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Curry Base Recipes => Curry Sauce, Curry Base , Curry Gravy Recipes, Secret Curry Base => Topic started by: bigboaby1 on October 09, 2013, 02:31 PM

Title: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: bigboaby1 on October 09, 2013, 02:31 PM
Mr Singh has been using this sauce for over the last 20 years handed down to him from his peers..  He has finally agreed to share it with us..and the good thing is, he has made the scaled down version for home use..It makes exactly 13 plastic tray size portions..This will now be used in the ebook..can't get any better than that coming from the horses mouth......Thanks for putting up with me guys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8D7tAuZt8Iw (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8D7tAuZt8Iw)
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: Secret Santa on October 09, 2013, 02:40 PM
This video is unavailable?

Edit: Ah, it's ok, it looks like it's still being processed...I'll look later.
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: Aussie Mick on October 09, 2013, 03:36 PM
Nice one BB1.

i tried the revised Glasgow base and was impressed.

I wouldn't use this as my stock base due to the amount of oil, but i have to say, it did make a very nice curry. if you're not too botherd about the oil content, i would say, deffo give this on a go.

I'll make this occasionally at home for a special treat  8)
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: Peripatetic Phil on October 09, 2013, 03:38 PM
Thanks for putting up with me guys
Our pleasure, BB1.  Informed input always welcomed.
** Phil.
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: gazman1976 on October 10, 2013, 08:18 AM
Hi BB1, I use your Glasgow base all the time

couple of questions

what garam masala is used and also what tomato puree is being used if you don't mind

thanks
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: gazman1976 on October 10, 2013, 08:22 AM
Also when is the Ebook out as I will be buying that
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: StoneCut on October 10, 2013, 08:48 AM
I really must try this, thanks Bigboaby and Mr. Singh!
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: arunchaudhary on October 31, 2013, 03:07 AM
I am thankful for sharing with us. It is appreciable that he has scaled down version for home use.
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: dammag on October 31, 2013, 10:54 AM
Aussie Mick.

You obviously know about restaurant cooking but do you think that is a lot of oil?

I can cook a curry at home with a chef's spoon of combined oil and ghee with some more oil in the base gravy and eat the curry easily and look for more yet when I go to a local restaurant it is hard to get through a portion of curry as it is so heavy (and the portion is small). To be honest I would rather eat a "lighter" curry with still good taste than struggle to eat a portion. Do BIR's (or the Aussie version) use too much oil?

The average good curry must have a fair proportion of oil in it?

Damian
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: Peripatetic Phil on October 31, 2013, 11:02 AM
Not seeking to answer for Antipodean Mick, but from my perspective, "no oil, no curry".  If I need to re-spice a restaurant curry after taking it home, I invariably add more oil, and then remove the excess before serving.  It is a fact that the essential oils in spices (which carry the flavour) are lipophilic ("fat loving") rather than hydrophilic ("water loving") and therefore bind to the molecules in oil rather than to the molecules in water; the subsequent chemistry is less clear but they almost certainly emulsify during the cooking of the curry.  There is obviously some flavour loss when the excess oil is removed before serving, but since that oil will be re-used in the next curry, overall the flavour level is maintained.  My advice is "cook with lots of oil, serve with a little".

** Phil.
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: dammag on October 31, 2013, 08:00 PM
Thanks Phil.
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: Stephen Lindsay on October 31, 2013, 08:31 PM
ebook?
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: Clive77 on December 20, 2013, 09:15 AM
Hi...will be trying this for sure. Can you just specify what kind of oil are we're using here?

Cheers,

CR
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: Peripatetic Phil on December 20, 2013, 10:01 AM
As BB1 works in an Indian T/A, it is almost certain that Mr Singh would use a commercial catering oil such as KTC (http://www.ktc-edibles.com/shop.php?sec=prod&prod=23).  At home you can use the oil of your choice :  rapeseed is as good as any.

** Phil.
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: Aussie Mick on December 20, 2013, 06:15 PM
Aussie Mick.

You obviously know about restaurant cooking but do you think that is a lot of oil?

I can cook a curry at home with a chef's spoon of combined oil and ghee with some more oil in the base gravy and eat the curry easily and look for more yet when I go to a local restaurant it is hard to get through a portion of curry as it is so heavy (and the portion is small). To be honest I would rather eat a "lighter" curry with still good taste than struggle to eat a portion. Do BIR's (or the Aussie version) use too much oil?

