Ingredients:
250 grams red lentils
1 large onion
4 Cloves garlic chopped
1 piece thumb sized ginger chopped
1 long dried red chilli
1 tsp tumeric
1 tsp mustard seed
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 large vine tomato
10 chesnut mushrooms (or 3 portabello mushrooms)
Boiling Water
1 tsp salt
Method:
1. Chop half the onion, and place in a pan with the lentils, ginger, garlic, tumeric, red chilli and salt. Cover with boiling water and bring down to a simmer. Cover the pan.
2. When the lentils are cooked, chop the tomato and add to the lentils. Simmer for 5 more mins then remove from the heat.
3. Pour 1 tbls of vegetable or sunflower oil into a frying pan and turn the heat up.
4. Slice the remaining half of the onion, and slice the mushrooms into thin slices.
5. Put the mustard seeds and cumin seeds into the hot oil. They should spit and splutter.
6. After about 30secs add the sliced onion, and fry until browned well. Then add the mushrooms.
7. Fry until the mushroom is soft then pore the whole contents of the frying pan into the dhal, stir, and serve.
Showing posts with label Curry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Curry. Show all posts
Thursday, 25 September 2008
Leftover Chicken Biryani - Mike Gorman
This is my own modification of the traditional Anglo Indian Biryani recipe, that works especially well with leftover roast chicken. I've actually tried it with guinea fowl, after making the pot roast recipe below, and it came out great.
These amount are based on a 4lb chicken that has already fed 2 people.
This recipe will easily feed 4 more from the same chicken.
The basic premise here, is to first, make a broth with the bones and whole spices.
Then make the Green Masala, and fry the leftover cooked chicken in that.
Then fry the rice, in the chicken / green masala.
Then add the broth, and cook till ready.
Ingredients:
Broth:
1 onion roughly chopped
4 cloves garlic roughly chopped
1 piece of thumb sized ginger roughly chopped
1 stick of celery roughly chopped
1 carrot roughly chopped
2 sticks of cassia bark (cinammon)
6 cloves
5 green cardomon pods
10 black peppercorns
2 pints of water
Green Masala / Rice:
10 curry leaves
1 onion finely chopped
4 cloves of garlic finely chopped
1 piece of thumb sized ginger finely chopped or grated
1 small bunch fresh green coriander (about the amount you get for 79p in a supermarket) - finely chopped.
1 tablespoon dried mint
2-4 green chillies
1 tsp tumeric
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp mustard powder
1/4 black pepper
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
leftover chicken
380g rice
2 tablespoons natural yoghurt
1-2 tsp salt (to taste)
1/2 lime (optional)
2 large pots....1 for the broth, one oven proof pot for the biryani.
Method:
1. First remove all the leftover chicken from the bones, and break the bones down into small single pieces.
2. Place all the broth ingredients into a large pot and bring to the boil. Turn down to a simmer and cover the pot.
3. Next, heat 1tbls of sunflower or vegetable oil in the oven proof pot or casserole. Add the curry leaves and fry for about 1 min until they are slightly browned at the edges.
4. Add the onions, garlic and ginger and fry on medium heat until soft.
5. Add the green coriander, mint and green chillies, and continue to fry on a medium heat for about 3-4 minutes.
6. Add the tumeric, ground coriander, cumin, mustard powder and black pepper. Fry for about 1-2 mins, then add the vinegar.
7. When the vinegar has evaporated, add the chicken and fry for 2-3 mins until well coated.
8. Add the rice and fry for another 2-3 mins and stir in the yoghurt. Take the pan off the heat. Pre heat the oven to 180 degrees C.
9. When the broth has had about 45 mins, remove from the heat and pass through a colander to remove the bones / veg etc from the liquid.
10. Pour the liquid into the rice pot, enough so that it covers the rice with about 1/2 inch to spare. If there's not enough liquid, add some hot water. Add the salt, and bring to a simmer.
11. Cover the pot and place in the oven. After 15 mins check to see if all the water has been absorbed. If not place back until this is the case. When all the water has been absorbed, turn off the heat and leave in the oven for a further 15-30 mins. This gives a chance for the rice to absorb all the steam and improves the flavour even more.
