Category: Basics

Al’s Mix Powder

Revelation time: there are a bunch of BIR techniques used in curry cookery. “BIR?”, I hear you ask. BIR = British Indian Restaurants. One of the main exponents of these is Al of Al’s Kitchen on YouTube. Al is a

Posted in Basics Tagged with: ,

Akhni Stock

This is part of my recent BIR (British Indian Rastaurant) curry cookery revelation. It is a flavouring stock to be used in the making of BIR Base Gravy. Planning serves: n/a preparation time: 5 mins cooking time: 15 mins Ingredients

Posted in Basics Tagged with: ,

Thai Green Curry Paste

This is really just the red chilli version of the Thai Green Curry Paste. It’s a combination of a spice mix by for a Thai-style curry by Nigel Slater and Muoi Khuntilanont’s Kitchen. Muoi’s original uses 15-30 red birdseye chillis;

Posted in Basics Tagged with:

Satay Sauce

Nasi Goreng featured quite heavily as a reliable staple during our trip to Sri Lanka, where it was usually served along with a Chicken Satay skewer. Once back at home, luckily before the distressing bombings of Easter 2019, I found

Posted in Basics

Nasi Goreng Paste

Nasi Goreng became a bit of a staple on my trip to Sri Lanka. It all starts with the paste to give its distinctive flavour. Planning serves: 4 preparation time: 15 mins cooking time: n/a Ingredients 2 banana shallots, roughly

Posted in Basics Tagged with:

Sweet Pastry

My pastry chef says that this recipe makes a very maleable, easy-to-handle dough. It is basically a cheating approach to a more traditional French pâté sucrée. Planning serves: n/a preparation time: 10 mins cooking time: n/a Ingredients 175g plain flour

Posted in Basics Tagged with:

Thai Red Curry Paste

This is really just the red chilli version of the Thai Green Curry Paste. It’s a combination of a spice mix by for a Thai-style curry by Nigel Slater and Muoi Khuntilanont’s Kitchen. Muoi’s original uses 15-30 red birdseye chillis;

Posted in Basics Tagged with: ,

Sweet Rich Shortcrust Pastry

This crisp and crumbly mouth-watering pastry made with self-raising flour breaks all the rules but gives a special taste and texture to all sweet pies, large or small. Planning serves:   preparation time: 10 mins cooking time:   Ingredients 8

Posted in Basics Tagged with:

Savoury Rich Shortcrust Pastry

Planning serves:   preparation time: 10 mins cooking time:   Ingredients 8 oz self-raising flour 1 tsp salt 3 oz butter 2 oz lard water, to mix Method Put the flour, salt and butter into a food processor and pulse

Posted in Basics Tagged with:

Potato Gnocchi

Unlike fresh pasta, the commercial versions of which are so good now that it hardly seems worth making it yourself (unless for special ravioli), commercial potato gnocchi are relatively heavy compared to their homemade equivalents. Making your own is, therefore,

Posted in Basics Tagged with: