Red Thai Fish Curry

 

A few vegetables, some fish and a jar of thai red curry paste .. ta dah!  Red thai fish curry ... in under 30 minutes.  Just the thing for a bunch of hungry people after an afternoon of walking.

Jasmine rice
Coconut oil (or other mild cooking oil)

Onion

Garlic

Thai curry paste

Mushrooms

Red pepper

Green beans

Cod

Pak choi

Coconut cream

1.  Fry chopped onion gently in coconut oil until soft.

2.  Add crushed garlic and red thai paste to taste (the brands have different strengths, read their instructions), fry for another couple of minutes.

3.  Prep vegetables and chop into bite sized pieces.

4.  Cook the rice - I use the adsorption method - cover with cold water 1 inch over the surface of the rice in the pan, heat to boiling, then slam the lid on and turn the heat right down  It should be ready in about 12 minutes, but it's quite forgiving if you leave it alone and let it steam.

5.  Add most of the veg to the curry sauce, but not the pak choi.  Fry for a couple of minutes, then add some water and simmer until a bit soft, about 10 minutes.

6.  Add thicker stems of pak choi, stir in, and simmer for 1 minute more.

7.  Add coconut cream and dissolve into the sauce, add more water if it's too thick.

8.  When the coconut cream is fully mixed in add chunks of cod, lay over soft green leaves of pak choi.

9.  Put the lid on and let the curry cook gently for another 5 minutes.

10.  Check that the fish is cooked - opaque throughout.

11. Serve, scoff, receive praise.

Caribbean chicken curry and rice

 

Movie night at Kitchenfairies HQ ... the film is "Straight Outta Compton" - a wholesome american tale of rap, drugs and alcohol, etc ... but also, dig deeper - Dr Dre (the dj) has dug deep in these troubled times and donated a shed load of money to help feed the community in Compton, joining up with restaurant chain "Everytable" ... and has provided 150K meals to people who need them in his community.  Respect!  This is my interpretation of one of the dishes on the menu.  It were lovely!

Vegetable oil

Onion

Garlic

Caribbean curry spice mix

Green beans

Chicken thighs 

Yellow pepper

Mushrooms

Courgette

Tomatoes

Chicken stock

Mango chutney

Basmati rice

Natural yogurt

1.  Sautee chopped onion and crushed garlic in oil, add in curry powder.  Add chicken thighs, skin side down to brown a little.

2.  Chop all the veg, turn the chicken, chuck veg in the pot, stir.

3.  Add about a pint of chicken stock and simmer for 30 minutes, stir in a couple of spoons of mango chutney and simmer again for about 10 minutes.

4.  Cook the rice.

5.  Serve, with natural yogurt, scoff ... 

Spiced lamb, mushroom and pea curry, dhal and rice

Oops - I forgot to take a picture of this dinner before people dived in - but there were some leftovers, so I took a quick snap of them.  The thing which really was a shame to miss were the lovely spiced lamb steaks - but hey ho!

Lamb steaks
Natural yogurt
Curry mix (bassar masala in our case)
Rice
Red lentils
Onion
Garlic
turmeric
mustard seeds
fennel seeds
cumin seeds
Mushrooms
water
potato
peas

1.  Marinade the lamb steaks in spices mixed into yogurt.
2.  Put both the rice and lentils on to boil.
3.  Fry chopped onion, crushed garlic and various spices, fry off for a few minutes, then add chopped mushrooms.  After they have fried for a few minutes add some water and some finely chopped potato (the potato softens and helps form a sauce).
4.  When curry is nearly done add the peas, and fry the lamb steaks.
5.  Finally make a tarka for the dhal by frying spices of your choice in oil, chuck over the dhal as you take it all to the table.
6.  Serve, scoff … you might want to blob on some natural yogurt too.

Keema mattar, aloo gobi, tarka dhal and basmati rice

Leftover roast lamb and a romp around the cupboards and the spice drawer … delicious curry tea.

