Topic: oops, spice mix in to soon.

[bob3915]

hi guys, I've just had my first attempt at CAs base, trouble is I got a little carried away and added the curry powder and spice mix before heating the mix rather than after, obviously I couldn't fish it out, so i'm heating it up anyway, do you think it will still be ok? and would I need to add anymore spices at the right time? cheers,bob.

[Peripatetic Phil]

hi guys, I've just had my first attempt at CAs base, trouble is I got a little carried away and added the curry powder and spice mix before heating the mix rather than after, obviously I couldn't fish it out, so i'm heating it up anyway, do you think it will still be ok? and would I need to add anymore spices at the right time? cheers, bob.

An interesting question, Bob.  The relevant part reads :

• Place all ingredients (except the coriander, spice mix and curry powder) in a large saucepan
• Cover the pan and bring to a gentle simmer
• Gently simmer for about 60 minutes (or until all the vegetables are soft)
• Add curry powder and spice mix
• Simmer for a further 5 minutes

so basically your spices are going to be cooked for 65 minutes rather then 5.  I honestly find it hard to predict what the effect might be; I can only suggest that you (a) carry on, (b) don't add further spices, and (c) make a curry using one of CA's own recipes to see if it works out OK.  Sorry, not a lot of help, I know.

** Phil.

[fried]

Unless someone says otherwise I can't see that it's going to make that much difference.

In a base you're not directly frying the spices, and I asume that they cook in the oil that's added to the base. A base is cooked for a long time, then recooked in the final curry. I reckon a base without any spicing would work fine. I can't see how you'd end up with any raw spice taste at the end.

[Garp]

I'm with fried - just go for it Bob, it'll be fine. And as Phil said, don't add any more spices.

Let us know the results

[curryhell]

Ditto.  I'm with the others here.  The difference will be neglible and i'm sure you'll produce some very edible curries from the finished base Bob.  Let us know how it turns out and be sure to post pics of the first dish you make with it.  Curry porn is always appreciated on here  ;D

[loveitspicy]

Agreed it shouldn't make much of a difference in a base

best, Rich

[bob3915]

thanks for your replies, I went through the rest of the process properly, the base looks and smells pretty good, I'll make a curry tomorrow and let you know the results and I'll try to post some pictures, then next time I'll do it the right way and see if there's much difference. thanks again, bob.

[Dajoca]

Some base recipes require everything including the spices to be added at the start, while other recipes say to add them much later.
Not a huge amount of difference in the finished result either way, so as others have said, you should be just fine.

[Peripatetic Phil]

Some base recipes require everything including the spices to be added at the start, while other recipes say to add them much later.   Not a huge amount of difference in the finished result either way, so as others have said, you should be just fine.

It may be worth noting that my own experience of CA's base, prepared in strict accordance with his recipe, was that there was a distinct flavour of raw spices in the finished base.  I fully accept that my experience may not have been typical, but it does suggest to me that Bob's base may well have benefited from, rather than suffered as a result of, the earlier addition of the spices.

** Phil.

[Garp]

Better having a slight tinge of undercooked ground spices than completely destroying the dish with vile uncooked coriander leaf?

Discuss