12. Before serving, squeeze the lime into the biryani and mix. This goes especially well with Mushroom Dhal (see next recipe)..
These amount are based on a 4lb chicken that has already fed 2 people.
This recipe will easily feed 4 more from the same chicken.
The basic premise here, is to first, make a broth with the bones and whole spices.
Then make the Green Masala, and fry the leftover cooked chicken in that.
Then fry the rice, in the chicken / green masala.
Then add the broth, and cook till ready.
Ingredients:
Broth:
1 onion roughly chopped
4 cloves garlic roughly chopped
1 piece of thumb sized ginger roughly chopped
1 stick of celery roughly chopped
1 carrot roughly chopped
2 sticks of cassia bark (cinammon)
6 cloves
5 green cardomon pods
10 black peppercorns
2 pints of water
Green Masala / Rice:
10 curry leaves
1 onion finely chopped
4 cloves of garlic finely chopped
1 piece of thumb sized ginger finely chopped or grated
1 small bunch fresh green coriander (about the amount you get for 79p in a supermarket) - finely chopped.
1 tablespoon dried mint
2-4 green chillies
1 tsp tumeric
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp mustard powder
1/4 black pepper
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
leftover chicken
380g rice
2 tablespoons natural yoghurt
1-2 tsp salt (to taste)
1/2 lime (optional)
2 large pots....1 for the broth, one oven proof pot for the biryani.
Method:
1. First remove all the leftover chicken from the bones, and break the bones down into small single pieces.
2. Place all the broth ingredients into a large pot and bring to the boil. Turn down to a simmer and cover the pot.
3. Next, heat 1tbls of sunflower or vegetable oil in the oven proof pot or casserole. Add the curry leaves and fry for about 1 min until they are slightly browned at the edges.
4. Add the onions, garlic and ginger and fry on medium heat until soft.
5. Add the green coriander, mint and green chillies, and continue to fry on a medium heat for about 3-4 minutes.
6. Add the tumeric, ground coriander, cumin, mustard powder and black pepper. Fry for about 1-2 mins, then add the vinegar.
7. When the vinegar has evaporated, add the chicken and fry for 2-3 mins until well coated.
8. Add the rice and fry for another 2-3 mins and stir in the yoghurt. Take the pan off the heat. Pre heat the oven to 180 degrees C.
9. When the broth has had about 45 mins, remove from the heat and pass through a colander to remove the bones / veg etc from the liquid.
10. Pour the liquid into the rice pot, enough so that it covers the rice with about 1/2 inch to spare. If there's not enough liquid, add some hot water. Add the salt, and bring to a simmer.
11. Cover the pot and place in the oven. After 15 mins check to see if all the water has been absorbed. If not place back until this is the case. When all the water has been absorbed, turn off the heat and leave in the oven for a further 15-30 mins. This gives a chance for the rice to absorb all the steam and improves the flavour even more.
12. Before serving, squeeze the lime into the biryani and mix. This goes especially well with Mushroom Dhal (see next recipe)..
Monday, 22 September 2008
Restaurant Recommendation - Geeta, London
Geeta, 57 Willesden Lane, London.
By Mike Gorman
Having grown up eating South Indian food, I'm always looking for a restaurant that reminds me of this type of home cooking.
There are a few of these in the Tooting area, since there's a South Indian community there, but the only place I've come across in the rest of London that really fits the bill for me, is Geeta.
The food is unpretentious, with sensible sized portions, incredibly reasonably priced, and very very good indeed.
Some favorites for me are Kerala Fried Lamb, Potato Vadas (sometimes known as bondas), Rasam (a spicy tamarind based soup, which is also known as pepperwater), Kerala Fish Curry, Special Chicken Curry (on the bone, which is a rarity in many indian restaurants), Prawn Madras, Dhal with spinach (an amazing combo), Lemon Rice and Coconut Rice, to name a few.
