Topic: Zaal - Restaurant Base / Garabi

[curryhell]

Russ, not surprised the base turned out superb.  The Asian bay may give it that additional layer of flavour if you know what i mean :.  If you have any problems sourcing it, PM me.  Loads of quality AB over here and would be more than willing to post some over to you mate.  Enjoy using that top notch base and make sure you post loads of curry porn showing it in use 

[Aussie Mick]

Has anyone ever been told why veg ghee is used? I can't rationalise its use at all. When I used it in the distant past it made no discernable difference to curries or bases (unlike butter ghee).

Is it, perhaps, just because it's the cheapest oil available at trade prices?

That's interesting to hear mate. We can't get veg ghee down here, and I thought I was missing out on something.

Excellent work Russ. Can you please clarify the amount of mixed powder and other spices as I am seeing strange symbols where the figures should be seen.

Thanks

[StoneCut]

What an excellent opening post !!! Can you maybe amend some recipe links that use the Zaal base within ?

[solarsplace]

Hi

@curryhell

Many thanks for enthusiam and the very kind the offer, will PM you! - really glad you are enjoying this base recipe too

@Aussie Mick

Have updated post and replaced the fraction symbols with decimals and added (word measures in brackets) too. The fraction symbol issue is quite odd. Looked fine at home but looks messed up on work comp. Something to do with encoding and code pages I suppose.

@StoneCut

This base is a very flexable base. I have been using it for several months now and here are just a few examples of recipes that produced excellent results using this base:

Chewytikka Madras: http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=5634.0
976bar Bhuna: http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=6248.0
Chicken Mogul: http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=8656.0
Solars Bombay Aloo: http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=5553.0

Solars Channa Masala: I will post soon...
Zaal Chicken Tikka Roshney: I will post soon...
Zaal CTM: I will post soon...


@All

Have updated original post to say that Asian Bay is preffered over European for this recipe.

Regarding the use of veg ghee: At home I would insist on it for this base (As Az does) - because rightly or wrongly I think it makes a positive difference to the aroma and flavour. One can smell and taste a difference when frying hard between veg ghee and oil. I appreciate others may disagree, and that is fine of course. Please substitute with your favourite oil in that case.

Thanks

[Peripatetic Phil]

@Aussie Mick

Have updated post and replaced the fraction symbols with decimals and added (word measures in brackets) too. The fraction symbol issue is quite odd. Looked fine at home but looks messed up on work comp. Something to do with encoding and code pages I suppose.

These seemed OK in a PM to myself as a test, so trying them here :

• Unicode fractions :

[solarsplace]

Hi

Here you go Phil: http://www.spicesofindia.co.uk/acatalog/Indian-Food-Khanum-Pure-Vegetable-Ghee.html#aOGH003

Apparently vegetable ghee is rather unhealthy unfortunately. But I think this is something that has been discussed on the forum elsewhere, and all I can suggest is that one conducts ones own research on the subject and decides for themselves. However the quantity used in the base is fairly small in proportion I suppose.

Chances are, that your favourite BIR that you have been eating food from for years has been cooking your curry using veg ghee anyway...

Cheers

[Peripatetic Phil]

Thank you !

Apparently vegetable ghee is rather unhealthy unfortunately. But I think this is something that has been discussed on the forum elsewhere, and all I can suggest is that one conducts ones own research on the subject and decides for themselves. However the quantity used in the base is fairly small in proportion I suppose.

The most unhealthy activity in which I participate is called "living" : all other activities carry only a fractional risk (P < 1.0), whereas "living" is guaranteed to result in death (P = 1.0), usually in the first 100 years of one's life ...

** Phil.

[Salvador Dhali]

Top work, Solarsplace. This has become my default base style since it was revealed by the Fleet 5 back in February, and it's great to see it presented in an clear and easy to follow format.

My only (slight) variation on the theme is to add the whole spices after the blending stage and let the base tick over for 45 mins or so, rather than make an akhni stock. Having tried both methods (akhni stock and adding whole spices at the end) I've found the end results to be the same - plus you get the added bonus of occasionally crunching on a whole cardamom, piece of star anise or bit of cassia bark in the final dish.

Adds an element of surprise, texture and flavour hit to your curries!

[Micky Tikka]

Well done Solarsplace
For some reason cant find the little India base to compare was it similar

[Salvador Dhali]

Well done Solarsplace
For some reason cant find the little India base to compare was it similar

There you go, Michael: http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=8242.0