Why take 2 stockpots into the kitchen?

[natterjak]

Cheers guys, I'll wait till I've plugged through this current batch of base sauce (which is probably about 7 litres in my 8 litre stockpot) and will then take a view on whether I really need to make bigger batches.

I've just finished the blending stage (5 loads for my poor old jug blender) and have the blended base coming back up to the boil on the hob.  I'm leaving the lid off at this stage to let it reduce a bit, it all helps with the storage.

Q which is doubtless OT for this thread, Panpots Ashoka recipe doesn't mention skimming the base sauce while it simmers, but I remember Kris Dhillon used to insist this was important.  Do you skim your base or not?

[Stephen Lindsay]

Natterjack

I reduce my quantities by a third when making Ashoka base - here is my reduced spec. Note that the salt and cumin content are further reduced, based on feedback from members on this site.

PANPOT

[Peripatetic Phil]

Q which is doubtless OT for this thread, Panpots Ashoka recipe doesn't mention skimming the base sauce while it simmers, but I remember Kris Dhillon used to insist this was important.  Do you skim your base or not?

No, nor did I skim Kris Dhillon's base after the first batch; as far as I can tell, it makes little or no difference to the flavour.

** Phil.

[Curry Barking Mad]

Q which is doubtless OT for this thread, Panpots Ashoka recipe doesn't mention skimming the base sauce while it simmers, but I remember Kris Dhillon used to insist this was important.  Do you skim your base or not?

No, nor did I skim Kris Dhillon's base after the first batch; as far as I can tell, it makes little or no difference to the flavour.

** Phil.

I don't skim off either, I think you lose too much of the flavoured oil this way as there is a lot of oil in this bubbly emulsion.
Mick

[Razor]

Hi NJ,

I'm just making up my first batch of Ashoka base and have loaded up my el cheapo 8l stockpot with onions and water.  Trouble is I could only cram in 2.25kg of onions

2.25kg of onions shouldn't fill an 8 litre pot mate?  Are you sure that you've got your weights correct NJ.

I should point out that I've not yet looked at the Ashoka base but even if you left them whole, an 8 litre pot should be fine, I would have thought.  Suppose it depends on how small you chop them I guess?

Ray

[natterjak]

Hi Ray,

I'm sure of my weights and the onions were quartered, but the recipe I followed said top up water 2inches above the level of the onions which is where I probably went awry as the onions floated!  So I probably ended up with too much water in there.  Plus of course I didn't brim the pot, I must have had a litre of space at the top there.