Also, virtually all of their veg dishes are stunning, and the Masala Dosai is a showpiece of the restaurant, with an incredibly light crisp pancake rolled around some sumptuous potato curry.
One thing that separates Geeta from many of the regular Indian restaurants around (many of which use a North Indian Bangladeshi style of cooking), is that all the dishes are prepared to an individual recipe, rather than the standard practice of having a single base sauce for everything and then adding precooked chicken or lamb to various spice powders and tomato puree in a big wok, which inevitably results in many dishes tasting very similar.
Some of the characteristic ingredients of South Indian food are curry leaves, mustard seeds and coconut, which are used to great effect in many of the dishes at this establishment.
Another thing worth a mention is the discretion of the staff, who are always extremely polite and helpful, but never intrusive or inappropriately over familiar.
By the way, the nearby South Indian restaurant VJ's, is also very good indeed, but in my opinion, Geeta has a more homecooked feel, and is much better value.
Mike Gorman.
By Mike Gorman
Having grown up eating South Indian food, I'm always looking for a restaurant that reminds me of this type of home cooking.
There are a few of these in the Tooting area, since there's a South Indian community there, but the only place I've come across in the rest of London that really fits the bill for me, is Geeta.
The food is unpretentious, with sensible sized portions, incredibly reasonably priced, and very very good indeed.
Some favorites for me are Kerala Fried Lamb, Potato Vadas (sometimes known as bondas), Rasam (a spicy tamarind based soup, which is also known as pepperwater), Kerala Fish Curry, Special Chicken Curry (on the bone, which is a rarity in many indian restaurants), Prawn Madras, Dhal with spinach (an amazing combo), Lemon Rice and Coconut Rice, to name a few.
Also, virtually all of their veg dishes are stunning, and the Masala Dosai is a showpiece of the restaurant, with an incredibly light crisp pancake rolled around some sumptuous potato curry.
One thing that separates Geeta from many of the regular Indian restaurants around (many of which use a North Indian Bangladeshi style of cooking), is that all the dishes are prepared to an individual recipe, rather than the standard practice of having a single base sauce for everything and then adding precooked chicken or lamb to various spice powders and tomato puree in a big wok, which inevitably results in many dishes tasting very similar.
Some of the characteristic ingredients of South Indian food are curry leaves, mustard seeds and coconut, which are used to great effect in many of the dishes at this establishment.
Another thing worth a mention is the discretion of the staff, who are always extremely polite and helpful, but never intrusive or inappropriately over familiar.
By the way, the nearby South Indian restaurant VJ's, is also very good indeed, but in my opinion, Geeta has a more homecooked feel, and is much better value.
Mike Gorman.
Saturday, 20 September 2008
Pepper Mince - Mike Gorman
Ingredients:
1lb of beef mince
2 medium potatoes (preferably maris piper) diced
1 large onion
6 cloves of garlic
1 1.5 inch piece of fresh ginger
4 green chillis
5 curry leaves
6 cherry tomatoes
2 tbsp natural yohurt
¾ tbsp vinegar
½ tsp haldi (tumeric) or saffron
1 tsp crushed black pepper
1tsp salt
1 cup water
Method:
Chop the onion, ginger, garlic and green chillis and fry with the curry leaves until soft. Add the beef mince and fry. When mince is brown, add pepper, salt and haldi or saffron. Fry for a few minutes. Next add the vinegar. After about 1 minute add the water. Simmer for 20 minutes. Then add tomatoes and potatoes and simmer for a further 20 minutes. Stir in the yoghurt and cook for a further 10 minutes. Serve with rice.
1lb of beef mince
2 medium potatoes (preferably maris piper) diced
1 large onion
6 cloves of garlic
1 1.5 inch piece of fresh ginger
4 green chillis
5 curry leaves
6 cherry tomatoes
2 tbsp natural yohurt
¾ tbsp vinegar
½ tsp haldi (tumeric) or saffron
1 tsp crushed black pepper
1tsp salt
1 cup water
Method:
Chop the onion, ginger, garlic and green chillis and fry with the curry leaves until soft. Add the beef mince and fry. When mince is brown, add pepper, salt and haldi or saffron. Fry for a few minutes. Next add the vinegar. After about 1 minute add the water. Simmer for 20 minutes. Then add tomatoes and potatoes and simmer for a further 20 minutes. Stir in the yoghurt and cook for a further 10 minutes. Serve with rice.