Onions
Garlic
olive oil
Mustard seeds
Cumin seeds
Coriander seeds
urid dhal
turmeric
fennel seeds
chilli flakes
tikka masala mix
roast lamb
tomato puree
red lentils
potatoes
cauliflower
tomatoes
garam masala
basmati rice
frozen peas

1.  Mince 3 onions in a food processor and divide between 2 deep sautee pans - 1 for the lamb curry, 1 for the potato and cauliflower.  Sautee gently in olive oil, with crushed garlic.
2.  Mince leftover roast lamb in the food processor - add to the onions with a tablespoon of tikka masala spices.
3.  Boil lentils in plenty of water.
4.  Cook rice - I use the adsorption method 1 x rice, 2 x water, bring to the boil, slam the lid on and turn the heat right down.
5.  Into the other sautee pan add dry spices - mustard seeds, cumin seeds, turmeric, fenned seeds, coriander seeds and a pinch of chilli flakes, heat through until they release their aroma - them add chopped potatoes, florets of cauliflower, chopped tomatoes and a squidge of tomato puree.  Add a big mugful of water, stir, cover and leave to steam.
6.  Add some tomato puree to the lamb and stir, simmer, add a little water if necessary.
7.  Keep an eye on the lentils, add more water if needed and stir so that they don't stick to the bottom of the pan.
8.  When the veg are soft it's pretty much done, just add a little garam masala to the mixture, to taste.
9.  Pop some frozen peas into the lamb mix, stir in.
10.  Serve, scoff …

Amazing what some leftovers and spices can do.

Chicken Korma, Chicken Tikka Masalla, Allo Gobi and Tarka Dahl - for movie night

 Tonight's film choice was A Theory of Everything - the story of Stephen Hawkings.   Did you know that curry was Professor Hawkings' favourite food?  No, neither did I!

So, curry it was - chicken two ways - Korma for the lactose intolerant,  tikka masala for the veg dodger, aloo gobi and tarka dhal for the veggie, and brown rice for all.

Lucky me - I can have all of it!

Chicken thighs
Tikka masala spices
Natural yogurt

Olive oil
Ground almonds
Cashew nuts (ground)
Onion
garlic
Brown basmati rice
red lentils
mustard seeds
coriander seeds
cumin seeds
urid dhal
turmeric
garam masala
chilli flakes
veg stock
potatoes
cauliflower
chopped tomatoes
curry leaves

1.  Marinate the chicken thighs.  Mix tandoori spices with natural yogurt and a little olive oil.   Massage into chicken.   Sautee onion and garlic with a little garam masala, add ground nuts - pour over the other dish of chicken thighs.
2.  Start the rice and lentils, cover both in an inch over the surface with water and bring to the simmer.  When the rice starts simmering, slam on a tight lid and put it in a medium oven until everything else is ready.  Watch the lentils, add more water if needed and keep simmering.
3.  Put the chicken thighs in to roast.
4.  Start the aloo gobi by sauteeing chopped onion and garlic, add spices (mustard, cumin and coriander seeds, urid dhal, turmeric and a pinch of chilli flakes).  Add cubes of peeled potatoes and cauliflower florets, a tin of chopped tomatoes and a cup of veg stock.  Simmer for about 20 minutes, add more liquid if needed.
5.  Magically everything should just about be done - so make the tarka by heating spice seeds and curry leaves in a little olive oil and fling onto the dhal.
6.  Serve, scoff … enjoy the film

Everybody had seconds - the veg dodger had thirds - and we all loved the film.

A tale of two curries

Sunday, a confirmed meat eater, a vegetarian and assorted random veg in the fridge ... so - Sunday night curries.

Start the curries off at the same time, and follow the steps.  Takes about a hour start to finish.

I had some curry mixes, so based the spicing on those ... could have used individual spices obviously.

