Curry Recipes Online
Curry Chat => Lets Talk Curry => Topic started by: noble ox on August 06, 2014, 08:52 AM
-
Over the years I have noticed the trend towards Kashmiri chillis top chefs feel in the dark if they do not use them so what is going on?
Most Kashmiri chillis are not the ones sought after but other common chillis passed off to the consumer at a silly price it is the same and even worse with powders.
The true Kashmiri chilli is a deep crimson with a smooth, shiny, thin skin It is about 5 cm long by 2.5 cm wide and has a nice fruity flavour. Heat level is medium.
If there is a bitterness there not Kashmiris the powders are very suspect
Its a pity that some home cooks buy the rubbish then assume Kashmiris are all bitter
If anyone gets and real ones keep the seeds they are like gold dust
-
I have some dried kashmiri chillis, but now I question whether or not they are genuine. I shall take a look and taste of them later.
I also have the powder, I cant remember the brand now, but have just bought a new bag - Natco Kashmiri which is as of yet still unopened, which I havent had before. I did notice that my kashmiri powder does have a bitter smell especially compared to the MDH deggi mirch, but havent noticed a bitterness in any main dish.
Do you recommend any brands for the powder and whole dried chillis n.o.?
-
Hi MA
You just got to search them out you will know when you found the pukka stuff.A good Asian store owner should know " Caveat emptor" as they say in Hull
-
Thats 'Ull to you mr ox, when I asked for kashmiri in the store, I was very friendly with the staff at the time, he gave me some indian chillis but it didnt say kashmiri on the packet but he assured me that these were genuine kashmiri chillis. They were not 2.5cm wide though. I am a little confused , when searching the internet the description of kashmiri chillis varies greatly.
Here's the ones I was given, Heera brand
(http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/imagehost/pics/ee832a5db2b494cd2431a3e3d4656ea4.jpg)
I have just re-hydrated some, chopped them and they taste and smell like kashmiri chilli powder
-
Hi MA
Lots of confusion all round its a shame we have to be detectives to get what we want part of the modern world I suppose
They don't look like Kashmiris to me are the mild and fruity or bitter?
-
They look like your bog standard dry reds MA, ( unless the picture is after you've rehydrated them.?)
The dried Kashmiri's should be very wrinkled.
The last batch I bought (although very wrinkly) were half the size of the previous batch and were a lot hotter as well.
For a true mild kashmiri, try to source the larger ones at about 5-6 inches long.
Frank. :)
-
Great info Noble Ox ! I am using Eastern Kashmir Chilly powder, it's a product of India from my indian store! Hope it's real Kashmiri as it's not bitter, but I have had bitter powder b4 and it's not good!
Maybe we could compile a list of authentic products? Any body else know this brand?
Thanks.
-
Nor to me after your description, they are mild and they smell like kashmiri chilli powder, and they are a little bitter. Wouldnt class them as fruity, not in the way say a naga or a habanero has a fruity taste.
Looks like have been mislead !
So where can I get real kashmiri chillis from? What do they really look like? and Do I really need them for cooking?
-
Hi MA I believe these are genuine Kashmiri Chilli I have used them before but I could be wrong.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kashmiri-dried-Chilli-Chili-whole-Peppers-50g-1-79-The-Spiceworks-of-Hereford-/350868718383?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item51b167c32f (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kashmiri-dried-Chilli-Chili-whole-Peppers-50g-1-79-The-Spiceworks-of-Hereford-/350868718383?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item51b167c32f)
I find I don't use whole chillies unless I am making paste or pastes !
-
Cheer lc, the pictures are a little unclear what about these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dried-Chilli-Chili-Kashmiri-Chilli-/111231475136?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=&hash=item19e5e99dc0 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dried-Chilli-Chili-Kashmiri-Chilli-/111231475136?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=&hash=item19e5e99dc0)
I bought my naga products from them, highly recommended
-
I would say as long as we get email confirmation after stating our concerns, then we should be ok with either of these I would hope :)
-
http://www.theasiancookshop.co.uk/whole-kashmiri-chillies-kashmiri-chilli-peppers-3775-p.asp (http://www.theasiancookshop.co.uk/whole-kashmiri-chillies-kashmiri-chilli-peppers-3775-p.asp)
-
http://www.theasiancookshop.co.uk/whole-kashmiri-chillies-kashmiri-chilli-peppers-3775-p.asp (http://www.theasiancookshop.co.uk/whole-kashmiri-chillies-kashmiri-chilli-peppers-3775-p.asp)
Yep, those are the ones.
Genuine Kashmiris are anything but smooth-skinned, especially when dry.
-
Cheers S D , just been to my Indian store, they don't sell those. I'll wait until I need a full re-stock before I do an online order
-
After a little research and reading a few articles, in particular this one ,http://cumbriankitchen.blogspot.co.uk/2006/08/kashmiri-chillies-real-or-imaginary.html
it seems we have all been duped.
Without going to Kashmir ourselves, there's no way of obtaining true kashmiri chillies.
