B&M sell them for about 50p per can. I tried the Balti one last week. I had to water it down a lot more than it says to do on the can.

It was better than their pastes but it had a different edge to the taste that I didn't like... so I tried to change it.

I did so much to try to alter the taste that I might as just have done my own from scratch without the Pataks and it would have been better too.

I don't know what base recipe you are using but BIR do put white cabbage in their base gravy. Also carrot, peppers, sometimes a potato too. Coriander stalks, and of course onions.

Try frying-off those ingredients together in the saucepan with the oil before adding the water.

Quote from: Edwin Catflap on May 19, 2014, 03:11 PM
Hi , here's a tip, I make mine separately with just enough water to cover the garlic or ginger,then blend and then freeze in ice cube trays. Once frozen i usually decant into freezer bags then pop back into the freezer.

Ed

You can also buy them ready frozen in blocks. They are great value for money.

I thought it worth posting a link to this as I have tried other Guardian recipies for Perfect Paella and Perfect Pizza bases and they were fantastic.

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2013/nov/13/how-to-make-perfect-onion-bhajis

I made a really great one tonight that was very low in fat and salt.

Chopped onions
Can of Sainsbury's mixed beans in mild chilli sauce
300g Quorn mince
Can of chopped tomatoes
2 tablespoons of sun-dried tomato paste
Splash of Worcestershire Sauce
Hot chilli powder
Black pepper

You can also buy frozen Methi. I have some in the freezer by a company called Shana. I think I bought it in Asda.

When I ask counter staff some questions about ingredients etc (regardless of the establishment) they tell me that it takes a couple of years to learn how to cook the curries. I still don't believe that. It can't be THAT complicated.

Look out for the following in freezer sections of Asda and BIR suppliers food shops:

Taj crushed garlic
Taj crushed ginger
Taj crushed ginger & garlic

There are no other added ingredients. Only 97p per 400g bag from Asda. Using them saves a lot of prep time and money. One of my best ever purchases!

I use the garlic blocks in lots of different foods. For example, melt a garlic block with butter and make your own garlic bread incredibly quickly.

I use Pollock fillets (skinless and boneless). They are very cheap when bought frozen. They hold together well when cooked in a curry. I also use them in paella.

I really don't like Pataks pastes as they have an edge to them that tastes... wrong.

However,  this weekend I bought a new product... Sharwood's balti paste... as it was on offer.

I tried it tonight as I was in a rush, added some chopped tomatoes, tomato puree, drop of water, prawns, spinach, chick peas, peas... and it was very good. It didn't have that horrible edge to it that Pataks have. Very nice flavour.

I look forward to using it with a base gravy.