Cooking Lessons with Az

[solarsplace]

Hi Everyone

For all of your viewing pleasures - here is the next instalment. This is Az cooking us one of the dishes we requested him to demonstrate - 'Saag Bhaji'.

I guess we can tidy these video clips up and get them in the curry videos section so they don't get lost when this thread calms down a little?

Here you are:

Restaurant Saag Bhaji

[curryhell]

Nice one Russ. You can  see what an expert Az is with that spoon compared to my limp wristed efforts . I like the way he quickly checks the seasoning just to make sure it's right ;D

[Peripatetic Phil]

My sincere thanks to all who attended the master-class at Zaal for their dedication in making the results of their research available to all.  It is certainly an eye-opener to learn of the degree of singeing that Az aims for when he first fries his spices -- this was something that I used to do by accident in the bad old days (before I learned of the central role of the base gravy) and the results were invariably inedible.  It is, unfortunately, very unlikely that I shall ever get the opportunity to try this for myself, as SWMBO would either murder me or divorce me if (as she would put it) "the house stunk of burned spices for over a week" ...

** Phil.

[jb]

Here's my version of the sag bhaji being cooked...

restaurant sag aloo

[curryhell]

Well done jb. Good to get a different shot angle on it. Damn tasty it was too

[curryhell]

Does anyone know whether this "Coconut milk powder" is suitable for use as the coconut powder in Az's Masala sauce?

http://www.theasiancookshop.co.uk/coconut-milk-powder--maggi-2229-p.asp

Don't know how I missed this Chris. Coconut flour or powder is fine. Coconut milk powder is a different animal completely. Not 100% sure it would work

[ELW]

Does anyone know whether this "Coconut milk powder" is suitable for use as the coconut powder in Az's Masala sauce?

http://www.theasiancookshop.co.uk/coconut-milk-powder--maggi-2229-p.asp

Don't know how I missed this Chris. Coconut flour or powder is fine. Coconut milk powder is a different animal completely. Not 100% sure it would work

they are different, but both flavour with coconut & thicken a bit, like adding flour/water, as long as its not dessicated it should be fine, i've seldom seen coconut flour for sale in any or the asian c&c's here
ELW

[Ian S.]

Wonderful Saag Bhaji videos, guys, and between both of them I think I've got enough info to try it out for myself. Thank you again.

Yes, very simple.  A medium sized onion finely chopped, 5 chillis roughly diced (right up my street) tsp salt 1 1/2 to 2 tsps of tumeric all fried in a chef's spoon of veg ghee and then in with the fresh spinach. Cook till wilted down and then cook some more . No mix powder and no gravy - simples ;D

So I take it from the vids that's 5 garlic cloves roughly diced, CH?! ;D My eyes popped out of my head when I saw your original post! Saag Phall, maybe ...  ;D

Looks great. Did it achieve the dryness you were after?

Ian
--

[curryhell]

Wonderful Saag Bhaji videos, guys, and between both of them I think I've got enough info to try it out for myself. Thank you again.

Yes, very simple.  A medium sized onion finely chopped, 5 chillis roughly diced (right up my street) tsp salt 1 1/2 to 2 tsps of tumeric all fried in a chef's spoon of veg ghee and then in with the fresh spinach. Cook till wilted down and then cook some more . No mix powder and no gravy - simples ;D

So I take it from the vids that's 5 garlic cloves roughly diced, CH?! ;D My eyes popped out of my head when I saw your original post! Saag Phall, maybe ...  ;D

Looks great. Did it achieve the dryness you were after?

Ian
--

Hi Ian.  That should have read 5/6 large cloves of finely sliced garlic. Then a whole medium sized finely chopped onion.  Sorry to disappoint mate but at 2.04 you'll see the chilli going in ;D .   I think all tried it and nobody complained about the heat :.  They were just green finger chillies though .  Whilst it was a superb dish it was Az's take on saag bhaji, different from what  i am looking for.  On the plus side i spotted something at Az's which may be the key to the dry spinach bhaji.  I've had 3 attempts so far, none which i want to write about .  But i may have just sussed it after last nights meal at another local BIR i rarely used and Sundays experiences and observations :  I will keep you posted on the appropriate thread.

[curryhell]

Does anyone know whether this "Coconut milk powder" is suitable for use as the coconut powder in Az's Masala sauce?

http://www.theasiancookshop.co.uk/coconut-milk-powder--maggi-2229-p.asp

Don't know how I missed this Chris. Coconut flour or powder is fine. Coconut milk powder is a different animal completely. Not 100% sure it would work

they are different, but both flavour with coconut & thicken a bit, like adding flour/water, as long as its not dessicated it should be fine, i've seldom seen coconut flour for sale in any or the asian c&c's here
ELW

Loads of it down this neck of the woods ELW.  Apparently coconut milk powder dissolves and melts into the dish whereas the other merge and thicken, so i've read