Madrasi Masala Paste Food

TOM KERRIDGE'S MADRAS CURRY PASTE

Steps:

• Toast all the spices in a frying pan, then leave to cool. Tip into a spice grinder and blend to a fine powder, then add the tamarind paste, vinegar, cinnamon stick, chilli, coriander and roasted peppers. Blend to a coarse paste, then transfer to a container. Can be made a day ahead. Now try using this spice paste to make our venison madras.

CHICKEN MADRAS

Steps:

• Blitz 1 quartered onion, 2 garlic cloves, a thumb-sized chunk of ginger and ½ red chilli together in a food processor until it becomes a coarse paste.
• Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a large saucepan and add the paste, fry for 5 mins, until softened. If it starts to stick to the pan at all, add a splash of water.
• Tip in ½ tsp turmeric, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp ground coriander and 1-2 tsp hot chilli powder and stir well, cook for a couple of mins to toast them a bit, then add 4 chicken breasts, cut into chunks. Stir and make sure everything is covered in the spice mix.
• Cook until the chicken begins to turn pale, adding a small splash of water if it sticks to the base of the pan at all.
• Pour in 400g can chopped tomatoes, along with a big pinch of salt, cover and cook on a low heat for 30 mins, until the chicken is tender.
• Stir through small pack of coriander and serve with rice, naan and a big dollop of mango chutney.

MADRAS CURRY PASTE

Steps:

• Put all ingredients except vinegar into small bowl and mix together well.
• Add the vinegar and mix to a smooth paste.
• Keep for up to one month in an airtight container in fridge.

AUTHENTIC CHICKEN MADRAS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large nonstick pan over medium heat. Add cloves and cardamom pods and wait until they sizzle, about 1 minute. Add onions and fry until dark brown, 7 to 10 minutes. Add chile peppers, ginger, and garlic; cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add ground chile pepper, turmeric, cumin, coriander, and salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until blended in, about 1 minute more.
• Stir chicken and water into the pan with the spice mixture. Cook, while stirring, until water is incorporated, 2 to 3 minutes. Add tomato puree and nutmeg and cover the pan with a lid. Cook until chicken is tender over medium heat, about 20 minutes. When ready to serve, sprinkle with garam masala and cilantro.

MADRAS CURRY PASTE

Steps:

• Put all ingredients except for the vinegar and oil into a medium bowl
• Mix well
• Stir in the vinegar and mix to a smooth paste
• Heat oil in medium saucepan
• Stir in the mixture over low heat until mixture boils and oil begins to separate from the spices
• Remove saucepan from heat and allow to cool
• Store in airtight jar and add to curries as required

MADRASI MASALA PASTE

Steps:

• Heat a frying pan and fry the coriander, cumin, and peppercorns for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Add the mustard seeds and toss constantly until they start to pop. Do not let the spices get too dark.
• Cool the spices and then grind the mixture to a fine powder. Add the turmeric, chili powder and salt.
• Stir in the garlic, ginger and enough of the vinegar to make a paste.
• Heat the oil in a frying pan and add the paste, stirring constantly until the oil begins to separate from the mixture.
• Spoon the masala into a clean jar or tub. Make sure that there is a layer of oil floating on top covering the mixture for an airtight seal. Store in fridge and use within 2-3 weeks.

GOAN MASALA PASTE

Steps:

• Grind the cumin seeds, coriander seeds, peppercorns and cloves to a fine powder.
• Transfer to a food processor with the rest of the ingredients and blend to a smooth paste.

THAI GREEN MASALA PASTE (TAAZA MASALA)

Steps:

• Soak fenugreek seeds in water overnight; they will swell and develop a jelly-like coating.
• Measure 1 teaspoon of soaked seeds and put into blender jar.
• Add garlic, ginger, mind, cilantro/coriander and vinegar.
• Blend on high speed until very smooth.
• Mix in salt and ground spices.
• In small sauce pan heat oils until very hot.
• Add in blended mixture and bring to a boil.
• Remove from heat and allow to cool.
• Once cooled pour into a clean jar with lid.
• Oil should cover the top of the herbs, if not, heat additional oil and add to the jar.
• Store in the refrigerator.

VEGETABLE MADRAS

Steps:

• Put shallow casserole or deep frying pan on heat with splash of oil. When pan has heated, add onions to pan and let cook slowly for about 20 minutes until they first soften, then start to slightly caramelise and catch on the base. Keep an eye on them and stir occasionally. The idea is to bring out the sweetness in the onions to add flavour. While the onions are cooking put the sweet potato's on to steam for about 10 minutes or until they just start to soften. In a seperate pan fry the red pepper, initially with the lid on to soften them. When you think the onions are ready, add the garlic and ginger and cook the rawness out but don't let it burn.
• Add the Madras curry paste to the pan with the onion/garlic/ginger and let it cook out a bit on a low heat. Then add the courgette and mix around so it gets coated in the paste. Then add the red pepper. Then the sweet potato.
• Swirl around the hot water in the pan that the red pepper cooked in and add the stock cube to dissolve. Add to main pan. Add the chopped tomotoes. Top up with hot water if it looks too dry.
• After about 10 minutes add the spinach in gradual handfuls. Let it bubble away on a low heat for about another 10 minutes or until it starts to thicken. Some of the smaller pieces of sweet potato should break down a bit and help to thicken the sauce.
• When the sauce gets to a medium consistency, taste it and adjust the flavouring to your liking by adding garam masala, ceyenne, chutney, coriander etc. Serve with rice or nan bread.