Store cupboard challenge

rebeccaxoxo

Im trying to make a quick and easy dinner for this evening and i have a few chicken leg quarters, a tin of madras sauce, a cawliflower and some lentils and onions etc. any suggestions ?:money:

Sambucus_Nigra

Cook them and make a curry?

daisiegg

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

Cook them and make a curry?

Lol kind of what I was going to say!

I don't use ready made curry sauces but that sounds like the makings of a meal right there.

I'd fry the onions, then if you do have any spices like garam masala, chilli powder, ground coriander, cumin etc, add a pinch of what you fancy (I'd do this even if using the ready made sauce just to make it a bit nicer) then add the chicken thighs, toss in the onion mixture to coat.

This is where I get confused because I don't usually use sauces...but I'd guess, brown the chicken and then add the sauce, cover and simmer for however long you think the chicken will take to cook (or however long you like...curries improve with long, slow cooking) then nearer the end add the chopped up cauliflower (no idea how long this takes to cook as I hate the stuff) until it's cooked.

Serve with rice, naan or chapati...sounds yummy!

rebeccaxoxo

I guessed that was a bit of a stupid question, just didnt know if what i had would all go together or if id be better leaving stuff out, ie the cawliflower lol. I usually make my own curry too thats why i was a bit unsure of what to do with the sauces but i guess ill give it a go

Stephen_Leak

Try these ...

MEAT CURRY

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

375g of beef, lamb or pork, chicken or turkey
1 clove of garlic
2cm (1 inch) piece of fresh ginger
2 onions
2 tablespoons of oil
200g (½ a 400g tin) of plum tomatoes
1 teaspoon of chilli powder
1 tablespoon of garam masala
½ a teaspoon of ground turmeric
250ml of water

DEFROSTING

If you are using frozen chicken, make sure that it is completely defrosted before use. Leave it in the fridge overnight, or out of the fridge and covered for 6 hours.

METHOD

Chop the meat into 2cm (1 inch) pieces. Peel the garlic and chop it into tiny pieces. Peel the ginger and chop it into tiny pieces. Peel the onions and chop them into tiny pieces.

Put the oil into a saucepan on a moderate heat. Put the garlic, ginger, meat and onions into the pan. Cook for 20 minutes until the meat is an even colour, with no pink bits. Stir frequently to stop it sticking.

Open the tin of tomatoes. Pour the juice into a bowl. Chop the tomatoes while they are still in the can (it’s easier than chasing them around the bowl). Put the chopped tomatoes into the bowl. Put half the chopped tomatoes into the pan and save the other half.

Add the chilli, garam masala, turmeric and water. Stir thoroughly.

Bring to the boil, then turn down the heat until it is just boiling (simmering). Put the lid on the saucepan and cook for 30 minutes, stirring as the mixture boils, until the sauce has reduced.

ADDITIONS & ALTERATIONS

The quantity of chilli powder above makes for a medium curry. For a hot one, increase this to 1½ teaspoons.

For a mild one, decrease this to ½ a teaspoon. Add 100ml (½ a 200ml pot) of yoghurt 5 to 10 minutes before the end of cooking.For a mild chicken or turkey Korma, also add a 50g sachet of creamed coconut. Add ½ a teaspoon of mint sauce to the leftover yoghurt to make some mint raita.

TIPS

Plum tomatoes can be used either whole or chopped. It is difficult to stick chopped tomatoes back together again if you need to use them whole.



DAL

Dal (or daal, dahl or dhal) means “pulse”, ie. bean or pea, etc.

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

1 clove of garlic
2cm (1 inch) piece of fresh ginger
1 onion
250g of split red lentils
½ a teaspoon of turmeric
500ml of water
1 tablespoon of oil
1 teaspoon of chilli powder
1 tablespoon of garam masala

METHOD

Soak the lentils according to the instructions on the packet. Peel the garlic and chop it into tiny pieces. Peel the ginger and chop it into tiny pieces. Peel the onion and chop it into tiny pieces.

Put the lentils, turmeric and water into a saucepan on a medium heat. Bring to the boil, then turn down the heat until it is just boiling (simmering). Stir frequently to stop it sticking. Continue to cook for another 30 minutes until the lentils are a smooth paste. Check the liquid level from time to time and top up if it starts to dry out.

While the lentils are cooking, put the oil into a frying pan on a medium heat. Add the chilli powder and garam masala. Fry for just a few seconds. Add the onions. Fry them for 10 minutes until the onions are caramelised and dark brown. Stir frequently to stop them sticking. Then add the garlic and ginger. Continue to fry for another 5 minutes. Stir frequently to stop them sticking.

Serve the lentils in a bowl, and then add the contents of the frying pan, including the oil, in a puddle on top.

ADDITIONS & ALTERATIONS

You can use any bean, pea or pulse. In India, they evidently have over 500 to chose from.

Use dried beans or peas, but these will need to be soaked and boiled first.

Black-eyed beans/peas = Lobhia Dal
Chickpeas/garbanzo beans = Chana Dal
Kidney beans = Rajma Dal
Red split lentils = Masoor Dal
Mung beans = Mung Dal
Yellow split lentils = Toor Dal

Yellow split peas are not commonly used in India, but are by the Indian communities in Guyana and Trinidad, where the dish is just called dal.

Tadka (or baghar, chaunk or tarka) is the mix of fried spices and onion, etc. The ingredients in the tadka for each type of dal vary, but common tadka combinations include chilli powder, cumin and onion, or garlic and mustard seeds. Ground coriander and garam masala are also common ingredients.

Serve on its own with rice and naan bread or as a side dish with other Indian dishes.

TIPS

Dal is a good source of protein for a balanced diet without meat.

zippychick

what did you m ake in the end? ive merged this with our store cupboard thread

Zip

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

Hi Folks got to sort out what's in the Cupboard/Freezer/Fridge but posting 1x week a Storecupboard Recipe should not be difficult as I like many others here, due to poverty, believe in keeping ample Cupboards. It is also a chance for some therapeutic honesty.

NicChanna

Hey all - you probably know about this already but just in case you don't ...

recipematcher.com

You enter the stuff that's in your cupboard/fridge/freezer and it searches a database of gazillions of recipes that people have volunteered, then telling you what you can make, and whether there is anything extra you need to buy to make it.

:j

ollow

Evening all

I wonder if you could help me, I've recently separated from my husband and I have lost my way.

I have cupboards and freezers of food but I just have no inspiration to do anything. Would it be possible if I listed the contents for some advice please.

Many thanks.

[Deleted User]

hi, sorry you have separated from your husband, you will soon find your way again, im sure. As for knowing what to do with your food, im useless, but there is a website where you can type in your ingredients its http://www.recipematcher.com/ good luck.