The average good curry must have a fair proportion of oil in it?

Damian

Sorry dammag I've only just seen this.

I was actually referring to the previous recipes that BB1 had shared that contained massive amounts of oil.

This one seems about right to me.

We normally use one litre of oil in a 25 litre base (which contains about 8 kg of onions) so, 500ml with 4 kg of onions sounds good.

I'll be giving this one a try over the Christmas break. Thanks again BB1 and Mr. Singh
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: Bobby Bhuna on January 04, 2014, 07:01 PM
The video looks the business, I'm looking forward to trying this one - I've never cooked a base for so long. Are there any accompanying curry recipes? I had a quick look and couldn't see any.
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: sp on January 04, 2014, 07:34 PM
Most of the recipe videos are on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/user/wulkyboy (http://www.youtube.com/user/wulkyboy)) and in print form on the RCR forum.  He's just released an e-book with all the "glasgow" recipes, see my post on here in the eBooks section on here for more info:

http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php/topic,12626.0.html (http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php/topic,12626.0.html)
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: haldi on February 22, 2014, 07:57 PM
I've just finished a madras and a vindaloo, made using this base and his recipes.
This is REALLY good
I mean    REALLY    good
I tried the mark 1 recipe posted (was it last year?) and that was too oily and generally disapointed my whole family
So I didn't have high hopes for this version

What can I say?
I was absolutely knocked out, and everyone cleared their plates, then wiped them round with their fingers for the last drops of sauce!!!

I recommend everyone to try this

Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: ELW on February 22, 2014, 11:45 PM
I've just finished a madras and a vindaloo, made using this base and his recipes.
This is REALLY good
I mean    REALLY    good
I tried the mark 1 recipe posted (was it last year?) and that was too oily and generally disapointed my whole family
So I didn't have high hopes for this version

What can I say?
I was absolutely knocked out, and everyone cleared their plates, then wiped them round with their fingers for the last drops of sauce!!!

I recommend everyone to try this


Nice one Haldi ! All about the onions
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: jb on February 23, 2014, 08:45 AM
I've just finished a madras and a vindaloo, made using this base and his recipes.
This is REALLY good
I mean    REALLY    good
I tried the mark 1 recipe posted (was it last year?) and that was too oily and generally disapointed my whole family
So I didn't have high hopes for this version

What can I say?
I was absolutely knocked out, and everyone cleared their plates, then wiped them round with their fingers for the last drops of sauce!!!

I recommend everyone to try this

I keep meaning to try this I brought the book recently,now you have Haldi and found it good I shall certainly give it a go.I must admit I did try the last base as well.Clearly too much oil in that one although my curries were still very good.
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: haldi on February 23, 2014, 09:18 AM
It's important to cook the curries on a on a high heat with minimal stirring in an aluminium pan.
You've got to cook just like the takeaway.
The aromas coming from the pan are amazing
There is a pureed chillie/oil mixture
That stuff really adds to the dish
I got nothing but compliments from my family
The whole process may be long, but it's so simple
The base is pretty much all onion and it gives a brilliant background taste that other flavours can be suspended in
It's weird the way you can actually pick out the taste the lemon juice , fenugreek and garlic ginger in the curry
These must be very similar recipes used by BIR's in the 60's & 70's
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: jb on February 23, 2014, 08:03 PM
The base seems so simple compared to some that I've used over the years.I've been looking through some of the accompanying videos to the ebook,the curries certainly look the part.It's strange the base contains no ginger/garlic,although the guys from my local favourite restaurant insists theirs doesn't either.Haldi the base calls for whole cumin seeds to be added,I'm just wondering if you managed to blend these in? I keep seeing Ajowan seeds in my local Indian shop,I've also seen them in my wholesalers.I wonder if it's these that are used by some chefs and not cumin seeds,they're definitely using them in something. Also the madras recipe uses spiced oil,did you use this and if you did how was the oil made?
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: Peripatetic Phil on February 23, 2014, 08:36 PM
Ajwain has a /very/ different taste to cumin :  the former tastes very strongly of thyme (it contains substantial quantities of the essential oil thymol), whilst the latter tastes of, well, cumin ...  I cannot see a 1-for-1 substitution working, but introduce a little ajwain into Indian snacks (pakora, aloo tikki, ...) and it can lift them to a whole new level.

