Curry Recipes Online
Indian Restaurant Reviews => Highly Recommended British Indian Restaurants => Topic started by: DalPuri on September 29, 2013, 11:06 AM
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Ordered a large meal for my sisters birthday last week from Sam's TA.
Everyone was very happy and said their curries were delicious and i have to say this was one of the better curries ive had in many years.
Best curry of the night for me was the Shahee Mosala, good flavour and depth from the keema with huge pieces of chicken tikka.
Other curries ordered and tasted were, Sag gosht, Pasanda, Darjeeling, Lamb korai, Aloo gobi and Niramish.
All the curries were full to the brim and considering the prices, make this TA excellent value for money.
Rice and breads were good (not stodgy like in the pilau video chris uploaded ;)) But,, they forgot to add a portion of onion bhajis. >:(
Now even though i would go back, there was a very odd flavour coming through in the curries that i didnt like at all. It was a Very sweet medicinal flavour and quite overpowering.
Most notable in the Pasanda and the Korai, both of which have been videoed and uploaded by Chris.
Having watched these a couple of times each, i am wondering what this flavour could be? A different variety of Tej patta or cassia perhaps?, a handful of cloves? :-\ But in the videos, these spices arent added directly to the two curries, so i'm guessing that there must be whole spices added to either the gravy or the spiced oil.
Whatever spice/spices were added was too much! Will have to wait for the ebook to find out. ;)
The TA itself is tiny! :P It was very busy with 6 or 7 guys rushing about all with a smile on their face and jokes flying around. A very nice bunch of guys.
I can understand why Chris decided to film in there because you can see everything happening. Standing at the counter, that first burner you see in all the videos is literally 3 foot away!! (Some of the ingredient containers are slightly obscured by the counter without leaning forward, thats how close you are to everything.)
I could feel the heat on my face from the flaming pan and instantly shifted my head back the first time it happened. ;D
All in all, very good curries at great prices from a bunch of friendly guys.
Cheers, Frank. :)
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It's good to get a first hand account to vouch for the quality of the place. No doubt once the recipes are fully known you can take a view on whether you want to adjust to reduce the flavour you found too strong for your liking.
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there was a very odd flavour coming through in the curries that i didnt like at all. It was a Very sweet medicinal flavour and quite overpowering.
The first thing that comes to my mind when anyone says medicinal in relation to curries is black cardamom which has a very medicinal taste to it if used in excess.
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Cloves can have a medicinal taste in great quantity
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there was a very odd flavour coming through in the curries that i didnt like at all. It was a Very sweet medicinal flavour and quite overpowering.
The first thing that comes to my mind when anyone says medicinal in relation to curries is black cardamom which has a very medicinal taste to it if used in excess.
I dont think it was black cardamom SS, i love them ;D
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could garam masala account for the taste?
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Star Anise ?
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Perhaps carom/ajwain? Contains thymol. As in pakoras, baltis, and Vick's vaporub.
Rob :)
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Was Chris there?
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could garam masala account for the taste?
Definitely not a standard GM. amchoor maybe?
Star Anise ?
Possible? but dont think so. I wish i had some here now to keep tasting, it might come to me with some suggestions. Its hard to describe. I'd say it had a sourness as well or even bad coconut but without a coconut flavour.
I'm sure its a hard spice though. I even chewed on the tej and cassia (from the shahee mosala)the next day to see if they were a different species. :D
No point in guessing really, will have to wait for the ebook. ::)
Perhaps carom/ajwain? Contains thymol. As in pakoras, baltis, and Vick's vaporub.
Rob :)
No, not ajwain too musty. i like that spice.
Was Chris there?
Just me and me sister.
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A good review Frank and very timely indeed. It will certainly lend credance to Sam's cheffing or cook's skills, depending on which argument one agrees with, and also to all the info that has been passed on through the videos that others may wish to rubbish, but i for one value, enjoy and appreciate.
As for that underlying taste, which didn't appeal to your taste buds, you will indeed have to wait for the book before you get an inclin as to what caused it. Totally agree with your deductions and would be looking to the base or the oil.
It always amazes me when you detect a taste but you just can put your finger on exactly what ingredient is causing it >:( >:( Bloody infuriating in fact ;D
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Great post Frank, thanks.
In one of Chris's threads he discussed "tasting of coconut but with no coconut added" so that makes sense. I wonder what it is ? But I am unsure if its welcome by the sounds of it.
The only common item i could think of is Star Anise as suggested by
RShome123. I have had that myself a couple of times recently.
Umm a mystery ::)
Graeme.
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Green Cardamon
best, Rich