Anglo Indian Lamb Fry - Mike Gorman
Ingredients:
Paste:
4 tsp ground coriander
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp tumeric
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp black pepper
1-2 tbs vinegar
For the fry:
500g cubed lamb (shoulder or leg)
2 pints water
1 tbs groundnut, sunflower or vegetable oil (not olive oil)
1tsp black mustard seeds
4 cardamon seeds
2 pieces cassia bark or cinnamon (about 1 inch long each)
5-6 cloves
8-10 curry leaves
2 medium onions
4-5 garlic cloves
1 piece of ginger (1-2 inches)
2 green chillies (or more if required)
1-2 tsp salt (to taste)
some chopped fresh green coriander
1/2 lime (optional)
Method:
First place the lamb in a pan with the water, bring to the boil and simmer for 1/2 hour on low.
Meanwhile, chop the onions, garlic, ginger and green chillies.
Then, place the spices for the paste in a large bowl, and blend with the vinegar until a smooth paste is achieved (using more or less vinegar as necessary).
When the lamb has simmered for 1/2 hour, remove from the pan with a slotted spoon (reserving the water) and place in the spice paste.
Mix well.
(You can do all this in advance, since the longer the lamb sits in the paste the better, but it'll still be nice if cooked straight away.)
When you are ready, heat the oil in a pan until hot.
Add the whole spices (mustard seeds, cardamon, cinnamon, cloves) and the curry leaves.
The pan will splutter and spit.
When the curry leaves are slightly brown (probably 1/2 minute) add the onions, garlic, ginger and green chillies.
Fry until the onion is soft, brown and translucent.
Add the Lamb to the pan with and remaining spice paste from the bowl.
Fry until the lamb is brown.
Add the salt.
Add 1-2 ladles of the water that the lamb was boiled in and simmer gently (open not covered), until all the water has evaporated.
(You can add more of the water if you require the lamb to be tenderer and simmer again until dry.)
Before serving, add the green coriander and lime juice if required.
Serve with rice or chappatis
Paste:
4 tsp ground coriander
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp tumeric
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp black pepper
1-2 tbs vinegar
For the fry:
500g cubed lamb (shoulder or leg)
2 pints water
1 tbs groundnut, sunflower or vegetable oil (not olive oil)
1tsp black mustard seeds
4 cardamon seeds
2 pieces cassia bark or cinnamon (about 1 inch long each)
5-6 cloves
8-10 curry leaves
2 medium onions
4-5 garlic cloves
1 piece of ginger (1-2 inches)
2 green chillies (or more if required)
1-2 tsp salt (to taste)
some chopped fresh green coriander
1/2 lime (optional)
Method:
First place the lamb in a pan with the water, bring to the boil and simmer for 1/2 hour on low.
Meanwhile, chop the onions, garlic, ginger and green chillies.
Then, place the spices for the paste in a large bowl, and blend with the vinegar until a smooth paste is achieved (using more or less vinegar as necessary).
When the lamb has simmered for 1/2 hour, remove from the pan with a slotted spoon (reserving the water) and place in the spice paste.
Mix well.
(You can do all this in advance, since the longer the lamb sits in the paste the better, but it'll still be nice if cooked straight away.)
When you are ready, heat the oil in a pan until hot.
Add the whole spices (mustard seeds, cardamon, cinnamon, cloves) and the curry leaves.
The pan will splutter and spit.
When the curry leaves are slightly brown (probably 1/2 minute) add the onions, garlic, ginger and green chillies.
Fry until the onion is soft, brown and translucent.
Add the Lamb to the pan with and remaining spice paste from the bowl.
Fry until the lamb is brown.
Add the salt.
Add 1-2 ladles of the water that the lamb was boiled in and simmer gently (open not covered), until all the water has evaporated.
