Topic: SnS's Base Gravy June 2008

[Hargiwald]

Made the base last week, but without the fenugreek and the madras powder because I couldn't find any in the stores, this is best explained by me being Swedish. I used it to try to improve one of my dullest curry attempts, that I had stored in the freezer. It definitely got better. Yesterday madras powder and fenugreek powder ordered online finally arrived and today I tried the recipe. However I forgot to buy fresh coriander so I had to make do with some dry leaves thrown into the mix. The result was good and felt a lot more like something I could receive in a Swedish Indian Restaurant than the usual stuff I make, however it wasn't quite there and I tried adding some (not much) lemon juice. I also added a bit of cardamom because my favourite indian place where I used to live have an extra cardamom touch to their madras, and one green chili pepper that was lying around, begging to be used. This, imo, made a good recipe even better, though the improvement might not have been needed if I had had the fresh coriander.

In short, good stuff, even though the extra touch that fresh coriander leaves always entails probably would have made it even better. The lemon juice was just a strange way of compensating, and the cardamom is just a question of taste and how your mind has been shaped by your local Indian restaurant. Great base and good madras.

[currymonster]

Made the base last week, but without the fenugreek and the madras powder because I couldn't find any in the stores, this is best explained by me being Swedish.

Hi Hargiwald,

Being Swedish shouldn't be an issue 

I'm English and I live in Denmark and although my Danish isn't perfect, I do know what all the spices are called in Danish (the first thing I learnt  ;D). Since many Danish words are similar to Swedish I may be able to help with translation, if that helps.

Feel free to ask if needed,

Craig

[SnS]

... and I import equipment from Stockholm so I speak to them daily .... Alla fragor vand

Halsningar

SnS

[currymonster]

... and I import equipment from Stockholm so I speak to them daily .... Alla fragor vand

Halsningar

SnS

Ah I see!

Mange tak for r?det

Hilsninger

Craig

[Hargiwald]

I appreciate the help, but I was only talking about the general foodstores and malls. And the names aren't a problem, they used to be but I've learnt by now, either way thanks. Anyway our normal grocery stores all have the same stuff, invariably no fenugreek, but if I go to certain areas with more immigrants I can always find oriental type stores that has rarer stuff. However, the day I decided to make the base I was at home and I wanted the curry badly so I went without the fenugreek and madras powder and ordered it online until next time. The only thing I haven't found online is methi, and I love shopping online, so if you can get methi from where you order stuff SnS, please do share, because I'm running out. Many thanks!

[Hargiwald]

Aah, hej igen.

The reason I checked in before was actually to check up on the madras recipe for some inspiration. I took what was there and modified it into a chicken masala (I was too hungry to bother with marinading the chicken) and it turned out to be a party in my mouth. I'm going to try making it again with some small adjustments and marinade the chicken and then I'll return with a recipe, but one thing's for sure, I love your gravy. I love, love, love it. And I'm going to marry it, till death do us part. I've made a couple of masalas before, ranging from good to really boring, but nothing like this. This tastes like the real deal.

[SnS]

Hej Hargiwald

If you drop me a personal email with your address in Sweden I will send you some. It is sometimes also labelled as Dried Fenugreek Leaf, otherwise you may need to get it from Spices of India (link from forum shown below).

Regards
SnS 

[Hargiwald]

Couldn't find any E-Mail address so I PMed you instead. As I said there, it's very kind of you, thank you.

[SnS]

Hi Hargiwald

Some Methi & Rajah Madras powder on its way to you today!

Let us know how you get on.

SnS 

[Bobby Bhuna]

Good work SnS! ;D Spreading that curry vibe across the globe! Btw the Dragons have started sprouting new groth left right and centre! I think this could be a good season since they're already developed and it's only March. They were still seeds until May last year!