Unpacking/sorting.

















Went with the Chicken pakora. Followed by Balti chicken and sweet rice, with the Swad mixed pickle. Epic!






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Always pick up/learn something going here. Been playing around with some existing curry ideas for some time now. It's finally coming together. I will call it something like "The Classic CRO Old School Recipe". There is a clue in the title. It's not really new, just a different interpretation. The good news (I believe) is that if anyone fancies giving it a go, we should all be on the same page making it.

Rob

Went last night. First time on a Saturday evening. It was busy. The head chef (the Uncle) was there. He looked to be supervising rather than cooking. Photos and thoughts to follow. Balti chicken and Balti chicken (madras). Had some leftover homemade to use up, so the madras has gone in the freezer. Will have the regular balti tonight, with some of their "sweet" rice. Had a good taste of both as soon as I got home though. The regular was most comparable with Mick's Al Frash, but first impression is that it surpassed it, which I honestly didn't think was going to be possible. We will have to see.

Spotted something else unusual on their Balti menu that I have missed before. Whilst there is a whole raft of baltis available, there is one thing you cannot have in your curry; it's not on the menu (not even as a starter). Tikka.

Rob

Quote from: martinvic on January 27, 2026, 08:47 PM
This is Lidl, I don't get to Aldi. Next time they have a Taste of Asia week I'll have a look, sometimes they have proper brand names, not just their own.

Thanks Martin. I am always confusing Aldi with Lidl

Have a bottle of the Xmas Limited Edition Kikkoman somewhere, but I can't find it.

Rob

This is Lidl, I don't get to Aldi. Next time they have a Taste of Asia week I'll have a look, sometimes they have proper brand names, not just their own.

Quote from: martinvic on January 25, 2026, 08:16 PM
If anyone is interested, it's Ramadan week at Lidl from Thursday.
Spices, rice, flour etc. on sale.

https://www.lidl.co.uk/c/ramadan/a10087140

I wish my nearest Aldi was a bit closer. Could do with some more dark soy. I wonder if they do Kikkoman or Chinese brands. Found out before Christmas that the supermarket own brands and Amoy, Asia, etc., are absolutely rubbish quality. 10 % soy, if you are lucky. The rest is caramel and chemicals. Kikkoman is proper fermented soy.

Rob

If anyone is interested, it's Ramadan week at Lidl from Thursday.
Spices, rice, flour etc. on sale.

https://www.lidl.co.uk/c/ramadan/a10087140

Haven't tried it yet. Arrived yesterday. This is the mix powder that Steven Heap recommends on his YouTube channel.



Plan a chicken curry first, then madras/vindaloo.

Rob

Quote from: Robbo141 on January 24, 2026, 07:19 PM
The base gravy experiment was a great success. Made Instant Pot chicken biryani, diluting the base gravy with water to cook the rice rather than the usual water only. Turned out great, well worth trying.  Having it again tonight, reheated with fried egg on top.

Robbo

I often sneak in a beaten egg.

Rob

Forgot to add descriptions.

Chicken tikka
Kashmiri lamb (half shoulder)
Sirloin steak (and an onion)
Masala fish (sea bass)
Samphire crinkle cuts
Pani Puri
Julian's Pakistani Karahi
Paneer biryani (with toasted cashew nuts).

This one is Masala fish (sea bream)



Rob

The base gravy experiment was a great success. Made Instant Pot chicken biryani, diluting the base gravy with water to cook the rice rather than the usual water only. Turned out great, well worth trying.  Having it again tonight, reheated with fried egg on top.

Robbo