Onions
Olive oil
Garlic
Celery
Malaysian fish curry mix
Tikka masala mix
Chilli
Mushrooms
Red pepper
Butternut squash
Pork loin steaks
Water
Pork stock
Apples
Apple juice
Pilou spice mix
Basmati rice

1.  Chop onions and start 2 decent sized sautée pans going with the onions in olive oil.
2.  Add crushed garlic.
3.  Chop celery and add some to both pans.
4.  Stir in spice mixes - Malaysian for the veg and tikka masala for the pork.
5.  Chop mushrooms and add to both pans.
6. Chop red pepper and add to veggie curry.
7.  Chop pork into bite sized pieces and add to meat curry.
8.  Prep butternut squash and add to veggie curry, and stir in.  Add veg stock.
9.  Keep turning posh until lightly browned, then add cored and chopped apples.  Then add pork stock and a cup of apple juice.
10.  Simmer both curries, if they are going dry add more water - taste to check seasoning.
11.  Add pilou spices to a little olive oil and cook them for a minute or two.  Add basmati rice and water to an inch above the surface of the rice.  Stir once and bring to the boil.
12.  When rice boils turn right down and slam on the lid - it will be ready in about 15 minutes.
13.  Add a drained, rinsed, tin of chickpeas to the veggie curry.
14.  Add half a cup of coconut milk to each curry, stir in and simmer.
15. Serve, scoff ... obviously taking which option you prefer.  I had some of each ... yum

Carrot and pea curry and tarka dhal

Cheap, nutritious and delicious.  Sourced from Todmorden market - The Mediterranean Pantry spices, coconut oil, rice and lentils.  Kevin outside for the vegetables.

Coconut oil
Onion
Garlic
Basmati rice
Fennel seed
Cumin seed
Coriander seed
Mustard seeds
Chilli flakes
Turmeric
Red lentils
Carrots
Potatoes
Peas
Curry leaves
Garam masala

1.  Sautee chopped onion and crushed garlic in coconut oil.
2.  Put rice on to cook - I bring to the boil in a pan covered in 1 inch of water, slam the lid on and turn it right down for 15 minutes.
3.  Boil lentils in water, keep an eye on them, stir occasionally to stop them sticking and add more water if it goes too dry.
4.  Add fennel, cumin, coriander, chilli and turmeric to the softened onion.  Stir in and cook for a couple of minutes.
5.  Add peel diced carrot and potato to the onion spice mixture, stir in.  Add a cup of water, put the lid on a simmer gently for about 15 minutes - check the water level occasionally.  Add a teaspoon of garam masala and stir in.
6.  When the vegetables are nearly done chuck in a handful of frozen peas and put the lid back on for a few minutes.
7.  Make the tarka by heating coconut oil in a small pan - add mustard, cumin, fennel and coriander seeds and a few curry leaves.  Fry for a minute or so, and then pour over the lentils.
8.  Serve, scoff, save!

Fish curry

Fancy a taste more exotic.  Todmorden market still has it all!  Oriental Foods, The Mediterranean Pantry, Paul the fish and Kev for the veg … this whole easy, but very tasty, dinner was sourced from Tod market.

Coconut oil
Red onion
Garlic
Malaysian curry paste
Curry leaves
Aubergine
Red pepper
Courgette
Green beans
Tomatoes
Coconut milk
Haddock
Basmati rice

1.  Cook rice - I cook it in a heavy cast iron pot, cover with water + 1 inch of water over the surface of the rice, bring to the boil, put the lid on and turn it down as far as possible - leave to cook until all the water has been absorbed.
2.  Sautee chopped onion and crushed garlic in coconut oil.
3.  Add curry paste and a small handful of curry leaves, to the onions and stir in. Cook for a minute or so, and then add chopped veg.
4.  When the veg have softened a little add a tin of coconut milk and half a tin of water, simmer.
5.  When the veg is nearly done add chunks of haddock, simmer again for about 7 minutes.
6.  Serve, scoff …

Curry night

Chicken korma (lactose free), veggie curry, dhal and rice ... it's not that difficult, just lots of ingredients. You need to soak the cashews, so put them in water in the morning.  I started with the chicken and veg curries, and then put the rice on to boil.  As soon as the chicken went in the oven put the lentils on for the dhal ... it all kinda came together in about 45 minutes.

