Topic: How Do I Avoid Burning the Spices?

[Jerome]

A few years ago I tried to make base sauce and found that I always seemed to burn the spices. I see there are a lot of different techniques to these base sauces and as a new guy was wondering if there was a way around ever having to expose directly the spices to hot oil. Which of the many recipes is the most ?foolproof??

If the spices always need to be fried, how can I stop them getting that rough, ?sawdust? flavour?

Cheers.

[Chris303]

Make a paste of your spices with a little water and oil.

Blasting the spices in the oil is the best part  ;D ;D

[Cory Ander]

Hi Jerome and welcome to cr0  

A bit of a mixed bag of questions Jerome  

1)  In my opinion, if you wish to avoid burning the spices, simply mix the powdered spices in water to make a runny paste of the spices.  This way, they will not get above 100C until the water has evaporated.  You can also mix them with oil, if you prefer, but I personally can't determine much difference between the two.

You can do this with any of the recipes on this site (bases or otherwise) that call for frying spices (to avoid burning them)

2)  The easiest base is probably the one that looks easiest to you!  I expect it would be the one most clearly written and with the smallest number of simple ingredients and steps.  Look at this thread which might be of help:  http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php/topic,2203.0.html

3)  You should only get a "rough, sawdust flavour" if you add stale spices (use fresh) too much powdered spice (don't use too much) or under or over cook them (don't do either or they will be bitter)

Hope this helps?  Please let us know how you get on and please post your recipes and results (plus photos)  

[Chris303]

My first mistake when I started making currys was buying massive 1kg jars of powdered spices - They already were stale when I purchased them looking back and I remember adding like 8 table spoons of spice just to try and get some flavour in it - and the resuling curry tastes like onions and sawdust (this was before I discovered the base sauce as well).

I ground fresh stuff every friday in preperation for my weekend curry making sessions - which is the only time I am allowed to make curry in my house - my gf doesn't want the house stinking of spices 24/7.

[Cory Ander]

my gf doesn't want the house stinking of spices 24/7.

I can see that she'll never be your wife then!  ;D