(You can add more of the water if you require the lamb to be tenderer and simmer again until dry.)
Before serving, add the green coriander and lime juice if required.
Serve with rice or chappatis
Kerala Lamb - Julian Crampton
Ingredients:
For paste:
3 tblsp coriander seeds
1 tblsp fennel seeds
1tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp black peppercorns
1 tsp cloves
2 inch cinnamon stick
6 green cardamoms
4 whole dried red chilies (deseeded if required)
6 cloves of garlic
2-inch piece ginger
1tsp turmeric
For curry:
2 lbs lamb cubed (neck or shoulder).
1 tsp mustard seeds.
20 Curry leaves.
2 onions sliced (not chopped).
1 tsp salt .
2 green chilies sliced.
1/2 bunch fresh coriander leaves.
3 tblsp coconut milk.
Method:
Heat a frying pan dry (no oil).
Dry Roast seeds and chilies in dry pan for few seconds.
Grind in pestle and mortar.
Soften ginger in hot oil, then add garlic and turmeric.
Add this to ground spices to make paste with a little water if required.
Heat 2 tblsps oil in a large pan.
Fry mustard seeds for a few seconds in hot oil until they start to pop.
Add curry leaves then onions and fry until brown.
Add paste and fry for 2 mins.
Add lamb fry for 5 mins.
Add enough water to just submerge the lamb.
Cover pan and simmer, for 2 hrs.
Remove lid to reduce liquid for 15 mins or until consistency thickens.
Add sliced green chili, fresh coriander and coconut milk.
Serve with chapattis or plain rice.
For paste:
3 tblsp coriander seeds
1 tblsp fennel seeds
1tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp black peppercorns
1 tsp cloves
2 inch cinnamon stick
6 green cardamoms
4 whole dried red chilies (deseeded if required)
6 cloves of garlic
2-inch piece ginger
1tsp turmeric
For curry:
2 lbs lamb cubed (neck or shoulder).
1 tsp mustard seeds.
20 Curry leaves.
2 onions sliced (not chopped).
1 tsp salt .
2 green chilies sliced.
1/2 bunch fresh coriander leaves.
3 tblsp coconut milk.
Method:
Heat a frying pan dry (no oil).
Dry Roast seeds and chilies in dry pan for few seconds.
Grind in pestle and mortar.
Soften ginger in hot oil, then add garlic and turmeric.
Add this to ground spices to make paste with a little water if required.
Heat 2 tblsps oil in a large pan.
Fry mustard seeds for a few seconds in hot oil until they start to pop.
Add curry leaves then onions and fry until brown.
Add paste and fry for 2 mins.
Add lamb fry for 5 mins.
Add enough water to just submerge the lamb.
Cover pan and simmer, for 2 hrs.
Remove lid to reduce liquid for 15 mins or until consistency thickens.
Add sliced green chili, fresh coriander and coconut milk.
Serve with chapattis or plain rice.
Fish Curry - Tania Rosato
Ingredients:
Fish:
2 large pcs of boneless and skinless cod or monkfish tails.
For the Masala:
1/2 tin of coconut milk
4 very ripe large tomatoes
1 large onion (chopped)
2 cloves of garlic (chopped)
1/2 inch of fresh ginger (chopped)
1/2 bunch of fresh coriander
1/2 cup of fresh lime juice
1 tsp of haldi
1 tsp of chilli powder (optional)
1 fresh green chilli (optional)
salt and pepper.
Method:
Fry the fish on each side in a little oil and haldi then place in an ovenproof dish.
Meanwhile blend all the masala ingredients in a blender.
Pour over fish and place in a preheated oven. Cook for 20 min or until fish is cooked. Sprinkle with a little fresh coriander and serve with basamati rice.
You can try an alternative with chicken pcs.
Try marinading the chicken overnight in the masala then drain and fry the chicken on each side.
Place in an ovenproof dish and cover with the remaining masala.
Cook in the oven for 40 mins at 180 degrees C.
Fish:
2 large pcs of boneless and skinless cod or monkfish tails.
