Hi all,

A short time ago the website www.currysauce.com was mentioned with their claims to have curry sauces just like the restaurant.

I decided to give them a try and through the website found two outlets not far from me.
Both outlets are specialist deli's and it is clear these sauces are not obtainable everywhere but can be ordered from the website in six pot quantities for ?24.90p inc post. That is a whacking ?4.15p per pot.
In one of my local shops they were selling at ?2.99p and at the other ?3.50p. They come chilled, not frozen but can be frozen at home if required.
They claim to be for four servings but like most other sauces I have bought would only serve three or two hungry diners.

I bought the Madras, Jalfrezi and Morrocan Tagine which the shop owner said she eats all the time and is fantastic.

So far I have cooked the Morrocan Tagine which is a curry sauce with Apricots. First impressions of texture and smell were very favourable, the sauce being the consistency we make our bases with pureed Onion visible and a good quantity of Apricots.
It is an attractive deep brown and was simple to par-cook the chicken and simmer for 10 minutes or so.
The sauce seemed to thin down with cooking and became a more watery consistency and lightened in colour.

As for the taste...........well in fairness it is a nice tasting curry and a little different to what I expected ( after all it is supposed to be Morrocan, not Indian ) but my first impression was............Patak's sauce and that taste of processing so common in jars or chilled sauces.
I expected something fresher as it was from the chilled cabinet yet tasted like it had come from a jar! It also had a long lasting after taste of Garlic which I don't mind but the taste was still there next morning!

All in all a bit of a dissapointment for what it was and certainly the price lets it down! The rest of the family ate it but there was no enthusiasm to suggest it was anything special.
I think a much better "quick curry" could be made from a jar of Patak's Paste and a tin of Tomatoes and just as fast.
On the other hand a portion of pre-made base sauce from this site would beat it past the post anytime.

I am yet to try the Jalfrezi and Madras but have a sneaky feeling I am going to experience the same.
I will let you know when I do.

Ray

Quote from: raygraham on September 23, 2005, 07:17 PM
but my first impression was............Patak's sauce and that taste of processing so common in jars or chilled sauces.

I've had a takeaway before that tasted of Patak paste it was horrible that was all I could taste, it was in a chicken balti but I normaly have the vindaloo from the same place which is spot on.  I don't know if it is commonly used in restaurants but Im sure I would be able to taste it, I've tried i and don't like.

There is one small take-away near me that definately uses Patak's pastes as they have huge containers of it above the cooking area and spoon in so much of each into the curry. The food tastes O.K., not great but acceptable but I must admit you do feel a bit cheated when you know it comes out of a "ready made jar".
I have actually made some really good curries at home using only Patak's Madras Paste for the spicing but the sauces are not anything like as good..

Ray

My local BIR uses pataks balti paste, only for the balti (and their balti is nice)

Quote from: raygraham on September 23, 2005, 07:17 PM
It also had a long lasting after taste of Garlic which I don't mind but the taste was still there next morning!

Isnt that the taste of the BIR, still there the next morning?

cheers

Hi Mark,

Yes the taste of the BIR is also there next morning but this taste was very strong and more raw garlic than anything. Not in my mind the typical BIR taste.
I will be trying the other two I bought soon and will reserve judgement on this range of products until I have tried a few of the others on offer.

Ray