Hi all, 
Next base i make im going to start re-using the oil.  The question i have is how long is it safe to keep the skimmed oil and small amount of base, as one batch of base sauce can last a while unless you feed the family curry 3 times a day. do you scale down the base so you make it more often or something?  My head's gone.

Well, i tried it last thurs or friday and the base aint very good at all.  the worst ive done for a while.  I think the spice mix and pre cooked stuff is good though.  maybe it'll work better with bruce edwrds or k dhillons base adding the "spicy tomato mix instead of the normal recipe.   

the sheek kebab doesnt seem right either with all them chillies.  ive never had one with finely chopped green chillies in it!  I look forward to trying the onion bhaji though cos mine are total crap! (ive been making the batter too thin and cooking at too high a heat by the look of things)

tried it last night and its really nothing different to what any of us have done before. the mrs liked it but i didnt think it was anything special.  None of "that taste" here - unless i messed up somewhere down the line.  I think i prefered the bruce edwards base!

Ive just made the base sauce and pre cooked chicken. im now leaving it to marinate a bit in the spices for a few hours, ill av it for supper and well see wot happens. 

Ive noticed the missing taste in  quite a few bir/takeaways, i could make as good if not better.  Since my favourite closed down a while back i havnt had a really good one.  Maybe it could be something to do with new health and safety regulations - something to do with re-using oil or something, who knows.

i have never been to birmingham.  So whats the difference between A regular BIR and a birmingham balti house? 

cant find the recipe, can someone post it please?

I tried the original recipe and it was very nice - i think i spoilt it by cooking it for too long though as it lost the amazing smell that came off it while it was cooking.  Personally id stay away from the pat chapman modified stuff cos judgin by his books he knows nothin.  probably the aromatic curry powder thing is something he invented.

No, i agree that seasoned salt doesnt make a noticeable difference, i just use it with anything spicy because of the spices in it.  As for msg i wouldnt worry about it, i mentioned before that i read its actually better for you than salt.  There was somethin about it causing cancer or something - but then again they recon eating red meat (and lots of other stuff) will give you cancer these days.