Curry Recipes Online

Curry Chat => Lets Talk Curry => Topic started by: joshallen2k on December 27, 2009, 02:53 AM

Title: "Meat" Curry
Post by: joshallen2k on December 27, 2009, 02:53 AM
The recent thread on beef curry got me reflecting on my time in the UK, and something I always wondered but never knew the answer to.

Many (if not most) of the curry houses I frequented had the following subtypes for each curry sauce: vegetable, chicken, lamb, prawn, king prawn, and "meat". I left tikka out.

What is the "meat" in a  meat curry? Beef, goat, mutton? I remember receiving all three of those as answers from my mates.

Can someone solve the meat mystery?

-- Josh
Title: Re: "Meat" Curry
Post by: emin-j on December 27, 2009, 09:29 AM
It wont be Beef mate as the Cow is a Sacred animal in India , I remember some years ago my family and my mates family met at an Indian Restaurant and when the waiter came over to take the order my mates 10 year old Daughter said in her best Brummie accent ' Do yow do Beefburgers '  :o that got a funny look from the waiter  ::)
Title: Re: "Meat" Curry
Post by: Unclebuck on December 27, 2009, 10:33 AM
The recent thread on beef curry got me reflecting on my time in the UK, and something I always wondered but never knew the answer to.

Many (if not most) of the curry houses I frequented had the following subtypes for each curry sauce: vegetable, chicken, lamb, prawn, king prawn, and "meat". I left tikka out.

What is the "meat" in a  meat curry? Beef, goat, mutton? I remember receiving all three of those as answers from my mates.

Can someone solve the meat mystery?

-- Josh

"Meat" in a BIR is referring to Lamb, hogget, or mutton
Title: Re: "Meat" Curry
Post by: Domi on December 27, 2009, 10:47 AM
Indians do eat beef....it's mainly hindus that don't.
Title: Re: "Meat" Curry
Post by: Cory Ander on December 27, 2009, 11:14 AM
...as do Muslims (e.g. Bengalis/Bangladeshis)....who own and run most BIRs (still)

Which is why you will seldom (if ever) see pork on the menu.

As to the question as to what is the "meat" in their "meat curries", I presume it's a catch all for anything they care to serve you (mostly mutton, lamb, or a variant of it, I presume).

Still doesn't explain why there is no beef on the menu though?  :-\
Title: Re: "Meat" Curry
Post by: Mikka1 on December 27, 2009, 12:06 PM
You lot are wonderful and open minded, thank you. ;D

This is a topic I was scolded for many times over. 'Meat' is what I used to see in many places. I never knew what it was but understand it can just about be anything which is why I targeted Beef since its the hardest to get just right without ruining the sauce.

They don't say that over here however. It's Lamb or Goat, It's clearly printed.
Title: Re: "Meat" Curry
Post by: Unclebuck on December 27, 2009, 12:20 PM
Pork is forbidden by a few religions as it is perceived to be a filthy/dirty animal consumption would mean ingesting Bactria, parasites IE tapeworm etc

Beef[cow] is forbidden because of products from the animal milk, Ghee, butter, yoghurt, paneer the animal is consided holy

The bull can be eaten[Hindus but mostly vegetarians]

I however love a bit of pork and a steak!!
Title: Re: "Meat" Curry
Post by: CurryOnRegardless on December 27, 2009, 12:46 PM
Hint, when was the last time you ever saw a stray cat within 1/2 a mile of a curry house...?
Title: Re: "Meat" Curry
Post by: Cory Ander on December 27, 2009, 12:46 PM
Pork is forbidden by a few religions as it is perceived to be a filthy/dirty

Yes, including by Muslims who own/operate most BIRs

Quote
Beef[cow] is forbidden because of products from the animal milk, Ghee, butter, yoghurt, paneer the animal is consided holy

But by Hindus, not by Muslims?
Title: Re: "Meat" Curry
Post by: Cory Ander on December 27, 2009, 12:48 PM
Hint, when was the last time you ever saw a stray cat within 1/2 a mile of a curry house...?

Or rats...but the cats got the rats.....and the dogs got the cats before the BIRs got them! I tell ya, it's man eat dog out there...literally!  :P
Title: Re: "Meat" Curry
Post by: jimmy2x on December 27, 2009, 04:22 PM
nearly every bir ive been in, and ive been in many many diffrent ones over the years have european dishes on ther menu too. i was in elgin just a few months ago myself and had a steak and chips there, was just not into a curry that night as had one the 3 previous nights.

so i dont think its religious thing probably more a cost/taste/cooking thing why its not on the curry menu, and going by my attempt xmas eve with beef pathia i can see why.

regards
Title: Re: "Meat" Curry
Post by: Mikka1 on December 27, 2009, 07:23 PM
I'm sure our friends have been cooked more times than we know but I doubt that happens too often these days? I do have it on good evidence that Cats are just like Chicken from a Guy who fought in Burma.

