Oh I really cant bring myself to say it 

Im sure secretsanta will elaborate once again  ;D

No, I understand and accept what youre saying bobby. 

Maybe put them head to head with the saffron madras too then (or the rajver base and madras)?  I think all youll be doing is proving secretsantas (and domis) point

And that scares me 

Quote from: Bobby Bhuna on March 11, 2008, 01:58 PM
I'm putting two popular and supposedly versatile base sauces head to head, to see which one is superior.

Maybe put them head to head using darths madras recipe bobby and see how that pans out?  Probably prove secretsanta right again (maybe) 

Quote from: adriandavidb on March 07, 2008, 09:05 AM
I was interested also to read about adding bicarb.  I know this is something chip shops do when making 'mushy peas', presumably for the same reason, to help them break down.

Apparently this was done in olden days more so to preserve the colour of the vegetables (like a colour fixer actually).  However it was also found to destroy vitamins and therefore fell into disuse.  My good chef friend also alerted me to this interesting fact.

http://www.all-about-cooking.com/bicarbonate_of_soda.html

Quote from: Bobby Bhuna on March 11, 2008, 11:06 AM
It's not like the Darth Madras lacked Tomatoes, my girlfriend is a bit of a tomato fiend. With a different judge it could have easily swung the other way

But it did didnt it?  Because there were none in the base and only 1 tsp of tomato puree in rajvers madras recipe.  Whereas darth adds passatta in his madras recipe and the saffron base has tomatoes?

Quote from: Secret Santa on March 11, 2008, 11:36 AM
Cheeky sod!

Its a compliment secretsanta!  ;D

I hope you dont find this too offensive bobby, but I think this is really interesting.

A good chef friend of mine (shes a member here but declines to post, I think shes shy  ) was telling me that one of the first things they are taught is to not use disimilar metals (eg and aluminum pot and a stainless steel spoon).

She mentioned that if you do this with, say, bechamel sauce or custard, you quite likely end up with a disgusting grey colour.

Presumably its because an electolytic cell (battery) is set up between the two disimilar metals.  I was suprised that the reaction rate is so high but I guess its to do with the elevated temperatures.

Just goes to show huh?  Maybe its not just onions that can cause bitterness in the base? 

An interesting appraisal of the virtues of a cheap asian clever

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPyR2w0juAI

Quote from: Bobby Bhuna on March 11, 2008, 10:19 AM
After many of you pointed out that the true comparison between the bases would really have to use a Madras recipe in order to be fair to the Darth base, (since this is the kind of curry for which it was intended)

As I understand it darth happened to like madras and vindaloo and therefore added chilli powder to the base.  Otherwise the base was allegedly from a restaurant (despite what curryking may otherwise think) and is versatile

Quote
I defrosted some more base sauce and went to work

How long had each been in the freezer for bobby?  Time changes the consistency of the sauce significantly.  Ill wager that darths base has been there longer (judging by the consistancy in your earlier post)

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Saffron at the top, Darth at the bottom)

I can only see left and right Bobby? 

Quote
My girlfriend agreed that they were very similar but decided that she preferred the Saffron base as it was more "Tomatoey", which she liked

Thats hardly surprising bobby since there is no tomato in darths base (he adds it to his madras recipe which you didnt use) and only 1 tsp in the rajver madras recipe.  This is where secretsanta is maybe correct (for once), darths madras recipe is matched to his madras recipe regarding two things in particular, the addition of chilli and the absence of tomato in his base.  In this regard its an "unusual" base.

Quote
So, overall, it's still a win for Saffron but the Darth base does really come into its own far more when used with a Madras type recipe. However, Saffron still beat the Darth base at its own game (only just) and offers far more versatility

So overall, you probably need to compare darths madras (made with darths base) with the saffron madras (made with the saffron base)

Quote from: Domi on March 10, 2008, 11:29 AM
I have to agree with that, Rai...

Awwww, you really dont have to Domi. most people dont, just watch this space!