Topic: ++++MDB’s Birmingham Balti Gravy 100% Clone Al Frash Balti Restaurant ++++

[Kashmiri Bob]

Prawn and chicken as 2 separate dishes I hope Bob.

Just one livo.  Chicken (or chicken tikka) and king prawns are a popular curry combo.  You see it available on many a menu hereabouts, including balti.  Shababs, for example, do a Balti chicken, king prawn and mushroom.

Rob

[livo]

Hmmm?  Not a combination I would choose.  I do chicken dishes and prawn dishes.  I like both but combining the 2 isn't something I've seen.
Chicken and mushroom I understand, but if I wanted to expand the prawn dish, I'd add fish or scallops or both.

[Peripatetic Phil]

I do chicken dishes and prawn dishes.  I like both but combining the 2 isn't something I've seen.

Paella ?

[livo]

Paella is not a dish we eat regularly Phil but when we do, we usually have chicken and chorizo paella which is the family preference.  On the odd occasion we have had seafood paella it is seafood, ie, prawns, fish, scallops, mussels, squid but not chicken. I'm really the only one in the family who likes it so we don't eat it. Thinking about it, I would say the only thing I can recall ever eating that contained both would be Chinese Special Fried Rice which also has char sui pork.

I won't say there's anything wrong with the combination, but it isn't something I've ever seen over here, and it isn't something I'll rush into.

[Peripatetic Phil]

Fair enough — for me, a paella needs chicken (ideally thigh, definitely not breast), prawns, mussels and squid as the carnivore/pescivore elements (I am not that keen on chorizo), and I find the combination so good that after discovering paella alla Valenciana I created my own dish :  arroz con pollo et con pesce, which included just chicken and smoked haddock.  And of course the Americans have their "surf and turf", although the carnivore element of that is beef and not chicken.

[Secret Santa]

I created my own dish :  arroz con pollo et con pesce, which included just chicken and smoked haddock.

Which would actually be arroz con pollo y pez given its Spanish roots. And anyway isn't that just pepped up kedgeree?

[Peripatetic Phil]

Which would actually be arroz con pollo y pez given its Spanish roots.

Ah yes, I was typing from phonetic memory, and the "y" came out as "et" — I thought it looked odd, but could not think how it should appear.  Similarly "pesce" was originally "pescado" but I remembered that part even less well ...

And anyway isn't that just pepped up kedgeree?

Hardly, dear boy — drowned in saffron and garlic, it could not be further removed ...

[mickdabass]

Actually Ive just googled it and some places do a mixed balti.

Its not something I have tried

Regards

Mick

[livo]

My curiosity is piqued and so I will have to give the Mixed Balti a bash.  I have had a prawn curry and a chicken curry (or several) in the same meal and even on the same plate before, but never prepared as a single dish.  I see no harm in trying it.

Phil, I have now tried a Paella with seafood and chicken.  I prepared one 2 nights ago (Thursday over here) and I must say it was thoroughly enjoyable. The feedback from my daughter was also positive after she took a serving home with her.  I had, by coincidence baked a chicken the night before which had "Paella Seasoning" (ie; flavoured rice stuffing and some spice rub) and so I used the leftover from that and added fish (barramundi), and prawns, along with other ingredients, including a chorizo sausage, bacon, onion, multicoloured capsicums, a few peas and olives.  I indulged and used half of my saffron.  Very nice indeed.  My wife was happy as it is a recipe I'd not used before, and it is tomato free.  I had to use kalamatas as I had no black olives.  I have calamari but forgot to include it.  Not to worry.  Next time.

[Peripatetic Phil]

Well done Livo, and I am delighted to hear that not only did you enjoy it but that it was well received by all.  I seem to recall that in the authentic Valencian version tomatoes (pomodori pelati a pezzi) are regarded as an essential part of the dish, but I for one can see no reason why they cannot be omitted if desired.
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** Phil.