** Phil.
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: PaulP on February 24, 2014, 03:36 PM
I've just finished a madras and a vindaloo, made using this base and his recipes.
This is REALLY good
I mean    REALLY    good
I tried the mark 1 recipe posted (was it last year?) and that was too oily and generally disapointed my whole family
So I didn't have high hopes for this version

What can I say?
I was absolutely knocked out, and everyone cleared their plates, then wiped them round with their fingers for the last drops of sauce!!!

I recommend everyone to try this

Hi Haldi, thanks for posting this. So did you buy the e-book and make everything to spec? I've also bought the e-book and was thinking of giving it a go as I've stopped trying to make BIR curries for around 18 months due to a lack of success.

Did you make the (ginger heavy) garlic/ginger paste to spec and also the green chilli puree? Did your food have the aroma you've been seeking?

Regards

Paul
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: haldi on February 24, 2014, 06:45 PM
Haldi the base calls for whole cumin seeds to be added,I'm just wondering if you managed to blend these in? I keep seeing Ajowan seeds in my local Indian shop,I've also seen them in my wholesalers.I wonder if it's these that are used by some chefs and not cumin seeds,they're definitely using them in something. Also the madras recipe uses spiced oil,did you use this and if you did how was the oil made?

the cumin seeds blended fine with a stick blender
I was reading from the book and it didn't say spiced oil, so I used fresh
I think there have been 3 updates to the book, this was the first one


Hi Haldi, thanks for posting this. So did you buy the e-book and make everything to spec? I've also bought the e-book and was thinking of giving it a go as I've stopped trying to make BIR curries for around 18 months due to a lack of success.

Did you make the (ginger heavy) garlic/ginger paste to spec and also the green chilli puree? Did your food have the aroma you've been seeking?

Regards

Paul

The ginger garlic paste was pretty much 50:50
I made too much when I did some tikka a couple of weeks ago
I was using it up

I made the chilli puree fresh though

I quizzed Martin Why Not (he's the one who sends you the pdf) about using vegetables or other ingredients
I made Veg madras, Prawn Madras and veg vindaloo

Everything smelt and tasted very close to a bought curry
They might even be an exact match to somewhere
They taste professional
The best results I have had in years, and it wasn't using manky old oil
I never was happy doing that
It definitely is important to not stir the pan very often, when cooking the curry
It needs to "catch" on the bottom of the pan
 
These recipes are also quite light on the tomato puree and g/g

I had stopped making curries at home, because I felt they were sub standard
I feel quite enthused again, and will use these recipes again

Given the simplicity of these recipes I can't see a repeat success being hard to achieve

The tandoori paste in the vindaloo (it's in the red sauce mix) really lifts it

I think the book only costs two pounds  50p
The best curry money I have spent in a long time

Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: gazman1976 on February 24, 2014, 06:58 PM
yeah its amazing, I have been using the base for a while now, can make a really good curry from it
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: ELW on February 25, 2014, 07:45 PM
The base seems so simple compared to some that I've used over the years.I've been looking through some of the accompanying videos to the ebook,the curries certainly look the part.It's strange the base contains no ginger/garlic,although the guys from my local favourite restaurant insists theirs doesn't either.Haldi the base calls for whole cumin seeds to be added,I'm just wondering if you managed to blend these in? I keep seeing Ajowan seeds in my local Indian shop,I've also seen them in my wholesalers.I wonder if it's these that are used by some chefs and not cumin seeds,they're definitely using them in something. Also the madras recipe uses spiced oil,did you use this and if you did how was the oil made?


Some of the original recipe's & book recipe's are a bit muddled jb, though there are videos for each on YT.
There should be loads of spiced oil from the precook methods.
Base is pretty similar to the old Ashoka on here, minus the G&G.
As with Ashoka there are no mix powders used, instead getting spice from the
base/pre cooked meats, imo is an easier way to do it. Either way they end up in the curry all the same
Catch the video of the bhuna being cooked in the t/a if you can, using only a chefs of gravy, but still ending up with the usual amount of curry served
Cheers
ELW

Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: Dajoca on May 07, 2014, 06:38 PM
The original recipes released by BB1 were very clear about the inclusion of coriander (seeds or leaf) in the base, but the final version has none.
I need to try it for myself, but can I assume from all the positive comments about the recipes, that it's omission is beneficial to the taste?
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: haldi on May 07, 2014, 08:22 PM
I need to try it for myself, but can I assume from all the positive comments about the recipes, that it's omission is beneficial to the taste?
I think one of the main BIR flavours is onion
And onion which has has been boiled, for a very long time
That is more important than any spice

