Topic: Just trying to get it right...

[Misterbroon]

I have just joined the Forum so a big HELLO!!!!!!! to everybodz. A little bit about my success and failures. Failures - Hundreds  , successes - many more to come, I hope  . Are all of your recipes about using only the dry spices or creating curry bases. I recently discovered Mr Huda's Universal Curry Paste and, at my first attempt created a King Prawn Bhuna to rival any restaurant ;D. Would the group regard that as cheating  ? Can the same level of result be got using only the "scratch spices"? My experience in the past 30 years is that it can't be done. I can knock up French, Italian, Chinese, English - virtually make a sauce out of anything, so I don't regard myself as a novice cook, but I must say, the BIR taste has eluded me so far (Mr Huda's help has made that the exception). I'm going to be brutally honest here - my experience of cooks who say they can cook an "Authentic" curry is that they are usually delusional - they will say it's as good, but when I taste it, that certain something is missing. Convince me otherwise - I come with an open mind and hope to be shown the light! 

[Razor]

Hey Misterboom, welcome to cr0

Ok, where to start?

I recently discovered Mr Huda's Universal Curry Paste and, at my first attempt created a King Prawn Bhuna to rival any restaurant . Would the group regard that as cheating

Not necessarily but, the sense of achievement in creating a dish from scratch, is second to none.

Can the same level of result be got using only the "scratch spices"?

Absolutely, better if fact because you have more control!

my experience of cooks who say they can cook an "Authentic" curry is that they are usually delusional

That depends on what you call 'authentic'.  What this forum is trying to replicate is BIR (British Indian Restaurant) fayre.  This differs significantly to authentic/traditional Indian cuisine.

Most BIR's operate on a 'trinity' of pre-prepared ingredients:

A base gravy, which there are plenty to choose from here http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?board=2.0

Spice blend/mix powder/curry masala all the same thing, and you can find a variety of them here http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?board=28.0

Pre-cooked meat/veg which you can also find here http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?board=28.0

Once you have settled on your 'trinity' you can make virtually any final dish that you desire with no need for pastes or sauces. 

My advice, is to find your way around the forum, ask as many questions as you like, most will give you an honest answer or at least put you on to someone that may know what your looking for.  Try a recipe and post the outcome in the relevant section, good or bad.  All feedback is good and if somethings is not quite right, 9 times out of 10, the recipe originator will be able to offer advice.

Be prepared for the odd failure, it happens

Learn how to post photo's http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=1475.msg36034#msg36034  Photo's are a great way of showing what you've achieved and, where you may have gone wrong.  Again, members can often offer some really good advice purely based on what they can see!

And finally, be prepared to becoming a cr0.online addict, and trust me, you will ;D

Most of all, have fun

Good luck,

Ray

[Misterbroon]

Thanks for the info, Ray. I will follow the advice and see where it takes me - Curry Nirvana I hope

[Malc.]

Welcome to the forum Misterboom. I have seen the paste's you refer to advertised and have been tempted, you will find some paste's in my fridge.

But for me now, I feel that using paste will not provide the insight into how it is done. Or rather, how it used to be done.