Agree with BB. Considering how close the cream of the cr0 crop are, there's just too many eyebrow-raisers in this to even bother giving this a try.

SnS, what put the issue to rest for me this time (not that I didn't believe you!) was that it clicked that "because its there" might be just an acknowledgment that some BIRs might be doing it to cut costs - which I can believe. I was already bought into your suggestion that it wasn't necessary for BIR taste!

Still smells good though...

Recycling - that's an interesting comment. I never thought of that.

Just reading the Bruce Edwards post, and he makes a point of saying its not necessary - which is in line with those who have witnessed demos doing it both ways. The "because its there" reason Bruce gives may be all there is to it.

This is a must-do. Really looking forward to my results as well as others on the site.

Let's see... if those trying it follow Bruce's advice to the letter, we won't have results posted until... Monday!

Some very interesting nuances in this one...

Reclaimed oil? Possibly yes, but I think it may depend on the ingredients in the base you reclaimed from. The stuff I reclaimed from the Saffron is close but is missing "something" aroma-wise that seems to be consistent in BIR smell.

Also, its been posted that reclaiming the oil is not a consistently practiced thing, that some BIRs don't do it.

I've been making my own curries for some time, thanks to cr0, happy as Larry.

Tonight I stopped by a takeaway on my way home (its been months). Since I was starving, on my way home I popped my hand into the carton of chicken tikka and ate a few, and a good rip of naan.

Finished the meal when I got home. Wasn't too impressed, I've made as good (in one way or another).

But the smell is something I've never reproduced. About an hour later I got into my car to go get something, and whoa, the BIR smell was there. I know it will be there in the morning.

I cannot identify it. Its not methi, not onion, not any individual spice. My BE spice mix smells somewhat close, but not quite.

Has anyone figured it out, or have any suspicions on what it might be?

-- Josh

I think some of the old Darth Phall recipes used it, in the base and otherwise. To me it looks like (I've never tried though) a hotter restaurant spice mix (added chilli).

-- Josh

Bhajis generally don't reheat well. If you're going to go bhajis, best to make "just in time"

-- Josh

Yes, defrost. Don't add frozen.

I store mine in half-sandwich / 250ml sized plastic  zip bags. 15 minutes in luke warm water thaws them quickly.

Hope this helps.

-- Josh

Quotethe shadier looking the take away, the tastier the curry

Scary but often very true!