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Curry Base Recipes => Curry Base Chat => Topic started by: pg89 on July 15, 2009, 03:38 PM

Title: Just made a mistake while making a base sauce
Post by: pg89 on July 15, 2009, 03:38 PM

I was making a base sauce from one of the recipes on this forum and I spontaneously decided to throw a star anise and a black cardamom into the pot.

I completely forgot they were in there when I blended the base and now I am assuming they have been ground up and blended into the base as they are nowhere to be seen!

There are no hard chunks in the base, im guessing after an hour of simmering they softened quite a bit and I cant taste either of them significantly so I might have got away with it!

Has this ever happened to anyone else? Do you think it will matter?

Title: Re: Just made a mistake while making a base sauce
Post by: joshallen2k on July 15, 2009, 04:18 PM

Both of those are pretty pungent, so I'm pretty sure they will be noticeable in the base.

For better or worse, you will need to be the judge.

Personally I'd be inclined to bin it.

Title: Re: Just made a mistake while making a base sauce
Post by: Cory Ander on July 15, 2009, 05:30 PM

If there are no hard chunks, and you can't taste either of them significantly, and you like the taste of the final curry, then I wouldn't worry about it.

There is not problem with blending whole spices in this manner.

Title: Re: Just made a mistake while making a base sauce
Post by: Secret Santa on July 15, 2009, 07:40 PM

I've done this several times, it just makes the base more aromatic and spicier. Just think of it as a balti base!

Title: Re: Just made a mistake while making a base sauce
Post by: joshallen2k on July 15, 2009, 09:10 PM

I guess if the taste isn't too strong, you can get away with it... one card and one star anise.

When I did it, it was a base with a muslin bag (green and black cards, cloves too I think). I blended up the whole bag and the base tasted crap.

Title: Re: Just made a mistake while making a base sauce
Post by: CurryCrazy on July 15, 2009, 11:33 PM

Note to self....baggy bits not the secret  ;D

Title: Re: Just made a mistake while making a base sauce
Post by: JerryM on July 16, 2009, 07:31 AM

pg89,

just taste the base u'll know if it's ok (in balance) - i'd say it will be fine.

it's only the black cardamom that concerns me - a very distinct methanol flavour. i don't use them at all now (only ever used in garam).

i use star anis in base all the time. i have a spice ball now and previously a tied cloth. before that i use to try and pick them out (anis, bay, green cardamom) and regularly lost one of them.

made no difference in taste for me. u don't keep u're tea bag in the cup i suppose is the closest analogy.