Onions

Olive oil

Garlic

Chicken thighs

Tikka Massala paste

cinnamon

Cashew nuts

Mustard seeds

fennel seeds

cumin seeds

chili flakes

potatoes

Courgette

Mushrooms

Carrot

Tomatoes

Garam masala

Red lentils

Basmati rice

1.  Soak the cashew nuts for some hours, or boil them for a few minutes.  Zizz them up with approximately an equal quantity of water to nuts.

2.  Sautee onions in olive oil in 2 heavy pans - one for the chicken, one for the veggie curry.

3.  Add crushed garlic to both pots.

4.  Put the rice on to boil in a heavy pot, covered by water to 1 inch above the surface of the rice..

5.  Add turmeric and a tsp of tikka masala paste to the chicken pot, then the chicken pieces skin side down first.

6.  Add fennel seeds, cumin seeds, mustard seeds and chili flakes to the veggie pot.

7.  The add peeled diced potatoes, diced courgette, mushroom and carrot to the veggie pot.

8.  Turn the chicken over, sprinkle on 1/2 tsp cinnamon and pour in the cashew mixture.  Transfer to the oven.

9.  When the rice boils, slam a lid on it, and put it in the bottom of the oven.

10.  Add tomatoes, in pieces if whole and veg stock to the veggie curry, stir and simmer.

11.  Put red lentils and water on to boil for the dhal.

12.  When ready to serve make the tarka by frying cumin seeds, mustard seeds, chili and curry leaves, if you have them, in a little olive oil.  Pour this, sizzling over the dhal.

13.  Serve, scoff.

Fish curry

Fish on Friday, as usual, but a bit of a change this week.  Lovely haddock from Paul, and a trawl through the veg in the fridge, and we had this delicious, but not very authentic, version of Malaysian fish head curry.  There were no fish heads involved, or any Malaysians for that matter.

Jasmin rice
Peanut oil
Spring onion
Garlic
Curry paste (Malaysian fish head for us, but could have been red thai, or something similar)
Courgette
Mushrooms
Tomato puree
Coconut milk
Haddock (or other white fish)

1.  Cook the rice - I used a rice ball - those things really work - put rice in ball, put into pan of cold water - bring to the boil, boil for about 15 minutes - done!
2.  In a wok, heat peanut oil, then add chopped spring onions, curry paste and crushed garlic.  Stir fry briefly.
3.  Add chopped veg to the wok, and stir fry, then add water/stock and a squirt of tomato puree, simmer until veg a nearly done, stirring occasionally.
4.  Add coconut milk, and taste for seasoning.
5.  Add fish pieces and simmer gently for about 5-6 minutes.
6.  Serve, sprinkling more chopped spring onion on top, scoff.

It's a tale of three curries

Most dinners I make from scratch, but I like to try a few new standbys to have in the cupboard.  Today's venture into the unknown was a tin of mataar paneer, from an Asian supermarket in Bradford.  It was OK, the flavour was fine but the paneer was squishy ... much better if you fry it off in cubes first and then add to a pea curry - but, perfectly acceptable for a curry related emergency.

With it we had basmati rice, channa dhal and a mushroom tikka massala.



Basmati rice
Ghee
Onion
Garlic
Ginger
Tikka massala paste
Cumin seeds
Turmeric
coriander
chilli flakes
Tin of tomatoes
Mushrooms
Spinach
Tin of mataar paneer
Yogurt

From start to finish ...

