was beginning to look like – Curry – but was still wetter than anything I would normally prepare. I turned off the heat whilst I attended to the Bread, I wanted the Mash to cool a bit before adding the Yoghurt else it may curdle.

Ingredients – Part 3:

2 tbsp Greek Yoghurt

2 tsp Coriander

0.5 tsp Turmeric

1 tsp Cumin Seeds – crushed

0.75 tsp coarse Black Pepper

0.25 tsp Garam Masala

2 Green Chillies – slit lengthwise

3 cm Ginger Strips

2 tbsp Chopped Fresh Coriander

It was Yoghurt time. The Coriander, Turmeric, Cumin Seeds and Black Pepper were stirred into the Yoghurt. The Quantities of each of these I regard as quite minimal, only two Chillies also, this was never going to be a Karahi Gosht that would blow one’s head off. I had a very Creamy looking Wet Curry.

Forty five minutes more cooking followed with the lid of the pot half on. This reduced the liquid and allowed the Lamb to cook properly. I have seen too many TV shows etc. where it is suggested that Lamb can be cooked in just over half an hour, it cannot. I had also left the Lamb as it was cut at KRK, normally I would halve each piece. This was another test for this Recipe.

After forty five minutes the Masala was suitably reduced, time to stir in the chopped Coriander Leaves. All things being equal, the Mughlai Karahi Gosht was ready to serve, but Hector was still busy on the other side of the cooker.

For the Garnish:

2 tbsp Coriander Leaves – chopped

Ginger Strips

Sliced Large Green Chillies

The result was a suitably Dry Karahi. I took a Soupçon: with fewer Ingredients both in terms of Quantity and Range this was surprisingly full of Flavour. The Kick was no more than Moderate, as expected.

Paratha

Bread has made very few appearances in Hector’s Home Cooking. Shop bought Bread tends to disappoint, ASDA’s Garlic and Tomato Flatbread being the exception. A Restaurateur suggested to Hector recently that when Restaurant Bread disappoints it is often down to the fact that it has been bought in the local supermarket.

Parveen showed how easy it was to make a Chapatti, Dr. Alasdair gave Hector a Chapatti Recipe on a visit to Carnoustie. Hector make Bread, aye right. At the start of the week Hector had planned Chapattis, Wholemeal Chapatti Flour was purchased. A Tawa Pan was ordered online, instead a huge Stockpot arrived. Can I keep it? When Paratha became fixed in the mind so White Chapatti Flour was sought, only Medium Chapatti Flour was sourced.

A Paratha should be Light, Soft, Layered, Flaky and preferably show signs of – The Swirl. How the latter is achieved has remained a mystery until this week. Hector now knows, the challenge was to achieve it. At the outset there was a single thought that prevailed, if successful, just how intolerant, nay insufferable is Hector going to be in Restaurants which serve up anything less?

Ingredients:

3 cups Flour

2 tsp Salt

1 Egg

Water (who knows how much?)

Ghee

One has to mix the Ingredients then – knead. We have all seen it done. Somehow a Chef/Baker is able to transform these simple, inexpensive Ingredients, into Dough. I went from too dry a mixture with everything sticking to everything else, to visibly too much Water. More Flour on the worktop, Doh! It worked, however, the Flour at this point revealed its Wholemeal properties. Hector had his heart set on the White Paratha.

Leave covered with cling film for 30 minutes – said the Video Source. This gave time to return the attention to the Masala.

When the Dough was removed from the fridge it had much more cohesion and was pliable. Things were looking good. The Dough was cut into four balls, too large, five was better.

How does one use a rolling pin to make a – Round? I tried Parveen’s – Chapatti Clap – to make the Dough stretch in my hands, this had moderate success. The results were somewhere between Round, Rectangular and Random. Hector was undaunted.

The Swirl, this has puzzled for years. The best Paratha shows a spiral as well as the Layering etc. A layer of Ghee was spread across the rolled out Dough, and a sprinkling of the Flour added also. The next part is genius.

