Homemade Balti chicken (madras). With rice and mango chutney.





Too much pulp in this one. Lost the taste/flavour.

Rob

Think that is quite normal when you freeze and defrost stuff like curries. Just water ice crystals form quicker when freezing and also defrost first, thus leaving water around it. I always reheat frozen food like that in a pan, so you can mix it all back together easier and evaporate some of the water.
Looks really yummy anyway.

Have made another Balti chicken and frozen it. Will be interesting to see what happens after defrosting; may give an idea on how much pulp to use. Also now blending the pulp with blitzed onion and fresh garlic, although I think this will actually need pre-cooking. The idea is I will have two pans to make the curry. The base gravy and the pulp. Dispensing with the pan fry onion/garlic approach at the start. No green pepper either. Also omit the green (and red) pepper from the base gravy. I may change my mind on this last idea, but at the moment am not buying into it, for this balti.

Rob

https://youtu.be/mUphDiTnZ-U?si=jezyJVhVU1R-OrIY

Rob

Quote from: Kashmiri Bob on October 16, 2025, 12:47 PM

Proportions aside, reckon I know exactly how they have been put together, including the “signature” ingredient(s).

More details, please! Even if it's just speculation I like to hear about how different places put their dishes together.

Sure. Can certainly make a start. The main theme (signature) of the Khyber balti is its zing. It's also spicy, fruity, and really sweet. Lemon, including its zest are fundamental in preparing this balti (100%). It really is a balti zest fest. I suspect granulated citric acid may also be involved. I have already started trying it out (East End brand). The other critical component is tinned pineapple, with juice. Lots of it (100%). In addition to its flavour, this also allows a partially flocked finish of the balti, whilst still keeping it quite saucy. Made separately, the pineapple component would also allow dilution of the balti (to make it milder), if required. This point isn't really important at the moment, but the sauce's finish is. Jumping ahead somewhat, but a part of wants this balti approach (citrus) to unlock the elusive Adil's. It just might. I have a feeling the Khyber and Adil’s are closely related to one another.

Will know more soon, hopefully. Getting the proportions/balance absolutely right is the aim. Here are some more photos of the Balti chicken (reheats), including something I fished out of it. Also, a work in progress base gravy (thanks Mick) version. The last photo is a homemade Khyber balti chicken. Tantalisingly close to the original. Zing! The naan shown is also homemade.

It’s worth mentioning that I am not trying to improve on Mick’s Al Frash recipe here. Far from it. Both of these baltis are as good as each other. Both superb. Just a different take. I actually prefer Mick’s one to be honest.























Rob

A quick visit last night for some clubcard essentials. Every penny counts.



Rob