I think I'd rather focus on normal meats please.  ;D
Title: Re: "Meat" Curry
Post by: JerryM on December 28, 2009, 09:29 AM
i think it's keema. this being mincemeat and the "mince" being dropped for ease. the meat for me would be lamb.
Title: Re: "Meat" Curry
Post by: Cory Ander on December 28, 2009, 11:09 AM
i think it's keema. this being mincemeat

I don't think so Jerry, "meat" curries generally contain chunks of meat, not minced meat (i.e. keema)
Title: Re: "Meat" Curry
Post by: jimmy2x on December 28, 2009, 05:27 PM
i suspect its mutton ie older lamb, that is used when discribing a meat curry. This meat is far cheaper than lamb, chewier, stringy and most likely needs some delicate preparing anf cooking to make it palatable.

from wiki

    * Lamb ? a young sheep under 12 months of age which does not have any permanent incisor teeth in wear
    * Hogget ? a young male sheep or maiden ewe having no more than two permanent incisors in wear
    * Mutton ? a female (ewe) or castrated male (wether) sheep having more than two permanent incisors in wear

i lay money on it that meat is mutton, in scotland this is often the case though usually its minced mutton ie meat pie, more commonly known as a scotch pie.

nothing wrong with mutton, as long as you understand its a cheap cut, then you probably get a bit extra compared to lamb in a bir.


i guess just ask them next time you go to a bir

put mutton curry into google images and you will see many lovley curries.


Title: Re: "Meat" Curry
Post by: Mikka1 on December 28, 2009, 05:40 PM
Probably a language problem going on over here but they consider Mutton to be Goat for some reason? I've never worked it out to be honest and they haven't made it particularly clear anywhere I've been excepting one place.....

I'm on to Goat next year. I'm pretty certain that is what I am eating in certain places owing to the very pink colour and taste. Great post jimmy, thanks.

i suspect its mutton ie older lamb, that is used when discribing a meat curry. This meat is far cheaper than lamb, chewier, stringy and most likely needs some delicate preparing anf cooking to make it palatable.

from wiki

    * Lamb ? a young sheep under 12 months of age which does not have any permanent incisor teeth in wear
    * Hogget ? a young male sheep or maiden ewe having no more than two permanent incisors in wear
    * Mutton ? a female (ewe) or castrated male (wether) sheep having more than two permanent incisors in wear

i lay money on it that meat is mutton, in scotland this is often the case though usually its minced mutton ie meat pie, more commonly known as a scotch pie.

nothing wrong with mutton, as long as you understand its a cheap cut, then you probably get a bit extra compared to lamb in a bir.


i guess just ask them next time you go to a bir

put mutton curry into google images and you will see many lovley curries.
Title: Re: "Meat" Curry
Post by: 976bar on December 28, 2009, 09:56 PM
The recent thread on beef curry got me reflecting on my time in the UK, and something I always wondered but never knew the answer to.

Many (if not most) of the curry houses I frequented had the following subtypes for each curry sauce: vegetable, chicken, lamb, prawn, king prawn, and "meat". I left tikka out.

What is the "meat" in a  meat curry? Beef, goat, mutton? I remember receiving all three of those as answers from my mates.

Can someone solve the meat mystery?

-- Josh

Hi Josh,

In the past it would have meant mutton, which was always used as an alternative cheaper cut than lamb and more tasty in my reckoning.

Beef was not used originally as it is supposed to be a sacred animal in India, thats why you never see them eat it. However, more modern Indian restaurants these days will use it and certainly offer English dishes like steak and chips to attract those groups of people who would like to go for an indian meal but would lose those groups of people just because one or two don't like indian food.
Title: Re: "Meat" Curry
Post by: Cory Ander on December 28, 2009, 10:29 PM
Quote from: 976bar
Beef was not used originally as it is supposed to be a sacred animal in India, thats why you never see them eat it

Arrrrrrrrrrrgh!!! I wish people would stop saying that!  MOST BIRs are owned and run by MUSLIMS, NOT HINDUS!  And cows are NOT sacred to MUSLIMS (unless I'm very sadly mistaken?)  :-\

And, as has been rightly pointed out, BIRs have always (at least since the late 70s, that I know of) served steak and chips, etc, for those who don't like curries.....so why not beef in curries?
Title: Re: "Meat" Curry
Post by: Mikka1 on December 28, 2009, 10:38 PM
Me to actually. Stop making it sacred and start thinking about what tastes good.  ::)

Arrrrrrrrrrrgh!!! I wish people would stop saying that!  MOST BIRs are owned and run by MUSLIMS, NOT HINDUS!  And cows are NOT sacred to MUSLIMS (unless I'm very sadly mistaken?)  :-\
Title: Re: "Meat" Curry
Post by: jimmy2x on January 11, 2010, 08:07 PM


I'm on to Goat next year. I'm pretty certain that is what I am eating in certain places owing to the very pink colour and taste. Great post jimmy, thanks.


swan maybe.

or flamingo
Title: Re: "Meat" Curry
Post by: Mikka1 on January 11, 2010, 08:23 PM
Sure.
Whatever takes your fancy Jimmy? Just pop over and I'll send you back wondering how I did it? That's a promise by the way.  ;D

swan maybe.

or flamingo
Title: Re: "Meat" Curry
Post by: adriandavidb on January 12, 2010, 10:52 AM
It wont be Beef mate as the Cow is a Sacred animal in India

It most deffinately can be beef; a local BIR to me uses it - the taste is obvious.  I much prefer lamb/mutton: it makes a much better curry IMO.  I suspect they use it because it's less fatty and easier to prepare - less wastage.
Title: Re: "Meat" Curry
Post by: Mikka1 on January 12, 2010, 11:50 AM
Thanks Adrian.
I had that too sometimes, they just called it meat Vindaloo/Madras etc.
Cheers. ;D

It most deffinately can be beef; a local BIR to me uses it - the taste is obvious.  I much prefer lamb/mutton: it makes a much better curry IMO.  I suspect they use it because it's less fatty and easier to prepare - less wastage.