Curry Recipes Online
Curry Recipe Group Tests => Curry Recipe Group Tests => Topic started by: chriswg on July 04, 2010, 04:33 PM
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It's the moment I think you have all been waiting for. The results of the June 2010 Kebab group test.
For those not familiar with this, we chose 5 kebab recipes from the site then 5 members cooked all 5 and gave them marks out of 10 in 4 different areas. Taste, texture, cheapness and ease to make. In all cases the higher the score the better.
(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8ZixU3Nbf9c/TDClcQ-mDPI/AAAAAAAAAd8/0i9yLJ0AU9w/s800/Kebabs.jpg) (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/aYQyemDMtw4cM7fLutDVfQ?feat=embedwebsite)
As requested, here are the links:
CA's http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=1525.0 (http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=1525.0)
Razor's http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=4393.0 (http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=4393.0)
Dipuraja's http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=4452.0 (http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=4452.0)
Curry Dev's http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=3415.0 (http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=3415.0)
Axe's http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=4468.0 (http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=4468.0)
Razor will be very pleased to note that his came out top in 3 of the 4 categories, just being beaten by Dipuraja in the ease to make category. This isn't surprising as most of his recipe come from jars of paste. All of the judges were surprised by the results. I had only cooked these a couple of times before and I was amazed in the difference between a bad recipe (Sorry Curry Dev but it was pretty gross) and the good ones like Axe, CA and Razors.
Most of the judges commented on the use of ground cardamon seeds and ground cloves as being a bad idea as the taste was too overwhelming.
I hope everyone sees this information for what it is - an attempt to provide some honest, unbiased thoughts on a number of different recipes. I'd also like to thank the other judges - Axe, Razor, PeterandJen and Fi5H for putting their time and effort into reviewing these recipes for the good of the forum. I hope they all enjoyed it enough to help with the July group test of Chicken Tikka!
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Great to see that this up and running and it makes interesting reading - I wonder would it be possible in this post to paste the links to the recipes?
Also forgive my ignorance but how were the 5 judges selected - was it self selecting or some other method?
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I agree good to see this up and running & a good read ;D
great job guys 8),
Chicken Tikka is my favourite so I am looking forward to the next results ;)
cheers
Will
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This is a great idea and gives a bench mark for anyone who is struggling to decide where to try their efforts first :)
Thanks to all who originally supplied the recipes and also to the 5 testers for all their efforts. it's much appreciated :D
Rob.
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Wow,
Gobsmacked :o
I've got to say, I didn't actually judge this myself. My mate (fat Paul) came round and did the taste test for me. I just couldn't do it with having one of my own in there ::)
All in all, a really enjoyable test and some good recipes in there. I think the differences were quite subtle and there wasn't what I would describe as a bad one in there (fat Paul ate 10 kebabs). :-\
The one thing that I would say in Curry Devs defence if I may, is, when I did this recipe, they bared little resemblance to the ones that he posted in his thread, and I think I'm correct in saying, the ones that Fi5h did, didn't either!
This got me wondering if I had done the recipe correctly. I checked, and everything was done to the letter so, I'm wondering if Dev missed something out of his ingredients list?
Anyway, good first test I think (I would say that now lol) bring on the chicken tikka ;D
Ray :)
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nice one Ray - loved the comments about your mate, he sounds like a legend.
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Hi Stephen,
Also forgive my ignorance but how were the 5 judges selected - was it self selecting or some other method?
Well, Chris (chriswg) originally came up with the concept and put the idea to the forum, and after much debate, and seeing who was enthusiastic about the idea, Chris invited members to put their names forward.
What members really need to understand is, this is no way a means of trying to create an "elite" recipe list, or indeed, a list of "elite" recipe providers. It is a bit of fun, and a good way of taking the forum forward, as it was becoming a little tired at the time.
It can also provide new members or novice cooks, with a bit of a starting point or guide on their cooking journey.
As long as nobody takes it too serious, it should be a great deal of fun :)
Hope that goes someway in answering your question Stephen?
Ray :)
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Hi Stephen,
As Razor said its a bit of fun, I had never made a kebab before this taste test so I learnt something from it.. and also congrats to Razor and well done everyone else who took part.
Andy
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Actually I'm pleased and surprised at how well the process (seems) to have played out.
As taste and texture are the key ones for me, I will be giving Razor's a try.
Looking forward to Chicken Tikka!
Amongst the ones I'd personally like to see for that one are: CA's, Blade's, Dipuraja's, Lasan's. I can't think if a 5th, but I'm sure there's a few other highly rated ones.
-- Josh
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It was good fun doing the test and generated some surprising results. Above all though, I learnt a great deal from it which will allow me to apply this moving forward. If anything, it shows how important it is to try the many recipes on here. If not for anything else but to help you move forward.
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Well done Bez! Top banana! ;D Thanks to all the testers too for putting in the time and effort ;)
Looking forward to the tikka tests :)
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Thanks to all the testers too for putting in the time and effort
Yes, it was very good of them. I feel bad now for arguing against this idea when it was first suggested. The title sounded pompous. If it had been described as a band of hard-working, unpaid volunteers - which is how it now strikes me - I don't think I would have had any doubts.
I suggest it could be worth including one recipe from a published source in each test, e.g. from a book by Pat Chapman or Kris Dhillon.
