Hi Ray,
Quote from: Razor on December 29, 2010, 11:26 AM
If I was to make your vindaloo, would I add this instead of the chilli powder or along side it?
I generally use it in addition to the chilli powder (and other spices), but you can also use it instead of, if you like.
QuoteHow did you come about creating this paste
I've been trying to get decent "heat", into hot curries, for some while (years). I've tried many things, including fresh chillies, chilli pastes, etc, etc.
Still, the question for me is, "how do BIRs get the heat (without the underlying harshness of chilli powder or flavour of fresh chillies) into their really hot curries (e.g. phals)?
Quotehow does it compare, in your opinion, to "off the shelf" vindaloo pastes'
This is basically a hot masala/curry powder/spice mix/mix powder (call it what you will) that has been perked up with chillies and cooked into a paste.
It is therefore pretty much the same as a commercial vindaloo paste. However, it is far less acidic, I feel, because it doesn't have all the crappy preservatives, stabilisers, antioxidants, etc, in it that commercial pastes do. You could, if you're that way inclined, use it as a dip with poppadoms

I doubt you'd be wanting to do that, with a commercial vindaloo paste, though?
I've also tried things like the Undercover Curry "Vindaloo Sauce"and Pat Chapman's "Hot Curry Paste". These are similar, but this is a masala blend based on (but modified from) one of Mridula Baljekar's "curry powder" recipes.