Topic: The occasional crunch

[Nickywelsh]

The crunchy bit/s ! I've seen it mentioned on the forum a few times, and certainly recall finding it in more than a few BIR curries over the years...but what is it? Could it be a half teaspoon of hing? And on that note, are there any main dishes that use onion seed?

[chewytikka]

Unclear what your actually talking about, can you elaborate!

[Peripatetic Phil]

The crunchy bit/s ! I've seen it mentioned on the forum a few times, and certainly recall finding it in more than a few BIR curries over the years...but what is it? Could it be a half teaspoon of hing?

Absolutely not :  half a teaspoon of hing would overpower any normal portion size of curry.  If you bite into something firm that gives between your teeth and has a wonderful taste/flavour when chewed, it is most likely to be a whole green cardamom (elachi).

And on that note, are there any main dishes that use onion seed?

As in  kaloonji ?  None that I am aware of in the BIR repertoire -- I associate kaloonji seeds more with traditional Indian starters, but they also find their way into onion bhaji in the better establishments.

** Phil.