A radius was cut to the centre of each – Round. Working anticlockwise, the Dough was folded in about 1cm sectors, over and over, all the way around. On picking it up, there was the conception of – The Swirl. As best I could, the edges were pulled apart to create a sort of – Rose Petal – effect. At this point I felt there was far too much Ghee. The elongated mass of Dough was plonked on the worktop Ghee-side down. The top was then pressed down to permit the formation of another Dough-ball. The task became easier each time, perhaps even more time in the fridge would have helped, or was it the Dough returning to room temperature? Five were created, covered in cling-film, and once again placed in the fridge, this time for fifteen minutes.

I expected to make two Parathas, three at most, the extra Dough could then have been frozen. Not knowing how well the next part would go I decided to keep everything out.

Daal Makhani

Having stuck rigorously, well nearly, to the Recipe for the Karahi Gosht, this would only provide Meat and Masala. The packet of Daal Makhani has been in the cupboard for too long, this may well have turned out to be the only edible part of tonight’s meal.

Five minutes, boil in the bag, Simples.

*

Paratha – The Cooking

Two Dough-balls were rolled out to create as near a – Round – as Hector was ever going to get. The frying pan was heated to a medium heat. Who has my Tawa?

The Dough was placed in the dry frying pan, a layer of Ghee was spread over the over top side, then immediately turned, again the top was covered in Ghee. There was plenty of Ghee in the frying pan, large blisters grew in the Dough, was this the revelation of layering? There was no sign of – The Swirl – when I initially placed the Dough in the frying pan. Behold, there was most certainly signs of – Curves – emerging on the surface of the almost-Paratha. I turned it over and over again, when the Bread became Brown on both sides, I removed it from the frying pan.

I had a Paratha, it was decidedly greasy, cue the kitchen towel.

A second was made in the now very Buttery frying pan. Serve, eat immediately.

Had I chosen to precook them, I could have dried them off,  reheated later in the dry pan then add some normal Butter, placed centrally, at the time of serving to reintroduce the glistening.

The Bill

A bag of Flour cost £1.99. From this I could have made more than fifty Parathas. OK, there’s the Eggs and the Ghee, but Paratha still only cost pennies to make. We are being ripped off in Restaurants.

Friday Night Curry

For most, the working week was over, not Marg. The alarm will ring at 05.50 tomorrow, Marg will be off to inspect the playing fields.

Mughlai Karahi Gosht, Daal Makhani and Paratha

The Karahi Gosht had become even drier in the couple of hours it had sat in the pot. The Masala was as Thick as I desire. The Spice Level was well within acceptable parameters, the extra slices of Chillies were required, for Hector. Two features of the Flavour astonished. I know how much Salt went in, four teaspoons, this was a Well Seasoned Curry, ah, the Bread was helping too. Citrus, from where was this coming? No Lemon Juice or Tamarind had been added as I normally would, this was quite remarkable. Hector was happy with the simplicity of Flavours. Marg would deliver her verdict later.

The Paratha had dried quite a bit by the time it reached the table. It was Soft, Layered, Flaky, very Flaky, and showing a sense of something – Curved – in places. The edges felt a bit Crispy initially, again this subsided. Hector rarely eats a whole Paratha, Marg and Hector both ate a Paratha each. Success? Absolutely!

Next time, slightly less Salt, much less Ghee, and further research this evening suggests that Plain Flour may achieve the White Paratha I seek.

Henceforth there shall be Bread served with Curry at Hector’s House. Marg may well prefer a Chapatti as his her wont. Simples, in comparison, and a good way to use up the Wholemeal Chapatti Flour.

The Daal Makhani added the required Diversity, Marg didn’t take much of it, she was too busy devouring the Karahi Gosht. I am tempted to try making a Daal for the first time also, Parveen has much to answer for, though nothing prepared today was hers.

Usually Marg complains about the Spice Level as soon as she starts to eat any Curry, not tonight. Also, I managed to give her only a couple of Bones.