1.  Cook basmati rice.
2.  Chop two onions and fry in ghee in 2 frying pans.
3.  Add crushed garlic and grated ginger to both pans.
4.  Start the channa dhal by adding spices and frying off gently, then tip in drained chickpeas.  Stir around for a minute, then add a tin of chopped tomatoes, half a tin of water and simmer gently.
5.  For the mushroom curry add a tablespoon of tikka masala paste, cook out then add mushrooms.  When the mushrooms release their water add a handful of spinach to wilt.
6.  Put the mataar paneer on to heat through.
7.  When the spinach has wilted turn off the heat and leave to cool for 1 minute.  Stir in natural yogurt.
8.  Serve, scoff - the veg dodger wasn't thrilled at meat free, but mixed the three curries together and declared it really tasty.

Lamb shish kebab, egg curry, dahl and pilau rice,

National Curry week: Day 4

Nick at Melling's Butchers in Todmorden's indoor market has all sorts of goodies to save you a bit of time, and help spice up your tea - including these great lamb shish kebabs.  You can also pick up most of the other ingredients from The Mediterranean Pantry, and other stalls indoors and veg outside.

There may be a fair old list of ingredients, but it's actually very easy.

Olive oil
Ghee
Onions
Garlic
Ginger
Tin tomatoes
Eggs

Basmati rice
Cardamon pods
Turmeric
Curry leaves
Fennel seeds
Chilli flakes
Mustard seeds
Chilli

1.  Drizzle the shish kebabs with olive oil and stick them in a medium-hot oven.  They'll be ready in about 30 minutes.
2,  Chop onion and fry in 2 lots of ghee - 1 for the rice, one for the egg curry.
3.  Boil lentils with a crushed clove of garlic.
4.  Add the rice to the onions, add cardamon pods, stir and then add water.  Boil, slam on lid and turn the heat down - let it cook while everything else finishes.
5.  To the other onions add crushed garlic and grated ginger - fennel and cumin seeds, a little chilli and some turmeric.  Stir around - then add a tin of chopped tomatoes and a splash of water.  Cook down gently.
6.  Boil the eggs for 10 minutes.  Keep an eye on the sauce, turn off the heat/add water if it gets too thick - if you like it really spicy you may wish to add garam masala.
7.  When the eggs are cooked, peel them - put the sauce on top.
8.  Make the tarka for the dhal - in olive oil quickly fry whole spices (coriander, fennel seeds, cumin seeds, mustard seeds,  slit chilli and curry leaves).  Pour over the cooked lentils.
9.  Serve, scoff.

Mushroom and vegetable curry with basmati rice

An easy quick veggie curry for day 2 of national curry week.  It was tasty and fresh.  We had seconds.

Basmati rice

Ghee
Urad dahl
Ground spices (cumin, coriander, turmeric, cayenne)
Onion
Garlic
Courgette
Red pepper
Mushrooms
Garam Masala
Natural yogurt

1.  Cook the rice - I put it in a heavy pot, cover with water - bring to the boil, slap the lid an and leave in a warm oven to absorb - but you could easily microwave it.
2.  Fry chopped onion, urid dhal and spices in ghee, add crushed garlic.
3.  When onion is soft, add the other vegetables, and a little water, simmer until the vegetables are a bit soft - the urid dhal should help thicken the sauce.  Taste and add garam masala.  Simmer for 5 more minutes.  Turn off the heat.
4. Allow to cool for a minute or so, then stir in a couple of spoons of natural yogurt.
5.  Serve, scoff.

Chickpea and red pepper curry, with gluten free chapatis

It's National curry week!  A gentle start today as what I really wanted to do was to try to make gluten free chapatis.  Normal gluten free flour is fine for cakes and pastry, but it doesn't have the elasticity you need for bread type products - so I used some specialist pizza and pasta gluten free flour - which I stock at The Mediterranean Pantry - and they worked a treat.  Really, really good - soft, a bit stretchy and a nice bite.  I wouldn't have known it was GF, if I hadn't known (if you see what I mean).




