Quick Indian Cooking

The champagne went in the fridge. The quality lamb was acquired. The stage was set for the mid-week girly dinner. Now I needed a recipe to really wow the girls on a Wednesday night.

I chose to dust off one of my Indian cookbooks.

Now, Indian cookbooks are objects of great desire in my home. I purchase many. Mainly to see the spines lined up on the bookshelf. Occasionally I leaf through each recipe. Ogle over the full page of ingredients required. And then stick it back on the shelf.

This time, I decided to put one to better use. Out came this one. It was the photos of the whacky chef with elephants in South India that first attracted me.

But ultimately it was his sister’s recipe for Gosht Kali Mirch or Lamb with Black Pepper that clinched it.

The recipe was simple, used (comparatively) few ingredients and so delicious that I had to restrain myself from eating it all immediately. Not for the faint hearted or chilli challenged mind you.

We’ll see if the girls leave it on the shelf.
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I’ve had a few strange working lunches in my time. The first question set the tone for this one: “Have you thought much about what would happen when you die?”

In my experience, Indians don’t talk about death much. I’m quite happy to follow this fine example.

But now, I was sitting across a rather morbid will-writing consultant (or something). In between bites of my stone-baked, Capricciosa pizza I was being force fed likely future events.

“Do you have any possessions of real value you want to present to anyone?”

Gulp. My pots and pans?

“Real value.”

My shoes?

We finally settled on the only piece of pricey jewellery I possess. With that, I ran off to work leaving the husband to answer the last call.

To think I’d even momentarily considered parting with my pots and pans! I put them to use straightaway with Bhuna Gosht, and served it with my new found recipe for perfect naan – an Earthly reminder why life is worth living.
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My favourite days at work have many ingredients.

It takes no less that the first half hour to fire up the computer. Which then promptly crashes leaving me helpless and hormonal. I proceed to get barked at by colleague/ supplier/ journalist. And finally face an impossible client deadline that likens the plot of Mission Impossible to an urgent trip to the cornershop.

The 5-10 ingredients that add up to an Indian recipe are a far cry from all this. So they smell. Are well fiddly. And require some planning. But boy do they make up for working day misery as well as a stiff drink and trash TV.

(To think ready-mixed curry powder was once my holy grail of quick Indian cooking.)

My favourite ingredient for Indian cooking has to be yogurt. I know this sounds ridiculous, when there are a million wonderful and exotic spices we use. Hear me out. Yogurt:

1. Is a low-fat substitute for cream
2. Thickens curries without the need for dubious additions
3. Softens and tenderises meats
4. Has heaps of health benefits

Not so idiotic now, is it?

When cooking yogurt, I strongly advocate using the thick, full fat variety. We call it Greek Yogurt here, but it’s made from cow’s milk. Even on a high flame, this stuff does not split and gives a delicious richness to dishes. Any oil that escapes it, you can simply leave behind in the pan when you eat.

The low fat, natural variety works best for things like Raita or Lassi. I’ve tried mixing flour/cornflour into it and straining to thicken further – but it still curdles the minute it touches the high heat that’s a must for quick cooking.

Here is Zafrani gosht, a simple, tender saffron goat meat curry to get you thinking differently about this wonderful ingredient. You could also substitute the goat meat with chunks of lamb, bones included.
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Out with the old. In with the new.

It was time for QIC to have a little makeover. We have a more slick look. Videos with cooking basics. And photos of me looking like my younger, more glamorous sister.

On the downside, my blog consultant and dear friend Hugh may never speak to me again.

Fresh from the glow of a new beginning, I decided to try something different. I took to the streets of South London, to trial a new neighborhood for supplies.

First stop. Mrs Naila Salim. Owner of Pooja Sweets and Savouries on the bustling Upper Tooting Road. She had not just one but THREE types of samosas. (Thank you, God)

Next, I bought freshly-diced lamb shoulder from a Halal Butcher on Balham Road. He had goat meat too. The stuff we mainly eat in meat curries at home.

This is the cooking Indian equivalent of hitting the jackpot!

Things are hotting up on all fronts. What better than this Achari Gosht, fiery sour lamb curry cooked with pickle masalas, to send a sizzle through my kitchen too?

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