Marg’s verdict:

Minimal sauce, just as Hector likes it. Tender meat, strong flavours with a good kick of Ginger and Coriander. The home-made Paratha was a lovely bonus, and the Daal added a different flavour to the sauce. A great treat for a Friday. Too much washing up.

Marg should have been in the kitchen around 16.00.

The Aftermath

It is time to reveal the Source of today’s creations:

Mughlai Karahi Gosht

http://maunikagowardhan.co.uk/cook-in-a-curry/mughlai-karahi-gosht-slow-cooked-lamb-curry-with-tomatoes-garlic-and-garam-masala/

Thank you, Maunika Gowardhan

Paratha

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8BSGywfRMs

Maybe Butter Chicken next time.

Chicken Tikka tell me what’s wrong…

Hector has been watching Parveen’s Indian Kitchen for the last few weeks, useful lessons have been learned. Watch this space for future Blogs on an attempt to make Paratha, and even Butter Chicken which remains Marg’s favourite Curry.

Tandoori, Tikka what’s the difference? Apparently it is simply down to whether the Meat has been skewered or not, the latter being regarded as Tikka. Hector has a fundamental problem, no Tandoor. The Kaiserhoff Gas Hob Tandoor purchased a few years ago has long since been binned. It steamed the Meat and did not create the recognisable Burnt Tandoori Flavours. According to Parveen, a hot oven can create worthy results.

Chicken Thighs have proven to be the best cut of this bird which Hector has always maintained cannot be marinaded. Yesterday, the following were combined to create the required marinade:

200ml Greek Yoghurt

6 cloves of Garlic, grated

3 tsp Tandoori Powder

1 tsp Chilli Flakes

2 tsp Salt

Lemon Juice

The Chicken Thighs were scored, mixed in, then left overnight in the fridge. No Red Food Dye was used, it’s disgusting.

The oven was preheated to 240ºC, the hottest the oven has ever been set to in Hector’s House. Two baking trays were oiled to prevent sticking. Twenty minutes was the given cooking time, in went the Chicken Thighs smothered in the marinade.

Parveen also demonstrated the creation of an Indian Coleslaw. Once upon a time, Marg was let loose in the kitchen and produced what – she called Coleslaw.

That’s not Coleslaw I told her, that chopped Carrots and Cabbage in Mayonnaise. Everything was chunkier than everything else. Never again, until today. Roughly cut Cabbage and Red Onion were prepared then added to a mix of the following:

Half a small bowl of Mayonnaise, plus half of Greek Yoghurt

1 tsp Salt

1 tsp Pepper

1 tsp Turmeric

1 tsp Nigella Seeds

Once the Cabbage and Onions were stirred in, 2 tsp Tamarind was mixed in, only then was the shredded Carrot added. The – Coleslaw – looked too – Dry. Instinct suggested Vinegar was required, in went some Salad Cream, much better.

ASDA’s Tomato and Garlic Flatbread has been enjoyed recently, Marg had yet to experience it. The Flatbread went into the very hot oven for the final six minutes.

Tandoori Chicken

This had the hoped for burnt extremities and appeared to be cooked through. Fresh Coriander was added as a Garnish.

The first mouthful was a revelation – Wow! This was Tandoori Chicken, as good as anything Hector has encountered. The Flavours were up to expectations, the Seasoning clearly helped, the Lemon Juice had worked its magic.  To what extent the Marinade was true or peripheral is still up for discussion.  Marg took two Chicken Thighs and was well impressed, so much so that having declared she had finished, she took a piece of the remaining Thigh, then another, and another. Success.

Next time I may skewer the Meat, despite oiling the baking tray as instructed, there was a too sticky residue. I will also up the Lemon Juice, I don’t think one can have too much.

The Flatbread remained tasty and soft and was pretty much devoured, another success.

The Coleslaw was decidedly different from anything previously encountered wearing that moniker. It was OK, next time I would properly shred the Vegetables as in American-style Coleslaw.

According to Parveen’s TV programme, Tandoori Chicken is the required Meat for Butter Chicken, this will be appearing soon.