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Hi George,
I suggest it could be worth including one recipe from a published source in each test, e.g. from a book by Pat Chapman or Kris Dhillon.
That is a fantastic idea. At least it would give us some idea of how our recipes fair against the so called "experts"
If the next test is going to be chicken tikka, I will put forward the Kushi tikka, and publish the recipe. The one thing I would say about it though, I know, and I'm sure you do too George, with you also having the book, this chicken tikka will not be cheap to make.
Good suggestion George, what do the rest of the testers think of this idea?
Ray :)
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Like the idea of using a KD/PC or other known baseline. I was struggling for a 5th tikka recipe, so there's one!
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I think its a cracking idea too. I've never been impressed with any published recipes so it will be nice to quantify that against our recipes.
I'm not sure it would be worth doing the Curry Secret Chicken Tikka though. All it contains is chicken, yoghurt, chilli powder, salt, cooking oil and yellow food colouring. I don't need to waste any chicken to know it would be texture 10, ease 10, cost 10, taste 0!
Pat Chapmans looks good but will be bloody hard and expensive. The garam masala involves roasting 10 ingredients then grinding, and the tandoori masala includes things like beetroot powder, mango powder and anatto seed powder.
The Kushi one sounds better, is that from the Balti Cookbook?
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Hi Chris, the patchapman tikka is disappointing. I tried it. A lot of effort , for a unremarkable taste. I felt he had over complicated the recipe, and did not really understand the ingredients. It was old skool indian home cooking taste , not at all bir.
A good chicken tikka needs lemon salt butter cream yogurt coriander cumin , chilly powder, ginger garlic, sugar or honey . this to me is a bir tikka.
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Perhaps we could use recipes from books if we are in a situation where we are short for a recipe or two. Otherwise the general idea is good but would only really be suited to recipes that do not require pre-made components like a base.
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I think its a cracking idea too. I've never been impressed with any published recipes so it will be nice to quantify that against our recipes.
I'm glad you like the idea. Yes, this was my thinking - to let the published recipes stand up to be counted on a level playing field. You're right about the unbelievable complexity of many Pat Chapman recipes so I wouldn't wish it on anybody. On the other hand, Kushi is a fairer match, and perhaps less likely to be shown up. I suggest submitting a different author for each test.
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Im easy, just post the 5 recipes and i'll get cracking on em :)
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We haven't forgotten about the group tests, now Summer is out of the way we can hopefully crack on and get all of the Tikka results finished soon so we can move onto the big Onion Bhaji fight!
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excellent, thanks to all for their hard work.
im gonna be pedantic now, and annoy a few people.
but i would have liked to see presentation as a category as well. i just feel especially if the results are close the way it looks would swing it for me. bir tend to be good on presentation too and after all thats what we are trying to achieve a likeness all round in what we get at the local bir. no point tasting great if you need a blindfold to eat it.
just my 10 cents my 2 cents is free.
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Hi Jimmy,
It's a fair point, but as far as I'm aware, none of the recipes gave presentation instructions. Most seekh kebas come served on a bed of lettuce with onion, cuccumber and tomatoes, with a slice or two of lemon, so in all cases, each dish would be presented the same way by the individual tester.
Ray :)
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Hi All
Here in Turkey which is home to both the kebab and kofte, all households and the majority of restaurants use a ready made premix commercial seasoning for preparing the kofte and kebab meats before cooking off
The only fresh ingredient added is always chopped flat leaf parsley, sometimes precooked chopped onion and optional precooked garlic
The mix is very cheap here & exceptionally tasty
Indeed if enough guys on our Forum wanted it, say maybe 10, I would be prepared to post a package of 10 packs over at cost price to one nominated member for subsequent individual postage within the UK by him/her. Im Paypal ready too
Its not a thing which will turn up in Asian stores I think
Cheers
Paul
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Hi Artistpaul,
Could you put up a photo of the product. We have some fantastic ethnic stores here in the UK, and we also have quite a big Turkish community here in Manchester so there's a very good chance that we could get hold of it here in the UK.
The only fresh ingredient added is always chopped flat leaf parsley, sometimes precooked chopped onion and optional precooked garlic
These ingredients seem to be very prevelant in Kubidehs (Koobedeh) which are quite similar but also very different to seekh kebabs.
Ray :)
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Heres some pics as requested
The Kofte mix is also often used in Kebabs, even though a separate kebab mix can be bought the difference between the 2 is really nothing
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Hi Paul,
Thanks for the photo's.
I can honestly say that I've not come across either of them products, well, at least not that I recall. I'm popping down to my local Asian Supermarket tomorrow, so I'll keep my eyes peeled for anything similar.
Many thanks,
Ray :)
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You are welcome Ray
Like I said before these might be difficult to find outside Turkey
But like I also said, Ive no probs with trying to get some over to you
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Paul,
Slightly off topic but, you wouldn't happen to have a recipe for Kubideh would you? I've been trying to replicate my local TA's version for a while, and whilst I've been close, I've come to a standstill.
Ray :)
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Ray
Try this, Ive used it many times and its spot on, but then all takeaways have regional differences
Give it a shot
http://www.thingsasian.com/stories-photos/3125 (http://www.thingsasian.com/stories-photos/3125)