Topic: Ali's Indian Restaurant Cooking Base Revisited.

[Stephen Lindsay]

That really looks first class LC.

[Naga]

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Mmmmm! Guinness! Its been a while since I've had an ice-cold Guinness!

[Onions]

Mid-strength??? WTF?!

[littlechilie]

Calm down Onions It's for cooking 

[livo]

Once again, in the link to the mixed powder, there are 2 issues arising.

We have the possibly confusing, and apparently interchangeable, use of the terms "mixed powder" and "curry powder" by the presenter. It is possible to ignore this first issue as the intent is clear enough anyway.

Second is the use of a "curry powder" as an ingredient in the "mixed powder". 
The question of which curry powder is only partially answered in the questions section where it is explained that "Mild Madras Curry Powder" is the ingredient required. However, as we already know there are as many different "Mild Madras Curry Powders" as there are Indian cooking video presenters and the individual spices used in them is not always / ever the same.

So essentially what is happening here is that he is diluting the other spices in what may be a proprietary brand Mild Madras Curry Powder with extra Tumeric, Coriander and Cumin.

It is also interesting to read Goncalo's comment suggesting that this may not be the exact mix used in the restaurant judging from the colour.

[littlechilie]

Hi Livo, my advice to you would be don't over complicate things and don't look for secrets that are not there. Ali is quite open about his cooking, he was also happy to reply or advise when he posted these videos for our viewing pleasure.
In one of his videos you can hear him talking, it's about how shocked he was to realise anyone was interested in this style of cooking!   

He's not hiding anything and it's prob not the best mix powder in the world, but you can achieve BIR with it, mild madras is as he says mild madras! It's mixed so it can be used in a verity of dishes.

Ali's mix I made looks identical to the one shown.
Cheers LC

[livo]

Of course you are correct and in the quantities used it is probably irrelevant anyhow.  Also the lighting used in video and photography can affect how the colours look, so it is a bit of a long bow call from Goncalo, to suggest it is not what he actually was using at the time.

[Onions]

LC, you're right about not getting too bogged down in detail, but, on the other hand, i think it's good that livo's question's are asked, if only to be able to mark some things 'as read.'

[Madrasandy]

Great work again Russ, the curries look amazing .
How did the base compare to Jb base?

[littlechilie]

Morning Andy, good question  I'm guessing they are quite equal in comparison, I'm liking the evaporated milk over coconut block. The base is more creamy and this comes through in the curry.

I'm still going to say Jb's base is my preferred option, but I would be happy with both.