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Balti Night

Balti Night

We had extracted what we thought was a “Hot mixed Bean Chilli” from the freezer, which we intended to convert into a sort of Indian fusion dish. When it thawed out we discovered that it was actually a Turkey Thigh Casserole which had not survived freezing very well at all and looked far from appealing. Back to the drawing board, you can’t win them all. Somewhere in the freezer there is still the Hot mixed Bean Chilli with the label for some other dish loitering to be discovered another day!

Ingredients for the Chicken Balti:-

2 Chicken breasts, cubed
A jar of shop bought Balti (Failed plans and all that!)
1 Onion, sliced
2 Cloves of Garlic, minced
1 Medium hot Chilli, sliced
Dried Ginger
Chilli Flakes
Smoked Paprika
Cumin
Tomato Puree
Salt & Pepper
Oil

Method:-

(1) Fry the Onion until translucent and then add the Garlic and fry gently for a couple of minutes.
(2) Add the dried spices and Tomato Puree. Stir and fry for a couple of minutes.
(3) Season with Salt And Pepper.
(4) Add the Chicken and fry until it is cooked through stirring regularly.
(5) Add the Balti Sauce with an addition half a jar of water.
(6) Add the sliced Chillies and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes to reduce and thicken.

There are three recipes from last nights meal, but still under budget. So here are the other components:-

We had Poppadoms with a Pickle Tray as one side.
We also made Dulse Aloo as the second side.

We served the Balti over Turmeric coloured Rice and thoroughly enjoyed it.
 

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Urad Dal 'Ana la 'Aerif

I don’t speak Arabic, so this is our Pigeon Arabic title. Something like “ Split Black Lentil who-knows-what! “ It can easily be made Vegetarian, if you leave off the Cheese and boiled Egg Vegan too.

Ingredients:-

Urad Dal (100g per person)
Garlic infused Stock (We had this loitering in the fried door, but a Veggie stock cube and some Garlic Powder would have worked equally well)
1 large Onion, Chopped
Cumin Seeds
Mustard powder
Dried Coriander
Dried Basil
Chilli Flakes
A Carrot, batoned
Peas (Frozen are cool!)
2 large Mushrooms, sliced
Pickles Chilli Cauliflower ( Our own Lacto ferment - But shop bought pickled Cauliflower is fine )
Pickled Red Cabbage ( Again this was our own Lacto ferment - Shop bought is fine )
Oil to fry
Salt & Pepper

Optional Extras:-

2 Boiled Eggs, sliced
Crumbled Blue Cheese

Method:-

(1) Add the Urad Dal to a large pan and add 1l of Garlic infused Stock.
(2) Bring to the boil and then reduce the heat and allow to simmer for ¾ of an hour.
(3) Check regularly and add more water when required. The Split Lentils are thirsty little creatures.
(4) Once the Urad Dal has swollen and softened drain and set aside.
(5) In a large frying pan fry the Onions gently until translecent.
(6) Add and fry the Carrots.
(7) Add the Mushrooms last and gently fry.
(8) stir in the Urad Dal and other ingredients excluding the Cheese and Egg.
(9) Plate and dress with the crumbled Cheese and Egg if you are using them.

We have really taken to Urad Dal. It has a very heart texture, is very cheap and takes on flavours really well.
 

 

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