Monday, January 17, 2011

Quorn Balti


Yes. I do watch the TV show Come Dine with Me. I was intrigued by the Chicken Balti Kishor Paw made on the Birmingham series.  The episode showed him making curry with specific spices. (So often someone will make curry and say a few spices and then add "a secret spice blend" made by a brother or uncle or something.)  I was intrigued because every spice he mentioned we have!!  I made a few alterations and halved the recipe.  Niall and I were pleasantly surprised with the recipe.  It tastes like curry, but using our own spices (rather than a paste, which is what we usually do) made it so much lighter!

Ingredients
1/2 Tablespoon butter
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon fresh minced garlic
1 onion, diced
1/4 teaspoon fresh ginger, diced
2 birds eye chilies (I used pickled chilies)
1 can chopped tomatoes
1 package Quorn
½ teaspoon hot chili powder (I used Korean chili powder)
½ teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon medium curry powder
½ teaspoon garam masala
½ teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1/2 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup water
1 Tablespoon tomato puree

In a large pot melt the butter with the oil.  Fry the cinnamon and cumin for a few seconds. Add the onions and stir gently until the onions begin to sweat. Stir in the garlic, ginger and chilies and cook for 2-3 minutes.

Pour in the tomatoes and cook, then add the Quorn.  Sprinkle in the remaining spices. Stir in the lemon juice then add the water and tomato puree.

Bring the curry to a simmer and turn to low.  Cover and cook for 45 minutes.  Serve with rice.