Tag Archives: curry

Quick Indian Recipe’s

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Friday night I did something unusual, I made a quick version of a biriyani and it tasted really nice, so I thought I would tell you about it. Firstly I should say that there is definitely no short cuts to making a good biriyani, so if you have the time, you should look at http://uktv.co.uk/food/recipe/aid/534257 for a good Madhur Jaffrey recipe.
So this isn’t really a biriyani recipe, but a curry and rice recipe cooked together. It took 20 minutes start to finish, certainly quicker than the local takeaway and I think tasted nicer.

Ingredients:
1 onion, diced
1 chopped chilli
1tbsp ghee or oil
1 1/2 tbsp curry powder
12 meatballs
1 jar of tomato based sauce
2 packets of microwaveable rice

Method
1. Heat a pan and add the ghee or oil.
2. Add the diced onion and fry until soft and starts to brown.
3. Add the chilli and soften.
4. Add the curry powder and cook until the raw spice smell disappears
5. Add the meatballs. (if using raw meatballs as apposed to the cooked ones you can get in the supermarket, then make sure that you brown them all over.
6. Add the tomato based sauce. I had some leftover homemade sauce from the night before, with added vegetables. I also added some water at this point so that it seemed a little bit too watery for a sauce, but remember the rice will absorb a lot of water. I then simmered this for a few minutes, to make sure that the meatballs were cooked/reheated all the way through.
7. Add the microwaveable rice and leave to simmer for 5 minutes.
8. Serve

This is by no means a authentic Indian recipe, but it did taste good.

Another good place to look for Indian recipes is www.tarladalal.com who has some great biriyani recipes including a really nice kofta biriyani which looks like this:

20120311-155653.jpg

I will try and put up some other recipes soon, try them and let me know what you think.

Cathy

This weekend…

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I have very little to do on a Thursday so I thought I might as well write a short blog.

This weekend the Chennai Challenge team of 2012 will be setting off to London for a weekend of training. I’m sure it will be filled with silly songs and dances and possibly even a snazzy PowerPoint presentation, but that’s all part of the fun of Chennai Challenge.

The YMCA boys certainly don’t mind us acting like complete fools. That’s probably one of the strangest qualities I’ve gained from going to India with Chennai Challenge; there’s nothing wrong with being a bit silly. That’s part of being outside of my comfort zone and without that we wouldn’t be prepared for the amazing work we are going to do in August.

Yet again this year I am amazed at people’s generosity and not just with their money. They have generously given their time and even promised their homes for evening events. Without them a curry night that has been organised and even a sausage and mash night would be completely impossible. My church this year has helped so much already.

As promised only a  short blog but just remember it’s perfectly fine to act like a monkey (Isaac) because it puts a smile on a small Indian boy’s face. And that is good. :)

CURRY CURRY CURRY

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So this is really a mini post. I like curry. Do you like curry?  Very soon there will be curry recipes provided by the lovely Cathy on this very blog – that’s right – we’re stretching our wings a little.  One of the great things about visiting India is being able to partake of the range of currys and other dishes available in the local area.  I’ve mentioned food before, but I am excited for Cathy’s Chilli Panneer, Lamb Kofta Biryani, South Indian Vegetable Korma.

Here though is someone’s paratha recipe:

http://trulyscrumptiousfood.com/2012/02/05/parathas-aka-the-best-flatbread-in-the-world/

True – the best flatbread in the world.  I haven’t tried the recipe here, but they sound pretty good.  I know that Cathy has a recipe that she will hopefully put on here for her parathas, which although I have not tried them I am reliably informed are delicious.

I am also keen for http://michelinmicrowave.wordpress.com/ to do some curry reviews.  Enjoy his witty commentary on various microwave meals.  I will be petitioning for some curry reviews (preferably Indian) soon.

Well, I have nothing much to say, just thought I would share my curry based thoughts of the day with you all.  Watch this space for more curry based blogs from Cathy!

And now – a picture of some curry:

English: Indian curries

Image via Wikipedia. I particularly like the authentic little pots. Couldn't find these when I was in India last time!

Great culture, even better food…

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This blog is going to be primarily about food. This is because I have so far bought primarily food. Lots of food. Amazing food!

The new tastes of Indian food is often a big challenge for team members when they first come to India and this was the same for me last year. But this year I know what I like and I know that trying new things finds you new favourite foods. So far I have spent the most money on food, approximately 10 pounds while most people have spent around 6 pounds. I just have developed a massive love for the food here. :D

So far I have eaten… Poori (didn’t like it last year, now I do), Vadai, Panner Butter Masala, Butter Chicken, Cheese Pav Baiji and Gobi 65… to name but a few dishes. I just love the flavours and the brilliant experience of dining out as a team. At the moment I am on a sugar high after eating three Gulab Jamuns (basically dough soaked in sugar, cooked in sugar, dipped in sugar… etc).

On another subject, today we met the new General Secretary of YMCA Madras and it was an enjoyable meeting, if very tiring. Then we did some shopping and planning for Yellagiri and Kottivakkum Boys Town which was fun and it really has made me look forward to running all the programmes. Tomorrow we are going to Boys Town in the morning and going to watch the Oasis football team in the afternoon. Should be another packed day and I will need to get more sleep than last night.

I’m loving settling in and I caught a bit of X-Men 2 on the TV earlier, making me feel a little at home in our nice little room. Please keep reading the blogs and praying for us, Chennai Challenge 2011 has started brilliantly. Barney :D x