Curry Recipes Online

British Indian Restaurant Recipe Requests => British Indian Restaurant Recipe Requests => Topic started by: tripper on September 13, 2006, 01:12 PM

Title: Chicken Delhi, know oif it or how to cook it
Post by: tripper on September 13, 2006, 01:12 PM
Hello all,
Has anyone heard of a chicken Delhi, They used to serve it in my local Curry house but since changing chefs they have taken it off the menu. It used to be one of the most popular dishes they had but now they don't do it anymore, must be something to do with the Chef taking his secret recipe away with him.

The dish itself was similar consistency as a korma, quite light in colour and creamy. It had a lot of Garlic in it which was cut into thin waffers from the clove. It also contained whole green chillis and had quite a kick to it :o.
I seem to remember it had  a sweat taste to it and I am sure it had a coconut there but am not certain. Its been a while since I have had it and would really like to get my hands on a recipe.
I presume the sauce had some sort of cream in it.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks Tripper ;)




Title: Re: Chicken Delhi, know oif it or how to cook it
Post by: Curry King on September 13, 2006, 05:22 PM
Hi Tripper,

I had a quick look round and it seems like a Chicken Delhi is an authentic dish similar to a korma with rice:

http://www.hungrymoose.com/recipes/chicken_delhi.html (http://www.hungrymoose.com/recipes/chicken_delhi.html)

http://www.recipezaar.com/170698 (http://www.recipezaar.com/170698)

The chef that made it may have come up with a BIR version of his own based on the orginal recipe.  You could just try having a stab at recreating it yourself as you know some of the ingredients, theres a restaurant near me that does a perfect Korai and i'm sure thats a chefs special as everywhere else i've had one doesn't come close!
Title: Re: Chicken Delhi, know oif it or how to cook it
Post by: Ashes on September 13, 2006, 07:14 PM
Found this, but it doesnt sound half as interesting as your description Tripper. Sounds like the chef has done his own variation of a traditional dish. This is a shame as Chicken Deli restaurant styley sounds awesome.

http://www.recipezaar.com/170698 (http://www.recipezaar.com/170698)

The half and half refers to half milk + half cream, which is also as it happens used in (some) indian teas (recent thread). As H+H sounds traditional it wouldnt surprise me to find it in BIR recipes too. Probably korma type curries.

Regards Ashes
Title: Re: Chicken Delhi, know oif it or how to cook it
Post by: tripper on September 14, 2006, 07:10 AM
Thanks guys,

I am guessing maybe that it was the chefs own dish and maybe he came from Delhi or his family did... not sure?

I think I will start off by perfecting my korma sauce, being a lover of hoter curries its not something I have ever made. I am sure that because it was a BIR dish that they had to use the same as a korma base to save time.
The chicken was red so they must have marinated them in Tikka spices before hand.

I think my plan will be marinate the chicken with some spices and fry them up in the tikka base. Then remove from the pan.
Then go ahead and fry all the chillis and garlic in a with some spices( not too sure what yet...any suggestions). Add a small ammount of the korma sauce so it absorbs the heat then add the rest of the korma sauce along with the chicken. leave the chicken to cook through.
Things to note:
 The tikka on the chicken never actually coloured the sauce. The sauce stayed ceamy white. Also there were no whole onions in the dish and also no peppers tomatoes etc.
The only whole things were the chillis, garlic waffers, and the tikka chicken along with the creamy sauce. I am also sure that I could feel the texture of the coconut in there, is that something you would get from the korma base.
Do you think that frying the chillis with a bit of the Korma sauce will be enough to give the dish a big kick or do you thik it would something more need more.
I think I'll have to try it out on my mates and see what they think as they have had it quite a few times from the BIR, they were also sad to see it go.

Any suggestions please, on other ways I can go about it.
Thanks
Tripper  :-\
Title: Re: Chicken Delhi, know oif it or how to cook it
Post by: Yellow Fingers on September 14, 2006, 09:38 AM
The sauce stayed ceamy white...

