Topic: Hi from downunder

[jonx1234]

Hi Everyone!

Havent had a real BIR style curry for years.. they just don't exist here in Australia. I've tried pretty much every 'curry' place in my area (sydney) and the curries just arent the same.. not even close!

The closest I've got with my home efforts is mixing the pataks sauce with the pataks paste.. but its nothing like the real thing.

Finally a website with an active forum to teach me how! I think I may actually break down in tears if I finally can make a real takeaway style curry after so many attempts.

A few noob questions.

-Is it better to do big bulk batches or can you experiment with smaller ones till you get the perfect mix?
- Are the spices/ingredients freely available from any supermarket?

I see there is loads of info on this board so i'm getting reading!...

Cheers,
Jon

[colin grigson]

Welcome Jon ,

Believe me mate .. you'll soon be knocking up some great BIR style curries ... just follow the recipes on here and you'll be weeping with joy !!     

[Vindaloo-crazy]

Greetings from an ex-pat in Hobart. This place is great. I use the Taz base and mix powder, works every time. real BIR curry with the scent, the taste, everything.

[Aussie Mick]

Hello from Perth. As Colin and VC have said. If you follow the instructions/recipes on here, you can't go wrong. Taz's base is good as is Chewytikkas and Cory Anders.

Cory Anders recipes come highly recommended, and are easy to follow. Make up a big batch and freeze it in plastic containers. it's surprising how quickly you use it up. (Crazy Clarkes sell the takeaway containers $2 for 7.)

Spices are available in any Indian supermarket. You will stuggle to get some of the Pataks pastes, but it won't make a huge difference using different brands. You cannot get "Kashmiri masala paste" by any manufacturer in Perth...I presume it'll be the same in Sydney. just go with the recipes without it, and they are still "bang on"

Happy curry cooking

[Cory Ander]

Welcome to the forum Jonx,

You can get almost all ingredients you need in Australia.  Many are available from most supermarkets.  Most specialist ingredients are available from most Asian stores.

You can easily get most "Patak" pastes from most supermarkets (and, certainly, from most Asian stores).  They include Patak "Tikka Paste" and "Tandoori Masala paste".  These are, seemingly, used in modern day BIR tikka (i.e. marinade) and tikka masala (e.g. chicken tikka masala) recipes, etc.

However, I personally prefer "Ferns" pastes (available from most Asian stores).  They also supply "Tikka Paste" and "Tandoori Masala Paste". 

There are several brands of "Kebab Paste".  Try Benjamins or Ahmeds (available from most Asian stores).

I have only found one brand of "Kashmiri Masala Paste" (used in some tikka marinade and onion bhaji recipes) - "Ahmeds"; available from many Asian stores.  If you live in Perth (Mick) then try one of the four Asian stores on High Road, Willetton (e.g Maharajah's).  There are also many Asian stores (Indian and Chinese) in Northbridge.

If you live in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne, then try Greens Road in Dandenong.  Or the high street in Dandenong.

If you live elsewhere (which I know you do Jonx), then sorry, I can't help you!    But I supsect the above products are also readily available elsewhere in Australia.

Having said all of that, I believe that you are far better off making your own spice mxes and pastes.  Everything, to do so, is also readily available in Australia.

The one thing that you can't get (or that I have yet to find) is vegetable ghee.  I am told (by Asian store owners) that Austalia disallows it to be sold!

The other thing is coconut flour.  But you can get it from health stores (at $20 a kilo!) 

Hope this helps?

[jonx1234]

Cheers for all the feedback guys, yeh I can find the pataks paste easily in most places in sydney. As i said its the closest u can get to BIR out of the jar.. but I'm looking to make the real thing so i'll be making my own paste, base etc from scratch.

My favourite was always the lamb jalfrezi so tomorrow I am attempting taz or ahmed's base and taking it from there..

Wish me luck in my new curry adventure, I've tried doing it from scratch before and have gotten closeish but I never realised that you need to do a base sauce then fry the spices for aroma etc..

This place is a goldmine of info!

[Aussie Mick]

I have only found one brand of Kashmiri Masala paste - Ahmeds; available from many Asian stores.  If you live in Perth (Mick) then try the the Asian stores on High Road, Willetton (e.g Maharajah's). 

Thanks for that Cory. If the weather is fine, guess where I will be riding to on me GSX this weekend?

And yes, good luck Jonx. Make up your base gravy, follow a recipe on here and you will be amazed!!

[jonx1234]

Well I tried admins new base sauce recipe from http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=1894.0 and wow.. I can't believe its that simple.. the gravy came out perfect better than any of the takeways ive been to here.

The only thing is I dont know what spice mix to go with the base sauce.. I just had the base gravy with some meat and vegetables and it was pretty damn near..

What is a good jalfrezi recipe that matches this base sauce because ive still got some left.. and I think i'm pretty close to cracking it!

[Les]

Welcome to cr0 jonx
In the beginning i used the same spice mix as is used in the base, made to the same ratio, (with a bit of Garam Masala thrown in) Now i use Abdul's 8 spice mix, But will try the mix that DD uses, mentioned in a another post, But in all honesty i think it would work with any mix of your choice, add some take some away until you get what is good for you,
It's a good all round base which i would use with any recipe, Just my Opinion of course
Happy Cooking

Les

[Aussie Mick]

I have only found one brand of "Kashmiri Masala Paste" (used in some tikka marinade and onion bhaji recipes) - "Ahmeds"; available from many Asian stores.  If you live in Perth (Mick) then try one of the four Asian stores on High Road, Willetton (e.g Maharajah's).

Sorry to hijack the thread Jonx....BUT....

I took a trip down to Willeton today and visited 3 of the spice stores. I asked in each one and they said they didn't have it. In Mahahrajah's, I told the guy I'd driven down from Joondalup, and I'd been told that they would have it, so  he went out the back to have a look and came out with a jar of "Kashmiri masala" Ahmed's brand. I was well impressed with Magharajah's and ended up spending just short of $100!!!

Got meself a couple of cheap Tawa's. Cheapest I've seen in Perth and a good sized ally stock pan with lid too. And the obligatory samosa for the drive home. ;D

THANKS for the info CA!!