In my opinion, with or without coriander would make little difference, but I had success without it
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: mr.mojorisin on May 07, 2014, 09:10 PM
made the base 2 weekends ago. not to spec as such. the only difference being I had it on the hob for 12 hours.lovely aromas, lovely taste.
made the fresh chilli paste (100 birds eyes and some oil blitzed to a paste) and popped it in the freezer in an ice cube tray.
last weekend i attempted the madras but not as spec. Added 1 tbsp kashmiri chilli powder.
stunning result. the best yet. better than any t/a i've had in the last 5 years or so.
don't know if it was the base or if my technique has improved after numerous hours of watching videos but absolutely top notch curry both in taste, smell, texture, the lot.
The same as Haldi, i was getting fed up with bang average curries, this has done it for me..curry nirvana.
also made the Bhuna...quite good but not to my taste. mrs loved it.
making the same madras again this weekend,and the next, and the next, and the next.....


Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: gazman1976 on May 08, 2014, 08:02 AM
Yep its All in cooking the Base long enough i believe
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: Secret Santa on May 08, 2014, 12:55 PM
In the precooked chicken video he uses reclaimed, seasoned oil but there's no mention of it in the book! Anyone know where the oil comes from?

And which garam masala does he use?

The differences between the book and the videos is annoying as well. In the precooked chicken for example the book says to add water to the onions and simmer but there is no water added in the video, the onions are fried. Grrr! (Just as well I didn't pay for the book!  ;D )
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: mdigiman on May 26, 2014, 09:45 AM
Will give this a try looks great many thanx Mir Singh
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: Neil_D on June 03, 2014, 04:39 PM
I have tried so many bases from many different sources I made this base it took about 6 hours to get right and I think it certainly is a lot to do with the time it cooks, I used this base and  :) it is absolutely brilliant basic ingrediants this makes a excellent sweet base I use a receipe cross between CK's and CBM for madras and I think this matches my local IR I also made a bhuna I can recommend this to everyone

If you interested in my reciepe let me know :)

My first post so be gentle
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: haldi on June 03, 2014, 06:30 PM
I used this base and  it is absolutely brilliant basic ingredients this makes a excellent sweet base I use a recipe cross between CK's and CBM for madras and I think this matches my local IR I also made a bhuna I can recommend this to everyone

If you interested in my recipe let me know :)


yes, I would love to see the recipe
This base is really good, isn't it?

The problem I have had with many other bases, is that they had flavours I didn't want in them
Definitely not a problem with this one
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: gazman1976 on June 03, 2014, 06:57 PM
i have been using this base for ages now, its all about cooking it long enough to bring the sweetness through, I cook mines for about 6 hrs also . I have the pdf of the recipes from the Glasgow curries also which are great
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: haldi on June 04, 2014, 08:02 AM
i have been using this base for ages now, its all about cooking it long enough to bring the sweetness through, I cook mines for about 6 hrs also . t
Six hours!
The other day I cooked mine for four hours then left overnight
The next day they no longer smelt like ordinairy cooked onions
They really changed and had a light brown look to them
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: Unclefrank on June 04, 2014, 09:49 AM
I do this with the bases i use i always leave overnight covered and the smell is just wonderful and the oil floating on the top is very reddish in colour.
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: Secret Santa on June 04, 2014, 02:17 PM
It's not as simple as it seeems though is it?

Leaving a huge BIR sized pot overnight will, because of its inherently greater heat capacity, continue to cook for longer than a typical three or four litre base made at home. I think you'd need to compensate in the home cooked version by cooking for longer than typically done at the BIR.

Mr Singh's base as quoted in this thread is cooked for four hours but I wonder how long it is actually cooked for at the takeaway and for how long it is rested - was Alex smart enough to take that into account I wonder?

Didn't you experiment some years back haldi cooking bases for at least six hours, perhaps even longer?
Title: Re: Mr Singh has kindly shown us he he makes his base gravy
Post by: haldi on June 04, 2014, 06:06 PM
Didn't you experiment some years back haldi cooking bases for at least six hours, perhaps even longer?
Yes I did
But that was after it was blended
I think the recipes were over complicated too
This stripped down version is the way to do it

You can always add to a flavour.....but you can't remove one!