Quote from: peterandjen on January 25, 2011, 04:07 PM
Nice one

Welcome aboard!

The more like minded "curryheads" that get involved - the better

Hi Phil

Didn't mean to put any kind of implied abrupt stop to the discussions, just my humble opinion and suggestion at this point

Hi Ray

Would probably be polite to wait and see if Achmal has a suggestion or two and then set up a poll with those suggestions on it too?

CHeers

SP

Hi All

Please can we go with suggestion 'A' use the whole spices as per the recipe spec to start with?

What's the worst that's going to happen? the odd bit of husk? just blend for longer and save up for a better one  ;D

With all the conversions and fishing out of husks and densities etc, there is too much room for everyone to basically be making something quite different from each other.

Of-course in the future we can revisit this, but surely we should start out at the same place?

Cheers

Quote from: PaulP on January 25, 2011, 11:23 AM
Hi Ray,

...snip...

How about Chewy's recently posted madras recipe:

https://curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=5376.0

Hi

Was just about to post the same thing! - Madras suggestion seconded.

No real objections to any of the spice suggestions. Only made the base once and used whole spice as suggested.

This fairly cheap hand blender has no problems reducing the base to a smooth consistency: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kenwood-Wizard-HB615-Blender-Speed/dp/B00023C4Z4/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1295954822&sr=1-1

Plus the quantity produced is reasonably small so a blending in a jug blender is not out of the question, if a little bit annoying.

But will the base actually be different between using whole or pre-made powder?

May keep one portion of whole spice base aside and make the next with pre-powdered to do a side by side comparison.

Cheers

Quote from: Razor on January 24, 2011, 06:30 PM
Guy's,

Can I suggest that, first off, we use the Taz base and the Taz mix, using the Taz method, then, we could use the same ingredients to do the, fry off method and see what the major differences are, if any?

I know from experience, that if you fry off the garlic, ginger, spices tom puree (in that order) before any base goes in, you DO end up with a very oily curry.  It's no problem for me because I love to spoon off the excess and use for my next curry but I would say that using the fry method, really intensifies the tomato flavour, perhaps a little too much!

Whaddya think?

Ray

Hi Ray

Great suggestion!

Whatever we decide as a whole, I'm going to do a side by side comparison of fry vs reduce this week anyway, just to satisfy curiosity as its a new base and mix for me.

I can fully understand that some (including myself) feel a little unsure to say the least with the full blown reduction technique as it does seem somewhat alien.

Actually thinking about it - Dippy seems to use this kind of technique too? (no real need to discuss, just a passing thought! )

Cheers guys

Hi

Always wear decent trousers and non-absorbent shoes when cooking!

Well, yesterday evening had all the potential to turn into a complete balls up!

Managed to knock the frying pan off the stove twice!

1st time was at the g&g stage for some Saag Aloo. Oil and g&g all down me, on the cooker top, down the cooker front and in a nice sticky meter or so radius from the cooker all round the floor.

This obviously lead to some right royal f-ing & c-ing.

Some cleaning up later two Saag Aloo's were produced without further incident.

Next came my first attempt at the Chewy Madras with the Taz base, and f*** me if I didn't get as far as adding some base for the reduction method when I knocked the f****** pan off the stove again!

It went everywhere! - what an almighty mess when the pan hit the floor it went in every direction! - and let me tell you the Taz base and mix has a massive turmeric staining capability!

Anyway the moral to this story is to always wear suitable clothes and apron when cooking! and preferably don't be really tired (having been sorting out the loft all day), may have had the odd can of larger too, which probably did'nt help

Anyway, it turned out well in the end and can thoroughly recommend the Taz base, mix and Chewy Madras

Hi

WIth reference to https://curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=5370.msg53209;topicseen#msg53209

Would like to fully agree with using the Taz base.

Would also like to put forward using the Taz mix powder too.

Used the cooking method as specified in the recipe and found no issues, it all seemed to work very well. I do think (at this stage) that we should use the method it was designed for.

Regards

Quote from: emin-j on January 22, 2011, 09:44 PM
Right then,made Taz's Base Yesterday and I used 450m of Oil from my dedicated Bhaji fryer, I dry roasted the Coriander and Cumin seeds and then ground them.
All went well with the cooking of the Base and the Oil that surfaced at the end of the simmer I stirred back into the Base.

Cooked our Curries tonight ( 2 x Madras ) and started by frying the G/G ,Tom Paste (watered down) then the Spices,first ladle of Base went in and I reduced this down as much as I dare having the Spices etc in the pan,second ladle of Base,pre fried Chicken then last ladle of Base,pinch of Garam Masala squirt of Lemon Dressing,cover pan for last 30 seconds ( as per chewytikka post ).
Job done 
And the result ........... very very nice  ;D

Easily as good if not better than our average local T/A but would have to do a side by side taster to see if it matched our favourite T/A.
As a guide the Mrs usually leaves some of her Sat Curry so She can have a taster Sunday tea time but tonight She ate the lot !  :

As Paulp said it was very Oily.

Hi E-J and All

Concur with your findings!

Made the Taz base & mix and the Chewy Madras all 100% to spec and as specified using reduction method and the results were superb, absolutely superb. Beat my local TA no question.

Regards

Thoroughly charming I'm sure!

Rogan Josh

A popular, medium-spiced curry made with tomatoes. Tomato-based curries tend to be the most aggressive when it comes to bowel movements the next day, and rogan josh is no exception. What comes out of your anus that fateful morning will resemble hellfire more than excrement, and the experience has been likened to the feeling of "shitting out Satan himself".

Hi

If all goes to plan, I was going to try the Zeera Restaurant Madras (https://curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=5376.0) with the Taz base and Taz spice mix tomorrow.

Might be a worthy contender?

cheers