For the Masala:
1/2 tin of coconut milk
4 very ripe large tomatoes
1 large onion (chopped)
2 cloves of garlic (chopped)
1/2 inch of fresh ginger (chopped)
1/2 bunch of fresh coriander
1/2 cup of fresh lime juice
1 tsp of haldi
1 tsp of chilli powder (optional)
1 fresh green chilli (optional)
salt and pepper.
Method:
Fry the fish on each side in a little oil and haldi then place in an ovenproof dish.
Meanwhile blend all the masala ingredients in a blender.
Pour over fish and place in a preheated oven. Cook for 20 min or until fish is cooked. Sprinkle with a little fresh coriander and serve with basamati rice.
You can try an alternative with chicken pcs.
Try marinading the chicken overnight in the masala then drain and fry the chicken on each side.
Place in an ovenproof dish and cover with the remaining masala.
Cook in the oven for 40 mins at 180 degrees C.
Chicken Biryani (My Mother's recipe) - Mike Gorman
Ingredients:
For The Broth:
2 lbs chicken on the bone
2 pints water
2 or 3 bay leaves
1 onion
1/4-1/2 tsp haldi (tumeric)
1 inch piece of ginger
2 cloves garlic
3-4 cinnamon sticks
1/4-1/2 tsp ground black pepper
4-6 cloves
1tsp salt
1 stock cube (optional)
For The Rice:
1 1/2 lbs rice
6 tblsps oil
natural yoghurt
2-3 onions
1 1/2 ozs garlic
1 1/2 ozs ginger
3-6 green chillies
1 tspn dried mint
1/2 bunch fresh green coriander
1 oz coconut
1/4 tsp haldi
1/4 tsp cinnamon powder
1/4 tsp pepper
8 cloves
2 black cardamons
Method:
Make the broth by boiling water with broth ingredients for 30-40 mins.
Make the "Green Masala" by frying the chopped onions, ginger, garlic, haldi, cinnamon, pepper, cloves, cardamons, coriander, chillies and mint together in the oil. Remove the meat from the broth and fry in the "Green Masala".
Add the rice (which should have been soaked in cold water for half an hour previously) and fry in the "Green Masala" with the meat.
Add enouph broth to 1/2 cook the rice.
Add rest of broth and place in 180 degrees C oven, to dry off and finish cooking.
10 mins before rice is fully dried off, stir in 2-4 tablespoons of natural yoghurt.
Squeeze 1/2 lemon in before serving (optional).
Can be served with dhal, or on its own, or even with another curry.
For The Broth:
2 lbs chicken on the bone
2 pints water
2 or 3 bay leaves
1 onion
1/4-1/2 tsp haldi (tumeric)
1 inch piece of ginger
2 cloves garlic
3-4 cinnamon sticks
1/4-1/2 tsp ground black pepper
4-6 cloves
1tsp salt
1 stock cube (optional)
For The Rice:
1 1/2 lbs rice
6 tblsps oil
natural yoghurt
2-3 onions
1 1/2 ozs garlic
1 1/2 ozs ginger
3-6 green chillies
1 tspn dried mint
1/2 bunch fresh green coriander
1 oz coconut
1/4 tsp haldi
1/4 tsp cinnamon powder
1/4 tsp pepper
8 cloves
2 black cardamons
Method:
Make the broth by boiling water with broth ingredients for 30-40 mins.
Make the "Green Masala" by frying the chopped onions, ginger, garlic, haldi, cinnamon, pepper, cloves, cardamons, coriander, chillies and mint together in the oil. Remove the meat from the broth and fry in the "Green Masala".
Add the rice (which should have been soaked in cold water for half an hour previously) and fry in the "Green Masala" with the meat.
Add enouph broth to 1/2 cook the rice.
Add rest of broth and place in 180 degrees C oven, to dry off and finish cooking.
10 mins before rice is fully dried off, stir in 2-4 tablespoons of natural yoghurt.
Squeeze 1/2 lemon in before serving (optional).
Can be served with dhal, or on its own, or even with another curry.
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