Probably "++++MDB's Birmingham Balti Gravy 100% Clone Al Frash Balti Restaurant ++++", George.
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** Phil.

Quote from: George on August 13, 2022, 02:33 PM

Quote from: livo on August 13, 2022, 12:08 AM
George, I would suggest that before you make either base gravy, you at least once try the Balti cooked from scratch using basic fresh ingredients. The recipes and method shown by Shababs and Rishton chefs are all but identical and I found it to be very quick, easy and affordable as well as producing a nice dish.  You might instantly recognise it as the Shababs Balti you've already tried.

Many thanks. Where can I find the recipe for 'Balti cooked from scratch'? Whose recipe is it?

I disagree with livo on this. Make a base sauce version, not one from scratch, as that is how the balti restaurants are doing it. If you do the from scratch version your feedback won't be worth anything in relation to MDB's version which is what the main threads are about and what we need the feedback for from someone who has actually tried the real thing like yourself.

Quote from: Peripatetic Phil on August 13, 2022, 05:17 PM
Probably "++++MDB's Birmingham Balti Gravy 100% Clone Al Frash Balti Restaurant ++++", George.
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** Phil.

No that's MDB's base sauce version (the one George should try however). The from scratch version is made without a base sauce.

So "The Holy Grail - Birmingham Balti Quest Completed", presumably.
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** Phil.

The 'Holy Grail' version uses base sauce as well. Regardless, it may be worth me making both of Mick's versions, and the Misty Ricardo one, too. I will see if any of them taste remotely like the balti chicken dishes I had at Shababs. My recollection is that the 2018 and 2020 versions tasted similar, even though they looked different. I think there was more oil than much evidence of base sauce.

Well, someone (presumably Santa) must know which the "balti from scratch" recipe is, so it would be nice if he were to post a link.  I've tried twice, and seemingly been wrong twice, but "you're wrong." is nowhere near as helpful as "you're wrong, the correct link is ...".
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** Phil.

Is this the from scratch one?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiXF_TG1_8I&t=188s&ab_channel=TheBaltiBrothers

Looks like a total fail from the off, imo:

Rob

Or maybe this one, from Chef Syed, although I don't think that it had previously been mentioned on this forum ...
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** Phil.

I wonder if Livo was mistaken in thinking any of the balti recipes under consideration here are 'from scratch' as in without the use of base sauce.

I posted the link to the recipe for Balti Cicken (from fresh ingredients, ie: not base gravy) further up the page.  Yes, it is the Balti Brothers (Rishton) and that video is almost identical to the linked recipe of Chef Zaf Hussain's recipe (ie: Shababs).  From memory the difference is Shababs uses Cumin, Rishton doesn't.

Here it is again:  https://curryculture.co.uk/balti-recipe/

The reason I suggested George cook this first Santa, is because it will be quick, easy and cheap to produce one single dish.  From this George could then provide an answer to many questions.  I've tried all of them, MDB's, Misty Ricardo's version of Shababs and the from scratch (Shababs / Rishton).

If the single dish from scratch is similar to, or the same as, the Shababs Baltis George has tried, then we know that's it.  This would also confirm that it isn't anything like MDBs base gravy dish (a 100% clone from a different restaurant). I can tell you already, they aren't the same.  The 2 Shababs methods are similar to each other but the base gravy method is very strongly spiced.  My family found it too spicy. I liked it.

If George says that the Baltis he tried at Shababs were less flavoured I'd then suggest he tries MDB's base. If he thinks they were more spiced then I'd suggest he tries Misty Ricardo's Shababs Balti base gravy.

Easiest things first, process of elimination, basic problem solving.