Curry

Olive oil
Mustard seeds
Fennel seeds
Cumin seeds
Urid dhal
Chilli flakes
Ground coriander
Ground turmeric
Onions
Garlic
Potatoes
Red pepper
Mushrooms
Tomatoes
Chickpeas

Chapati

Gluten free flour
Natural yogurt
Cold water

1.  Make the chapati dough - mix flour with a spoonful of yogurt and enough cold water to form a dough.
2.  Kneed the dough until it is smooth and stretchy.  Wrap in cling film and chill while you make the curry.
3.  Start the curry by frying spices, chopped onion and crushed garlic, in olive oil.
4.  Add vegetables - all cut to approximately the same size as a chick pea,  Add a little water if necessary and simmer for a few minutes.
5.  When the veg are nearly ready add a drained tin of chickpeas, warm through.  Check for seasoning.  If too mild add a smidge of garam masala, if too hot add a little sugar.
6.  Take the dough for the fridge and divide into walnut sized balls, roll out on a dusting of flour.  Fry each one in a frying pan which has the lightest possible brush of oil.  (theoretically you can dry fry them, but I always burn them).  Keep warm under a clean teatowel.
7.  Serve, with natural yogurt (and any chutneys etc you fancy), scoff.

Carrot and cabbage curry, with dhal and rice

Open fridge, see ... not that much ... some spring onions, some carrots, mushrooms, tomatoes and half a cabbage, add some rice, lentils, garlic, spices and a paratha each ..faff about a bit and .... ta dah! dinner!

1.  Put 1 cup of rice and 2 cups of water in a pot.  Bring to the boil, lid on turn RIGHT down.
2.  Boil lentils.
3.  For the curry, start with curry spices (fennel seeds, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, tumeric) onions, garlic and some grated ginger - in olive oil.
4.  Add diced carrot and water/stock, simmer for a bit.
5.  Add chopped mushrooms, shredded carrots and halved cherry tomatoes.
6.  When nearly cooked add garam masala to taste.
7.  Prepare the tarka for the dhal ... in olive oil heat curry leaves, cardamon, a little chilli and cumin.
8.  Throw the tarka onto the dhal, fry the paratha on each side.

Chickpea curry pie with purple sprouting broccoli

A truly terrible picture - but actually a delicious dinner.  Open fridge - see mushrooms, celeriac and some carrots - and purple sprouting broccoli ... ponder ... how about a kind of, but not, cottag-ie pie type thing, but with some spices.

potatoes

olive oil
onion
garlic
fennel seeds
cumin seeds
turmeric
celeriac
carrots
mushrooms
chickpeas
vegetable stock
chilli flakes

Purple sprouting broccoli.

1.  Chop potatoes into quite small dice and boil.
2.  Seat down onion and garlic in olive oil, add fennel and cumin seeds, and a little turmeric.
3.  Peel and dice carrots and celariac, and add to onions.
4.  Add chopped mushrooms to the other veg, a little stock and simmer gently.
5.  The potatoes should now be done - take off the heat and drain.
6.  Add a tin of drained chickpeas to the veg, with a pinch of chilli flakes, and a little more stock if it looks dry.
7.  Heat the beans through, then mash slightly with a potato masher.
8.  Put the "crushed" veg mix and in an oven proof dish, and tumble the potatoes on top.
9.  Drizzle the top with a little olive oil and bake for about 30 minutes, until the top is beginning to turn golden brown.
10.  Steam the broccoli for about 10 minutes before serving.
11.  Employ photgrapher who knows what they are doing - I obvs failed at this bit...

Scoff

Lactose free chicken Korma, and some other curry things

Special request for lactose free chicken korma, plus some other bits and peices, to fit into everyone's dietary requirements meant that this was Friday night's dinner.  It took about 35 minutes.

So, in order of what to do next-ish.

Rice

I cook rice using the adsorption method - so rinse basmati rice and put into an ovenproof pan, cover with water to about 2.5 cms above the surface of the rice - bring to the boil, then stick the lid on and shove into a medium oven, and forget about it until you are ready with everything else.