What we are sold outside of the Indian province is most like a byadgi chilli. ::)
-
SD, Ha Ha. I
-
N.ox musing I find that hard to believe.
Cheers chewy Im none the wiser :) Ill have to order some online
-
Chewytikka
N.Ox
Do you actually have and use Kashmiri Chillis (Whole or Powdered)
or are you just musing again, as you don
-
?
-
Hi MA
? answer ;D
-
:) n ox
-
N.Ox
Question: Do you actually have and use Kashmiri Chillis (Whole or Powdered) ? :D
MA
I would go with SD
-
Cheers chewy, I use Kashmiri chilli powder, and would have liked to grind my own using the dried chillis, is MDH Kashmiri Mirch the same as deggi mirch?
-
Hi Chewytikka
I used to grow them but imo there over-rated I prefer the reliable cayenne chilli dries well and powders up quite fine It seems a lot of effort to get a reddish colour
-
MA
No, Deggi Mirch is a registered product, created by MDH.
You won
-
Chewy
Very informative , thanks again. Deggi mirch is definitely not mild, hotter than the kashmiri chilli powders I have sampled also. I do also love the foil packaging and consistency, I cant recall ever having any Deggi Mirch that tasted any differently from previous packs, but then again maybe I wouldnt have noticed .
-
No, Deggi Mirch is a registered product, created by MDH.
You won
-
Interestingly I am reading '50 Great Curries of India' by Camellia Panjabi, she refers to the Kashmiri chillies we buy as 'so called Kashmiri chillies'. She explains; '... when I tried to trace the origin of the Kashmiri chilli in the wholesale chilli markets in India, I found that Kashmir itself did not export the quantities of Kashmiri chillies being sold everywhere, and a similar variety was being cultivated in northern Karnataka, the region east of Goa, and in Andhra, and was widely sold all over India as Kashmiri chilli!'
Apparently the true Kashmiri chilli is not as long as the ones we buy, but I don't think there is any need for concern as I doubt if any of us could tell the difference in a taste test.
By the way, if you enjoy Indian home style cooking I would highly recommend this book.
Cheers,
Ken
-
Interestingly I am reading '50 Great Curries of India' by Camellia Panjabi, she refers to the Kashmiri chillies we buy as 'so called Kashmiri chillies'. She explains; '... when I tried to trace the origin of the Kashmiri chilli in the wholesale chilli markets in India, I found that Kashmir itself did not export the quantities of Kashmiri chillies being sold everywhere, and a similar variety was being cultivated in northern Karnataka, the region east of Goa, and in Andhra, and was widely sold all over India as Kashmiri chilli!'
Apparently the true Kashmiri chilli is not as long as the ones we buy, but I don't think there is any need for concern as I doubt if any of us could tell the difference in a taste test.
By the way, if you enjoy Indian home style cooking I would highly recommend this book.
Cheers,
Ken
Never mind all that Ken, spill the beans about the h4ppychris visit :)
regards
ELW
-
Never mind all that Ken, spill the beans about the h4ppychris visit :)
regards
ELW
Yes Ken come on spill those beans :)
-
Just for the record :)
Capsicum familly which includes all chillis and what some call bell peppers
When red and ripe and and ground the result is Paprika Deggi mirch Kashmir mirch and any other chilli powder including Cayenne
The hard bit is finding whats in the packets
-
Never mind all that Ken, spill the beans about the h4ppychris visit :)
regards
ELW
Yes Ken come on spill those beans :)
... no beans involved MA ;) ... anyway you fellas are doing great on your own 8)
-
I dont believe you Ken , I could have sworn there were beans in that secret magic paste ;D
-
I could have sworn there were beans in that secret magic paste ;D
That'd be half-baked beans then. ;)
-
Too true SS
-
some dried Kashmiri chillis bought from KRK - local indian grocers in Glasgow
if anyone tells me these are simply run of the mill dried red chillies then they are talking out their ar$e
more purple than red, it's the camera flash that is making the colours less profound :)
last picture probably does more justice to the deep purplish colour
(http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/imagehost/pics/a3de8413e080b8cff76f7ff6ad6bf59d.JPG) (http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/imagehost/#a3de8413e080b8cff76f7ff6ad6bf59d.JPG)
(http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/imagehost/pics/bb3cc8c7c3e8998884bb3d027ae38bae.JPG) (http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/imagehost/#bb3cc8c7c3e8998884bb3d027ae38bae.JPG)
(http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/imagehost/pics/621d9c7351f8eefc62013667d4ca6e0a.JPG) (http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/imagehost/#621d9c7351f8eefc62013667d4ca6e0a.JPG)
-
They look the part I am sure they are which is a good find, indeed they do exist, and many stores will pass off anything knowing how they are now so sought after buyer beware
-
if anyone tells me these are simply run of the mill dried red chillies then they are talking out their ar$e
But does it really matter when 99% of BIRs must be using bog standard packet chilli from Rajah and the like? Or is this more of a traditional Indian ingredient chat?
-
Wouldn't say 99%, my local makes a chilli paste from green chillies, Ashoka on here does likewise & think the stuff published under Glasgow recipes does also. No mix powders in a 20 second cook either.
