I’m currently staying away from home on business, and the company have put me up in one of the cheaper chains with breakfast and evening meal included.
One of the dishes on the limited menu is described as a butter chicken dish, with rice and a popodum.

The waitress was Indian so I asked what the dish was like, did the sauce come out of a jar etc, etc, etc.

Putting on her corporate face she told me it was a nice dish and I would enjoy it. I explained that I cooked traditional Indian dishes at home, made my own masala’s and was proud of my prowess with the food of the continent.

She bent down and whispered in my ear “don’t eat it, it’s horrible”. Enough said!

The Tilted Pan method using a domestic hob. Just a few snapshots. Lid on when everything is in the pan. Took off briefly to take photos. In the last photo the curry is not finished. Not long to go though. Another 5 mins or so.













Look at the state of my hob knobs. Had the great idea of soaking them in bike chain degreaser. Got rid of the grease, but also the bloomin' chrome coating. Painted them silver but It's all flaking off, so they are not looking their best. Not paying £40 for a replacement set though. I shall repaint them.


Rob

Found the real deal Sherpur doner on naan. Shazanz 2014

Unrolled




Rolled and sliced




Rob

Sherpur doner and fries. Garlic mayo and house red chilli sauce.








Rob

Will put this here for now. I will add more info on the Zaatar soon. Method including some prep photos a bit later. The cooking time is generally around 1 h 10 min to 1 h 20 mins.


Manchester Shami Kebab Recipe


Ingredients

Measures are rounded

500g mutton mince. Do not use be tempted to use lamb, or anything else.

1 cup of water
45 ml of vegetable oil
1 ½ TBSP garlic/ginger paste (50/50, fresh)

Whole spices/herbs
1 piece of cassia bark (5g)
4 cloves
4 green cardamoms
Small pinch ajwain seeds

1 TBSP dried mint
½ TSP Kasoori methi
20g fresh green bullet chilli. Stalk removed. Chopped. Or, a couple of thin green hot chillies
2 TBSP chopped coriander leaf/stalk

Ground spices
½ TSP cumin seeds (freshly ground)
½ TSP coriander seeds (freshly ground)
½ TSP turmeric powder

½ TSP red chilli powder (regular)
½ TSP black peppercorns (freshly ground)
½ TSP white pepper powder
Small pinch ground mace

Other ingredients

3 ½ TBSP Zaatar
½ TSP salt
1 TSP toasted sesame seeds (optional)
10 ml lime juice (bottled cloudy type)
Flour and eggs (for the coating)

Other things you will need

A saucepan with lid
A wooden spoon
A dish to put the Shami mix in
A flat surface for shaping the kebabs(I use a glass chopping board/surface protector)
A decent turner spatula or burger flipper
A frying pan (lightly oiled)
A microwave oven

Manchester red onions
Garlic mayonnaise or mint dip
Hot chilli sauce
A wedge of fresh lemon

Rob