Start the korma and veg curries at the same time by sautee-ing onion and garlic in two pans.

To the korma pan add a little grated ginger.

For the veg curry, at this point I added some biryani spice, diced root veg (swede, celeriac and carrot), red pepper and mushrooms.  Add stock and let simmer away.

For the korma add bite sized pieces of chicken breast, a handful of ground almonds and a teaspoon of mild madras curry powder.  Turn the chicken over until it starts cooking, then add water and seasoning and simmer for a few minutes.  Then, turn into an oven dish and let it finish in the oven for about 20-25 minutes.

For the dhal, simmer red lentils in water until done - you may need to add more water... then just before serving heat veg oil in a pan and quickly fry the tarka (or spices) - I used onion seeds, mustard seeds, fennel seeds, cumin seeds, curry leaves and a sprinkle of chili flakes.  Pour immediately onto dhal and serve.

Let each person help themselves to whatever their dietary whatsits allow them to - vegans just need to avoid the chicken (obvs) ... and enjoy.

Dry curry with potatoes, kale and paneer - with tarka dhal

 It looks, very much like my last entry - which perhaps says something about how tasty this curry is.  Today it was made with kale, with the addition of fried paneer.  Also, I did a tarka dahl ... cos I can - you know.  I wish I had some chapattis either in the cupboard - or had made some ... because they would have finished it off lovely, innit  - but it was delish as it was.   Oh yeas, can I just say - our potatoes and onions :)



So:-

Dry Curry

2 onions, chopped
Rape seed oil
cumin seeds
Mustard seeds
Chili flakes
Crushed garlic
Turmeric
Potatoes
Water
Kale - shredded
Garam massala

Paneer

Dhal

red lentils
rape seed oil
curry leaves
sliced garlic
chopped chili
fennel seeds
crispy fried onions

1.  Sautee onions in rape seed oil, add spices.
2.  Add potatoes, in bite sized pieces, add water and simmer, keep testing for doneness - add more water when necessary.
3.  Fry pieces of paneer in a dry pan - turn when browned, remove form the heat when ready.
4.  When potatoes are nearly done, add shredded kale.
5.  Simmer some more ... sprinkle on garam massala - cook through.

Dhal

1. Boil lentils.
2.  When boiled, fry spice in oil quickly.
3.  Toss cooked spices onto dhal.

Scoff ... delish.

Potato and pea curry

What can you do with some potatoes, green beans and some peas, and 20 minutes?  Well, this .... and it was truly delicious.

Olive oil
Mustard seeds
Cumin seeds
Fennel seeds
Chili flakes
Turmeric
Diced potatoes
red onion, chopped
Garlic
Chopped green beans
Water
Frozen peas
Garam massala

1.  Sautee red onion, garlic and spices in olive oil.
2.  Add diced potatoes, turn over in oil and then add water.
3.  Simmer, add green beans.
4.  Simmer more, add frozen peas and a smidge of garam massala when nearly done.

Beware, you may need seconds, or thirds.

Cauliflower, mushroom and green bean curry

A vegan curry was called for - so a vegan curry was invented.  And very tasty it was too.  One of the people around the table had thirds.

Basmati rice - cooked as you normally would

Curry

1 onion, chopped
Garlic, crushed
Olive oil
urad dhal - 1 tsp
mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
fennel seeds 1/2 tsp
turmeric 1/2 tsp
1 cauliflower, in florets
Mushrooms, cut into bite sized pieces
Green beans, topped, tailed and halved
1 tin coconut milk
Garam masala - 1 tsp (to taste)

1.  Sautee onions until soft, add seeds and garlic and continue to fry until it has a little colour.
2.  Add cauliflower, mushrooms and beans, and water and put a lid on so the veg soften a little.
3.  After 5 minutes add coconut milk and stir through.  Simmer gently for 15 minutes (ish)
4.  Add garam masala, taste and season, simmer for 5 more minutes - the veg should be soft, but not mush.

Serve, scoff.