Hi all,

I have just had my worst ever curry-making weekend, and my biggest failure to date 

I came across a Balti recipe on the web: 'Brett's Balti'. The originator was from Birmingham and the recipe was based on the 'best bits' from a number of balti recipes around the net. I used to love the chicken balti at the 'Balti Walla' in Cheltenham and thought I would give this one a go. Well, - what a disaster!   

From the outset the recipe didn't seem quite right - no base sauce and a very simple list of ingredients. Anyway I gave it a go and consequently wasted an entire pack of meat. Well, not entirely true-  I did manage to make it passable, and bulk up the sauce content somewhat,  by adding a 1/2 litre bag of Darth's base sauce and some extra tomato puree. It still ended up a rather unappetising muddy grey/brown colour and tasted nothing like the Baltis I have ever invested my cash in.

Still, waste not, want not, I will no doubt attempt to do it justice with a chunk of naan later this week. My daughter has already tried a portion and was very polite about it 

So, my question to the forum is this: Is there a good balti recipe that I can use with Darth's base? The one I used to make had a very simple, onion-laden base, not too dissimilar to Darth's.

I love nothing better than a good curry scooped up with lots of naan bread. There are a few balti recipes on the forum, but the feedback is very light.

Your advice would be welcomed.

CL_NZ

Hi everyone,

I just thought I'd pop a quick line on here to say how well, how bleedin' well, my curry night went on Boxing day. All thanks to you guys. I stuck with the tried and tested - a large pot of Darth's Madras (with a warning - not for the Kiwis!), and an equally large pot of CK's CTM. Plus, a huge, hot steaming bowl of Cory Ander's 'perfect pilau'. It all went down a storm with everyone asking how I made it!

Note: Meat dishes thawed overnight and heated through - no discernable loss of taste or heat. Rice blitzed in the microwave from frozen until piping hot. Perfect!

I had 16 at my house - mostly ex-pats and some Kiwis and every single morsel got eaten, even after the customary lunch of cold meats and pickles.

It was the highlight of the day - 'what we've come for' according to some - and they were not let down. Wish I'd taken some pictures...

Have a great New Year. Can't wait to try some more recipes.

CL_NZ

Just to prove I had a go....see piccies below !

Tried DarthPhals base - surprisingly easy, although my pot only just took all the ingredients !!  I didn't add the chilli powder to the base (wanted to though) 'cos the wife and daughter don't like it too hot.

Turned one batch (1.5 ltrs) into a Madras for the whole family that night. It went down very, very well and there was plenty left for another time. It was the best I've made, but as usual my rice let it down - I just can't make a decent pilau. I'm gonna eat it on its own with some naan next time - balti-style.

One thing (sad hat on), someone on here asked if the onion weight could be included in Darth's base recipe. Well, as the onions we get from the market here are generally huge - I found one that measured up to Darth's 80mm x 90mm example. It was 1/2 lb (226g). So, I just weighed up 7.5 lbs (3.4kg) - the equivalent of 15 onions.

So, two successes in one week. I now have a good curry, sheek kebabs and mint sauce to a good standard. I'm so glad I found this site !