Balti House Curry Sauce Food

CHICKEN BALTI

Steps:

• For the marinade, finely chop or grate the ginger and garlic. Sprinkle over the salt and chop a little more, then place into a bowl.
• Add the lime juice, ground coriander, chilli powder, ground turmeric and ground cumin to the bowl and mix well.
• Add the chicken pieces and the yoghurt and stir to coat the chicken. Leave to marinate for at least 10-15 minutes (or for an hour if possible, covered in the fridge).
• For the curry, heat the oil in a frying pan over a low heat and add the onion. Fry for 1-2 minutes, then add the tomatoes and the tomato purée and cook gently for about one minute.
• Add the chicken to the pan along with the marinade and a splash of water.
• Pour in the cream, turn up the heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. There should be no pink when you cut into it. If pink, cook for longer.
• Add the spinach to the pan and stir until just wilted. Sprinkle over the coriander.
• To serve, drain the rice and divide between two plates. Top with the curry.

BALTI SAUCE - BASIC SAUCE FOR ANYTHING GOES CURRY

Steps:

• Measure out the 8 spices into a bowl (first 8 ingredients). If using fresh chilis then leave those out for now. Warm up a large skillet or pot (ideally cast iron) and bring to med-high heat. Gently roast the spices in the dry skillet -- watching the mixture doesn't burn, keep stirring. After about a minute it will become fragrant and begin to get dark - take it off the heat and pour back into the bowl - set aside.
• Put the skillet back on the heat, add in the oil and bring back to medium high heat. Add in the chopped onion and cook thru until translucent. Once the onion is cooked, add in the ginger and garlic and mix well - watching the garlic doesn't burn. Next add the spice mixture back in, followed by the tinned tomatoes.
• Mix in about 1 cup of water - you want a thick sauce, but not too paste-like. Add in the salt, bay leaves and cardamom seeds.
• Grate the zest off of the lemon, add to the pot, along with the juice from 1/2 of the lemon. Save the other half for later, you may want to add more. Let it all simmer on medium-low.
• For a nice smooth sauce, remove the bay leaves and blend until smooth (an immersion blender works well).

BALTI HOUSE CURRY SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large pan or wok heat the oil to a medium heat.
• Add the garlic and ginger and fry for 2 minutes.
• Add the onion and fry for 3-4 minutes stirring frequently.
• Add the pepper, carrot, tomatoes, tom puree, milk and half the fresh coriander.
• Bring to the boil then reduce the heat and simmer gently for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally Add the curry powder, sugar and salt and mix thoroughly, simmer for another 15 minutes.
• Remove from heat and cool.
• Add the remaining coriander and liquidise using a blender, the hand held kind works best.
• Mixture may be used immediately (see my balti recipe) or frozen and kept for upto 12 months- I use disposable plastic pint glasses.

HEALTHIER CHICKEN BALTI

Steps:

• Put the chicken in a medium bowl. Mix in the lime juice, paprika, chilli powder and a grinding of black pepper (step 1), then leave to marinate for at least 15 mins, preferably a bit longer.
• Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a large non-stick wok or sauté pan. Tip in the cinnamon stick, cardamom pods, whole chilli and cumin seeds, and stir-fry briefly just to colour and release their fragrance (step 2). Stir in the onion, garlic and ginger and fry over a medium-high heat for 3-4 mins until the onion starts to turn brown. Add the remaining oil, then drop in the chicken and stir-fry for 2-3 mins or until it no longer looks raw. Mix the turmeric, cumin, ground coriander and garam masala together. Tip into the pan, lower the heat to medium and cook for 2 mins (step 3). Pour in the passata and 150ml water, then drop in the chunks of pepper. When starting to bubble, lower the heat and simmer for 15-20 mins or until the chicken is tender.
• Stir in the tomato, simmer for 2-3 mins, then add the spinach and turn it over in the pan to just wilt. Season with a little salt. If you want to thin down the sauce, splash in a little more water. Remove the cinnamon stick, chilli and cardamom pods, if you wish, before serving. Scatter with fresh coriander and serve with warm chapatis or basmati rice, if you like.