Should I Come Up With My Own Base?

[Stephen Lindsay]

We have Kris Dhillon's, Taz. Ashoka, Razor's, CA's, BE's, Abdul Mohed's etc. etc. etc.

Why shouldn't there be an SL base?

Pros and cons please?

[Peripatetic Phil]

We have Kris Dhillon's, Taz. Ashoka, Razor's, CA's, BE's, Abdul Mohed's etc. etc. etc.  Why shouldn't there be an SL base?  Pros and cons please?

Pros : more bases for the more experienced members to choose from, an opportunity to start from scratch and develop "the perfect base"
Cons : /yet/ more bases to choose from for new members such as Jackh.

** Phil.

[Stephen Lindsay]

Cheers Phil, a few ciders have prompted me placing this question on the forum but it is an idea I have been toying with for some time. I've explored Ashoka, BE, and Taz bases and perhaps stuck with each of them for about a year so I like to think I've got some sense of what comprises a base.

I wonder though if this is just vanity on my part when there are so many bases out there already!

As I say - cider!!!!

[Peripatetic Phil]

I wonder though if this is just vanity on my part when there are so many bases out there already!

I don't think so : after all, if there were one perfect base (perfect for every chef, perfect for every dish) then it cannot be documented on this forum, otherwise we wouldn't all still be trying different bases from time to time.  So far I have used KD1, KD1/PC, Taz and Cory Ander  -- to my mind, not one is perfect, but all are definitely good.  So get stuck in (once the cider has left the bloodstream) and let us all know the results.

** Phil.

[Razor]

Hi Stephen,

I say go for it mate

It's going to be difficult to come up with something different to what is already on the forum but you never know mate, you may stumble upon YOUR personal taste, and what it is that YOU'RE in search of.  Plus, you do get a sense of pride from making a good quality dish, using your own recipe.

What have you got to lose?

Ray

[loveitspicy]

Hi Stephen

YES YES YES everyone uses a base (or should do) and there is certainly no one base which is the ultimate base or we would all be using it. If your base is nearly the same as the others with a couple of ingredient changes so be it. I use my own base for all my dishes and its not dissimilar to others on here!

best, Rich 

[Stephen Lindsay]

cheers guys - you've convinced me that it's a worthwhile exercise

Phil - cider finished - onto Glayva now!

[Stephen Lindsay]

OK the effects of the cider have worn off and I still think it's worth aiming for - am gonna spend the next few weeks working through a base recipe stage by stage and I will report on my results. I will use a standard medium curry as my control dish and so the base will be the variable that I will use to compare finished dishes.

[Cory Ander]

I think it largely depends on your views on the importance of the base to the quality of the final curries SL.  If, like me (and several others here), you believe that "BIR magic" happens in the base, then you will, for sure, do well to explore making your own.  Least of all, you'll develop a good (or better) understanding of what a BIR base is (or should be) and how it influences the quality of the final curry (with regard to that allusive BIR taste, texture and smell).

However, if (like many others here, possibly including you?), you believe that the "BIR magic" almost entirely happens in the final curry preparation (i.e. due to "technique", or whatever) then you would probably do better (unless you think you can develop a better "BIR-like" base than exisitng ones, of course?) by picking a "good base" and concentrating your efforts on final curry preparation (which is the view, I think, that you have previously expressed?).

To my mind its a combination of both.  But, for me, the "missing bit" (or "secret", if you like) is mainly in the base.  I'm referring to BIR curries from yesteryear, of course.

PS:  Don't you just love the way in which a few ciders provide inspiration!?