I like the flavour of mdh Kashmiri Mirch for cooking other dishes, but it's not a flavour I've ever come across in bir up here.
Some of the places trying to set themselves apart may well use these ingredients. Shish Mahal in Glasgow use Bengali prawns, when they could use Scottish.
ELW
-
if anyone tells me these are simply run of the mill dried red chillies then they are talking out their ar$e
But does it really matter when 99% of BIRs must be using bog standard packet chilli from Rajah and the like? Or is this more of a traditional Indian ingredient chat?
SS, i was simply saying that these are the real deal regarding Kashmiri chilli
for what it's worth, these add a real depth of flavour to any curry dish
-
Over the years I have noticed the trend towards Kashmiri chillis top chefs feel in the dark if they do not use them so what is going on?
Most Kashmiri chillis are not the ones sought after but other common chillis passed off to the consumer at a silly price it is the same and even worse with powders.
The true Kashmiri chilli is a deep crimson with a smooth, shiny, thin skin It is about 5 cm long by 2.5 cm wide and has a nice fruity flavour. Heat level is medium.
If there is a bitterness there not Kashmiris the powders are very suspect
Its a pity that some home cooks buy the rubbish then assume Kashmiris are all bitter
If anyone gets and real ones keep the seeds they are like gold dust
Tried some dried Kashmiri chillis off UK Indian supplier. Ground to a powder & used in a madras & a channa. Horrible bitter taste that can only have come from the chilli. Dahl made at same time with same ingredients but no chilli tasted perfect. Binned the chillis. Have ordered 2x Kashmiri chilli plants to see if home grown not bitter. Have read that chillis grown with too little water can be bitter tasting
-
Horrible bitter taste that can only have come from the chilli.
Very interesting. When I first made Chewy tikka's madras I used a packet of Kashmiri chilli powder that had exactly that effect. A very nasty bitter taste to the curry. I really gave a negative review of the curry based on that. I then tried the recommended MDH Kashmiri chilli powder and that was much more acceptable although, as I noted at the time, it still had an underlying bitter flavour that I'd never had in any curry I'd had previously. I've been using MDH kashmiri chilli powder on and off since then and I must be used to it now as I don't detect the same bitterness as I used to.
Anyway, moral of the story ... brand matters (in this case at least)
-
These days, for simplicity / convenience, I generally use Mrs Balbir Singhs excellent spice blends & recipes - with variations to suit my/missus taste.
I have just checked a content chart I made from her blends to check for Kashmiri chilli content. The following blends contain Kashmiri chilli :-
Biryani
Butter chicken
Tandoori rub
Roast lamb raan
Masala chops
… I have made them all. In not one case have I noticed any hint of bitterness. I can only assume they know of & use the real McCoy of Kashmiri chilli.
The madras I make is a toned down version of her Goan Vindaloo - where you use your own chillis - type & amount according to your taste. This has been great using green Serrano chilli. Trying the dried ‘kashmiri’ was horrible - so clearly it either wasn’t true Kashmiri or as I have read - maybe grown with too little water which gives chillis a bitter taste supposedly. It will be interesting to see what results I get from the 2x Kashmiri chilli plants I have ordered - due april sometime
-
Received my 2 chili kashmiri mirch plants today be interesting to see when they fruit if they still have the bitter taste experienced from bought dried ones
-
Ok my Kashmiri chilli plants have grown brilliantly & are fruiting well with lots of large chillis - some of which I have harvested & used in curries.
Not a hint of bitterness taste-wise - so if you wish to avoid the bitter taste found with online bought Kashmiri chillis as experienced by me & others - route to success is grow your own.
-
Not a hint of bitterness taste-wise - so if you wish to avoid the bitter taste found with online bought Kashmiri chillis as experienced by me & others - route to success is grow your own.
Ye that's interesting. I find some brands of kashmiri chilli powder unpleasantly bitter an I've always wondered if it may contain fake kashmiri chilli. So you're saying the whole dried kashmiri chillies can be bitter as well?
-
The ones I bought were whole dried Kashmiri chillies. I ground some to flake to use in curries - horrible bitter taste in everything I made with them. Binned the lot. Others have reported the same bitter taste.
Thats when I decided to grow my own & check if same effect. Glad to report no bitter taste at all.
Reading up on why chillis can give a bitter taste - reason given - grown with lack of water.
I have made sure my home grown are watered & fed well (Tomorite)
-
(Tomorite)
How the average American pronounces "tomorrow night" ?!
-
Just harvested the last of my Kashmiri mirch chillis & cut plants back to see if I can overwinter the plants. Really pleased with the home grown route & using to great effect in raising the ‘tasty’ level in curries - amazing really considering they are mild at 2000 scoville - yet give a nice, distinctive edge to the taste
-
Just bought some kashmiri mirch from
https://spicesontheweb.co.uk/
Probably not the cheapest idk but it is the real McCoy
Regards
Mick
-
They have a huge range of Chilli seeds. I hope you enjoy the real KRCP.