Any suggestions please, on other ways I can go about it.


I can make a suggestion, but it's more of a hindrance than a help. If you try to make the curry with a base sauce as is usual for restaurant curries, it's not going to turn out creamy white in colour. All of the base sauces are universally brown to a lesser or greater degree, which means the final dish always ends up a shade of brown unless food colouring is used.

This suggests that the usual base sauce isn't used in this one. There was a post, which I can't find, that described a korma paste which I would think would be likely to be used in this one.

YF
Title: Re: Chicken Delhi, know oif it or how to cook it
Post by: tripper on September 14, 2006, 10:02 AM
If you look at some of the recipes for a korma a few use the base in recipe along with the a lot of cream and h and h. I know though when i have seen a korma they are most of the time pale in colour. I think a ladle or half a ladle is what i have seen.
I'll have to look at a few recipes.
Title: Re: Chicken Delhi, know oif it or how to cook it
Post by: tripper on September 14, 2006, 10:12 AM
This is a korma recipe I have found, this contains the base sauce and other ingrediants which are in the Delhi. I'll give this a go but try and pep it upa  :o bit with the chillis and chickin tikka. Maybe the colour was a bit off yellow and I can't remember.

Thanks for dave3310 for the recipe.  :) from an old post.



Here's one to try......

Here?s a recipe for Chicken Korma.... Personally I?m not a korma fan, but everyone I cook it for
reckons it?s spot on...
Serves One



4 tablespoons Veg Oil
1 clove Garlic (crushed and chopped)
1 teaspoon Spice Mix
3 pinches Salt
1 tablespoon sugar
4 tablespoons Base Sauce
1 tablespoon Coconut Powder
1 tablespoon Ground Almonds
1 portion Chicken (pre cooked)
4 tablespoons Single Cream
0.5 teaspoon Turmeric
Fresh Coriander



1.  Heat oil then add garlic.  When sizzling well add spice mix, salt and sugar.

2.  Stir fry for a few seconds before adding base sauce.

3.  Keep stirring and add the coconut and ground almonds.

4.  Add the cooked chicken and simmer for 2 minutes.

5.  Add the single cream and turmeric and stir well.

6.  When chicken is thoroughly heated through add chopped coriander and serve.
Title: Re: Chicken Delhi, know oif it or how to cook it
Post by: CurryCanuck on September 15, 2006, 03:54 AM
The format of this recipe seems to be more pseudo-authentic than BIR...but thats OK...it's a good un !
But just as an addendum...which spice mix and which base sauce would you suggest ? The two former would influence this dish immensely . Attention to detail is imperative when attempting to re-create " the taste " .

CC
Title: Re: Chicken Delhi, know oif it or how to cook it
Post by: tripper on September 19, 2006, 04:19 PM
I would use the spice mix and base that dave3310 used for his recipe as a starter and then work from there. He said that he had posted it previously.
Not too sure at what point to slip those green chillis in the though for maximum effect? I think maybe after I have added the base sauce just before adding the almonds and coconut...any suggestions. I suppose the secret is trying to get as much heat in as possible.

Managed to pick myself up a really good pestle and mortar from the charity shop for only ?3, had a look in kitchen shop and they were more like ?30, really chuffed with that!!

I'll let you know how I get on with the recipe.
Cheers
Tripp ;)
Title: Re: Chicken Delhi, know oif it or how to cook it
Post by: CurryCanuck on September 19, 2006, 05:29 PM
Cheers  :)
Title: Re: Chicken Delhi, know oif it or how to cook it
Post by: tripper on September 21, 2006, 07:30 AM
Back on the menu at last!!!

