2 points why BIR's dont use ghee. first I would imagine is as Stew stated is cost versus oil and secondly, i'm pretty sure ghee would not stand up to the very hight temperatures used in BIR cookery without burning. Sunflower oil, which seems to be the BIR's oil of choice is not only cheap but has a very high smoking temperature which is well suited to BIR cooking methods.

also - ghee is very bad for you in large ammounts after all its just clarified butter, sunflower oil has got a lot of plus points, cheap, high temp use and its one of the healthier oils around atm.

Kev.

I think we can only say we've taken it as far as we can is when we're all emulating our local BIR curries 100% time after time, which I'm sure the vast majority, if not all of us are not - that's why we're here. So I voted to keep the status quo - and not the group either

Kev.

What's KTC Oil? just a brand is it?

Kev.

hi santa - its the (rather expensive) Barts brand which is cut down with other indredients so i beleive? understand that the blocks of resin are better, what u think?

will try some in the hot oil at the start of tomorrows chicken vindy

cheers Kev.

anyone use asa in their dishes? christ doesnt it stink lol got some today out of curiosity more than anything - shall be testing it out tomorrow.

Kev.

Hi schweiky and welcome aboard, not strictly a dessert this but nice all the same, mango lassi - seen floyd do it on his floyd on india series, it's just mango flesh, greek yougurt and milk blitzed in a blender - serve cool it's delish

Kev.

yep I'll agree with that santa.

Kev.

the knorr cubes have a stiff paste like texture so maybe they are just foil wrapped versions of the catering paste? anyway - I use them in my base sauces and lots of other stuff and very good they are too

Kev.

if you take another look at the swansea BIR video - the flames are exactly as haldi describes - although I do agree with santa that the flame should be blue - yellow is (usually) not good mmmm interesting one this 

Kev.

p/s - anyone tried once of these (7kw) - http://www.eurocosm.com/Application/Products/Cooking-products/hot-wok-GB.asp

Hi Haldi,
as a matter of interest, how much did the hob cost you :P

as far as burning the spices are concerned - since I have upped the cooking temperature, even on my poxy domestic hob, i've found it's too damb easy to burn the spices, the spice mix I use atm is the bruce edwards mix and I've burnt quite a lot latelly in trying to master the new technique, so I made a paste by cooking a batch in oil as you do, Ive found it stops the burning problem and gives off a much more noticable aroma.

Wonder if BIR's use ready cooked pastes? according to patak's they do - but they would say that wouldn't they

Kev