Topic: Learn 2 Cook Book By Abdul Mohed

[jb]

I think it's worth a go,some dishes were spot on,some not so good(one thing that springs to mind is chicken Madras,still can't match any of the local T/A's round here.).Most of what he taught can really be found within this forum,however I'm so glad I did his course.Together with what I've learnt on here my curries have improved ten fold to what I was cooking before.He's actually a very nice helpful chap,any questions he will answer no problem.

[George]

A tad sweet perhaps, but worth a repeat performance
Over the years I have seen many Kormas cooked and this is identical to several demos I have had
One of the simplest curries to make
No extra spice, garlic or pepper

Thanks to another member I was sent copies of the spice mix, base and korma - just enough to make the korma. I agree with you that the korma is passable but I don't think it's up there with the best. As you said, there's no garlic or ginger in the base sauce, so there's no garlic or ginger in the korma either. The korma sauce tasted a bit like boiled onion sauce because that's what it was - the onions don't get fried/browned at any stage along the way, either. I cut the spice mix down to 10% of the quantities given and ended up with half a jam jar of spice mix. If I'd made the full quantity, it would have filled 5 jam jars! Are garlic and ginger added later for any or many of the other curry recipes?

I don't normally place too much importance on a tasting of the base sauce in isolation but, for what it's worth, this base sauce was 'quite tasty' whereas I'd say the MarkJ-derived base sauce I normally make is a lot more moreish, including all of garlic, ginger and partially fried/browned onions.

[Graeme]

I think hes been helpful on this site in the past and has given his
advise for free with out us knowing.

I bought the book (its only a few quid) and the Saag Alloo (main) spicing and method worked very well
but on this occasion i used chewytikkas base.
I am sorry i have not tried the books base yet,
but it cant be too far from chewytikka's or other good bases.

Chewys base moves towards sweet and savory and the final stage uses a
food mill to remove the unwanted bits.

I will be making this Saag Alloo again from this book using what ever base works
best (as said - i have yet to try the books base) this dish would be to compliment other Indian food.

I think its a good choice for party's etc as no meat is used and can be either a main or a side dish.
Also we have to consider other peoples diets (vegetarian etc) if your trying
to be a good host.

[George]

we have to consider other peoples diets (vegetarian etc) if your trying
to be a good host.

That sounds like far too much hassle! Why invite anyone who's fussy or has self-imposed "special needs" (e.g. vegetarians) which mean they're a pain in the proverbial? Round here, people get what they're given.

[Peripatetic Phil]

we have to consider other peoples diets (vegetarian etc) if your trying
to be a good host.

That sounds like far too much hassle! Why invite anyone who's fussy or has self-imposed "special needs" (e.g. vegetarians) which mean they're a pain in the proverbial? Round here, people get what they're given.

When we held a barbecue a couple of years ago, we made sure that there was halal, kosher and vegetarian food available as well as "ordinary" food for the majority of the guests; I wouldn't say there was any hassle at all, just a considerable pleasure in being able to invite people knowing that they would be able to eat and enjoy our food rather than having to politely decline it because it wasn't something they were permitted (or would choose) to eat.

** Phil.

[prawnsalad]

we have to consider other peoples diets (vegetarian etc) if your trying
to be a good host.

That sounds like far too much hassle! Why invite anyone who's fussy or has self-imposed "special needs" (e.g. vegetarians) which mean they're a pain in the proverbial? Round here, people get what they're given.

That?s a pretty unpleasant statement George. I was veggie for four years then started eating fish again, a further 11 have passed and I still don?t eat red meat or poultry. It?s true the opinion you have is sadly held by a fair few other people who choose not to think too much and there's also a collective name for them, can you guess it?

[martinvic]

Unpleasant, unhelpful and totally unneeded in my opinion.


Sorry folks, but how George is a Moderator on this great site is beyond me, and puts the board in a very bad light.

[George]

Unpleasant, unhelpful and totally unneeded in my opinion. Sorry folks, but how George is a Moderator on this great site is beyond me, and puts the board in a very bad light.

Here we go again. I stated a personal opinion and, just because some people don't like it, the thread is in danger of going right off track because of posts like the above from martinvic. My post was at least partly on-topic because it related to a comment which Graeme made. Martinvic's post is a personal attack on me, whereas my comment wasn't aimed at any specific member. Prior to that, prawnsalad had also insulted me by saying my post was unhelpful and unneeded. I'm sure that many people would be horrified if they knew a vegetarian was coming for dinner and couldn't be put off. The extra work and effort required would probably be greater than for everyone else combined - a real pain the neck. If it was for medical reasons it would be different but that's hardly ever the case.

[Peripatetic Phil]

George, I really cannot imagine anyone (not even your good self) being "horrified" because a vegetarian is coming to dinner, any more than I can imagine anyone being horrified if a Muslim, or a Jew were coming.  We live today (thank God) in an inclusive society, and about the only people I can think of who would induce a sense of horror in me would be those who would ask to be served dog, or cat, or some other domestic animal that I mentally associate with affection rather than with food.  Would you really be "horrified" if you knew a vegetarian was coming to dinner, or would you do what I think most people would do, and ask yourself "I wonder what I can serve him/her that will be enjoyable, different to what he/she would normally eat, and easy to prepare in view of all the other dishes I have to make" ?

** Phil.

[Razor]

I'm struggling not to giggle at George being horrified at the thought of entertaining a vegetarian :

Personally, i cant see the problem?  Onion bhaji's, Veg Bhuna, Veg samosa, rice, salads, chick pea curry? seems quite easy to me!

That sounds like far too much hassle! Why invite anyone who's fussy or has self-imposed "special needs" (e.g. vegetarians) which mean they're a pain in the proverbial? Round here, people get what they're given.

Priceless ;D  George, surely you'd invite someone to dinner because you have some affection for them not because they're easy to cook for?

I'm not having a pop by the way, you comment actually made me laugh out aloud.  On my next curry night, I'm thinking of not inviting my bezzie mate 'Fat Paul' because I can see the look on peoples face when he approaches the layout.  It's like they're thinking "Oh no, fat Paul's at the food again, hope he leaves something for us" hahaha

Nah, I'd never leave Fat Paul out, he's way too entertaining to be ignored ;D

Ray