Topic: what curry is it

[JerryM]

it's sort of been dawning on me that while i know exactly what i like in terms of curries having lived BIR for many years - i don't know what "tag" they have (not knowing a better word) - i guess where the authentic dishes originate from which the BIR dishes have evolved from.

i know there are the countries of Pakistan, India and Bangladesh but i guess that's only the start.

madras is fairly simple i presume originating from the madras province in India.

is there any good books, sites to read up on this - i guess what i'm after is from reading a BIR menu i can instantly recognise where or how it originated.

hope this makes sense.

[Unclebuck]

it's sort of been dawning on me that while i know exactly what i like in terms of curries having lived BIR for many years - i don't know what "tag" they have (not knowing a better word) - i guess where the authentic dishes originate from which the BIR dishes have evolved from.

i know there are the countries of Pakistan, India and Bangladesh but i guess that's only the start.

madras is fairly simple i presume originating from the madras province in India.

is there any good books, sites to read up on this - i guess what i'm after is from reading a BIR menu i can instantly recognise where or how it originated.

hope this makes sense.

Are you looking for something like this JM? click pic. UB 

[JerryM]

thanks UB - it is on the right lines ie "Dhansak origins Parsee (Middle Eastern, Persia)"

the trouble is the origins are not given for all - but a good start.

what i'm trying to do is to pin down the origin and then compare the associated spice mix - hoping to learn if there are categories of spice mix and why they match so well or not.

best wishes

[tonymexico]

Hi jerry, you could try "Curry: A tale of cooks and conquerors" by Lizzie Collingham which you should be able to find at Amazon. This maybe just what you are after as it lists the history both in India and the parallel dishes as they developed in Britain. The book also contains maps and historical references

[JerryM]

Tony,

many thanks, have ordered it this morning (from amazon).

it looks just what i need. i was not making any progress so just the lift i needed.

best wishes.

[JerryM]

Tony,

finished the book - it's quite a long and winding journey - v.good for taking on hols.

it's quite ironic for me personally as my fav curry is syhleti (garlic chicken) and chapter 9 explains how effectively the vast majority of BIR restaurants descended from syhleti sailors originating from Bangladesh (also my fav T/A).

many thanks