They have put the Delhi back on the menu now at the takeaway but it is nowhere near as nice as it was originally. It seems to have lost its pale appearance and darkened off somewhat to a browny red colour. Not nearly as many chilli's in it and not as much garlic in it. They must have got the new chef to try and come up with something that resembled it, as it was so popular,  which is his variation of the dish. Don't get me wrong it was still a very good dish just not on par and as unusual as the original.
I looked in the description and it was Pistachios nuts and garlic, must have something to do with the nice flavour. Never tried pistachios nuts in curry but have got loads of them at home so will give it a whirl. I will replace them instead of the almonds.
Anyway I am still going to try and recreate the Original Delhi myself. I am making a curry for the lads at work next week so will make it Monday daytime and bring it in for some food whilst on the night shift.
I'll let you know how it goes down and might even take a few pics.
Cheers
Tripp
Title: Re: Chicken Delhi, know oif it or how to cook it
Post by: Ashes on September 21, 2006, 04:07 PM
tripper, tell the chef you have really missed the Chicken Delhi and that you have tried to recreate it at home but cant.. basically ask for the recipe. He probably wont give out any secrets, but you can atleast get an ingredience list.

Happy hunting! /Ashes
Title: Re: Chicken Delhi, know oif it or how to cook it
Post by: parker21 on September 22, 2006, 10:14 AM
hi g/gls
(There was a post, which I can't find, that described a korma paste which I would think would be likely to be used in this one.)
 type in search 3 pot method and you should find it woodpecker posted the recipes for red masala and korma masala  what a good lad ;)
sorry this must have been posted when we changed to the new format. tikka tandoori mix posted by ifindforu(terry) second to last post he gives a short cut for korma paste masala very good have used it myself. i have copies of the red masala and korma masala will post it again ;D

regards
gary
Title: Re: Chicken Delhi, know oif it or how to cook it
Post by: Yellow Fingers on September 22, 2006, 04:10 PM

Managed to pick myself up a really good pestle and mortar from the charity shop for only ?3, had a look in kitchen shop and they were more like ?30, really chuffed with that!!


I'd be a bit careful with pestle and mortars of unknown origin. I have a large domestic P&M in which I grind all manner of hugely toxic substances. I really wouldn't want to be the one to try a meal cooked using ingredients ground in it, even after a good wash. Just a thought.

YF
Title: Re: Chicken Delhi, know oif it or how to cook it
Post by: CurryCanuck on September 23, 2006, 05:12 AM
Put it through the dishwasher on the sanitize cycle....if in doubt ,  throw it out ! Better to be safe than sorry !  ;)
Title: Re: Chicken Delhi, know oif it or how to cook it
Post by: DARTHPHALL on September 23, 2006, 10:06 AM
Or use it as a large unusual mug for Coffee  ;D
Title: Re: Chicken Delhi, know oif it or how to cook it
Post by: tripper on September 23, 2006, 11:43 AM



I'd be a bit careful with pestle and mortars of unknown origin. I have a large domestic P&M in which I grind all manner of hugely toxic substances. I really wouldn't want to be the one to try a meal cooked using ingredients ground in it, even after a good wash. Just a thought.

YF
[/quote]


I use one at work to crush up a lot of the raw materials we have in to do Melting point tests on, never really thought of any one at home using them for something other than cooking. What sort of toxic stuff would you use at home. We use a range of very toxic Anhydrides and Isocyanates which I really wouldn't want to start putting anywhere near my food( although I am probably immune to them now).
Title: Re: Chicken Delhi, know oif it or how to cook it
Post by: Chilli Prawn on October 11, 2006, 12:28 PM
The sauce stayed ceamy white...

Any suggestions please, on other ways I can go about it.


I can make a suggestion, but it's more of a hindrance than a help. If you try to make the curry with a base sauce as is usual for restaurant curries, it's not going to turn out creamy white in colour. All of the base sauces are universally brown to a lesser or greater degree, which means the final dish always ends up a shade of brown unless food colouring is used.

This suggests that the usual base sauce isn't used in this one. There was a post, which I can't find, that described a korma paste which I would think would be likely to be used in this one.

YF

I was just trawling through the forum and I noted this thread.  Try using my Bargar Onion Base, this is based on Northern India style and is great for making pale sauces like Korma, Kasmiri, Moghul dishes.

CP