Maybe they tried leaving the base sauce outside the fridge to ferment... and it fermented a little too much.

Quote from: Blondie on April 25, 2005, 12:53 PM
all that is left is to perfect any other dishes that you like to eat and find yourself a new hobby

Or open a BIR.

Quote from: Blondie on April 24, 2005, 06:21 PM
A couple of you mention Fennel powder, has anyone seen this in the shops, or would I need to grind it myself

I've never seen it in an Indian grocery, either.? Your best bet is a store that sells only herbs and spices.? Penzey's in the US has it, as does The Spice Shop in the UK.? But since you don't know if it's going to be worthwhile, and since ground spices go stale quickly, and since you could easily be stuck with another useless Indian ingredient, I"d just grind up some in a mortar & pestle or spice grinder to use for the test run.? Of course, if you make a lot of pizza or pasta, you'd probably find enough uses for a whole jar.

-Mary

Quote from: DARTHPHALL on April 24, 2005, 01:50 PM
All my recipes are in teaspoon,desertspoon & tablespoon ,all are heaped? spoons

Thanks, I'll make a notation on your recipes.

Quote from: DARTHPHALL on April 24, 2005, 01:50 PM
but don't make it your mission to get it 100% exact

? I thought that was the whole idea of this website!

You could add the tiniest amount of ground fennel to each different curry you make.? If they all taste better with it, then it should be a good addition to the curry base.? If even one curry tastes wrong, then it?s probably something they add later to individual curries.? I?d use ground fennel for the test only because it?s easier to measure a miniscule amount and have it disperse evenly in the sauce.

-Mary? ?

Quote from: Mark J on April 21, 2005, 09:24 PM
if I ever post a recipe then my measurements are always as follows:

TSP - 5ml, this is a level teaspoon unless stated
TBSP - 15ml, again level unless stated.

I dont use it but I believe a desert spoon is 10ML and a rounded desert spoon is probably a level TBSP

Thanks.? That's what I used in making your Dhansak recipe, and it turned out great!?

Quote from: Curry King on April 22, 2005, 07:47 AM
Next time I make a curry il pre-measure everything and post back, I do think though that if a tsp is specified a little bit more or a little bit less shouldn't really make much of a difference.

Thanks.? The difference between "level" and "heaping" might matter, but otherwise maybe not.? More so with strong spices like fennel and cumin, less with coriander, I suppose.?

When a recipe is posted, it would be a big help to know, in general,?whether the spoon measurements were level, rounded, or heaping.? Also, how large a ladle was?used for the curry gravy.? That way we could reproduce the curries exactly as intended.? Or has this already been standardized and I missed it.? Thanks.?

-Mary??

This is what I'd like to know,? if you don't think the questions will antagonize the chef
Do you use chicken broth (jelly)?
Do you skim oil off the curries & add back to the base sauce?
Is MSG added?
Do you want the oil in the pan to catch on fire -- does that add that special flavor?
Is the base sauce left out to ferment??

Mark, I tried your dhansak recipe last night, and it was delicious!? I?d say it was the best dhansak I?ve ever eaten, but I've already admitted not having it before.

Details:? Made a double recipe and used 6 oz. of lentils (good proportion of lentils).? Only 3 Tbl. each oil & ghee -- the thought of 6 Tbl. each was too scary.? Didn?t have passata so used a dab of tomato paste and some water to thin it.?? Lemon juice rather than wedges -- seemed more accurate.? Less curry gravy at the end because I ran out.? (Notice the planning that went into this meal!)? All in all, a very nice curry.? And I repeat your warning about having everything ready to go before cooking.? The beginning is rather frenzied and there?s no time to do anything but add and stir.

-Mary

Quote from: curryqueen on April 20, 2005, 02:38 PM
I have just tried out this madras recipe (without chicken or prawns) and to be honest with you I don't like it.?

I'm sorry to hear that.? I guess the website was too good to be true.