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Curry Chat => Lets Talk Curry => Topic started by: ScottyM on March 05, 2016, 01:48 PM

Title: Onion masala gravy.... basically base gravy?
Post by: ScottyM on March 05, 2016, 01:48 PM
Saw this in Atul's cookbook and he says they go through liters of the stuff in there curries.

Basically base gravy.

3 tablespoons oil
5 black peppercorns
2.5cm piece of cinnamon stick
2 green cardamom pods, bruised
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
2 cloves
500g onions, finely chopped
1 teaspoon G&G paste
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon garam masala
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
350ml water
1 tablespoon   tomato puree, mixed with 4 tablespoons water
sea salt

*G&G paste is ginger and garlic blitz with 10% of the total weight in water*

Heat the oil in a saucepan, add the whole spices and saute over a medium heat until they crackle. Add the onions and saut for 5-8 minutes until lightly coloured.

Add the ginger garlic paste and saute over a low heat for 2-3 minutes, or until the raw smell of the paste disappears.

Stir in the ground spices and saute for a further 2-3 minutes.

Remove and discard the cinnamon stick. Transfer the mixture to a blender or food processor, add 225ml of the water and blitz.

Add the diluted tomato puree, the remaining water and salt to taste, and blitz again until blended.

Transfer to a saucepan and simmer over a low heat for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add more water if the mixture starts to catch on the bottom of the pan, but the idea is to gently fry the sauce, which will darken in colour to light brown. The final texture (not colour) should be something like tomato ketchup. While cooking, it will gloop occasionally and splatter. It can burn or scald, so cook the sauce with caution. Set aside to cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Do not freeze.
Title: Re: Onion masala gravy.... basically base gravy?
Post by: Edwin Catflap on March 05, 2016, 03:30 PM
Hi scotty is this his basic gravy cos I thought that had a bit of chilli in it? I'll have to dig out the pamphlet.

Cheers

Ed
Title: Re: Onion masala gravy.... basically base gravy?
Post by: ScottyM on March 05, 2016, 05:14 PM
Hi scotty is this his basic gravy cos I thought that had a bit of chilli in it? I'll have to dig out the pamphlet.

Cheers

Ed

Hey mate

Its written differently in each of his books and on his site.
If i remember right one version does have 1/2tsp of kashmiri chilli powder

Cheers!
Title: Re: Onion masala gravy.... basically base gravy?
Post by: Edwin Catflap on March 06, 2016, 10:17 AM
Sorry Scotty got my Atul mixed up with my Abdul


Oops

Ed
Title: Re: Onion masala gravy.... basically base gravy?
Post by: Sverige on March 06, 2016, 11:57 AM
I've seen a few traditional Indian chefs use an onion masala gravy similar to this. Certainly Harpal Singh does. Maybe it has always been a part of their traditional cooking and was the Genesis of BIR base gravy back in the day when the first generation chefs arrived in the uk and set up shop?
Title: Re: Onion masala gravy.... basically base gravy?
Post by: Micky Tikka on March 06, 2016, 02:38 PM
Just to clarify that Onion Masala Gravy is one of a few gravies in his latest book
Others are
coconut gravy
Kadhai   gravy
Makhani gravy
Punjabi Kadhi gravy
Rogan   gravy
Shahi   gravy
Moilee gravy

Also some interesting pastes
Title: Re: Onion masala gravy.... basically base gravy?
Post by: Donald Brasco on March 06, 2016, 03:50 PM
I might have to look into this. I'm sure BIR curries were tastier back in the 80s before they started using a single base gravy for everything. Or maybe I have my rosy specs on.
Title: Re: Onion masala gravy.... basically base gravy?
Post by: ScottyM on March 06, 2016, 03:55 PM
Just to clarify that Onion Masala Gravy is one of a few gravies in his latest book
Others are
coconut gravy
Kadhai   gravy
Makhani gravy
Punjabi Kadhi gravy
Rogan   gravy
Shahi   gravy
Moilee gravy

Also some interesting pastes

Very true.
He also has a selection of good spice mixes and curry powders in them

The chettinad masala is amazing.
Title: Re: Onion masala gravy.... basically base gravy?
Post by: ScottyM on March 06, 2016, 03:56 PM
I've seen a few traditional Indian chefs use an onion masala gravy similar to this. Certainly Harpal Singh does. Maybe it has always been a part of their traditional cooking and was the Genesis of BIR base gravy back in the day when the first generation chefs arrived in the uk and set up shop?

Sounds about right mate.

Same way the Chinese TA recipes came about. Especially the curry paste and sweet and sour
Title: Re: Onion masala gravy.... basically base gravy?
Post by: ScottyM on March 06, 2016, 03:56 PM
I might have to look into this. I'm sure BIR curries were tastier back in the 80s before they started using a single base gravy for everything. Or maybe I have my rosy specs on.

I have heard that alot! Worth looking into.
Title: Re: Onion masala gravy.... basically base gravy?
Post by: Curry addict bob on March 06, 2016, 07:59 PM
What a good effort in typing this recipe up scotty I'm sure it will be good to try it

Bob.