the takeaway secret

meritaten

Ive made the beef chow mein and its really gorgeous! very tasty and without any MSG!

omen666

Can I make a suggestion bearing in mind this thread is cluttered? If agred maybe a BG can help by amending the OP post with these extra details or a new linked thread?

Here goes, I have read each and every individual post on this thread and thanks all from all of us for the contributions and lush photos. I have noticed whilst going through that there seems to be a general consensus on certain recipes to alter the ingredients in a slight manor, whether by weight or type.

This recipe book is based on the author experiences of his local chinese for instance, they might come from a hutong in Beijing whereas the chefs in my chinese are from Hong Kong and slightly different in the food, but yet again the same premise

For instance, I notice the majority (like nearly all ) say "I use half the recommended amount of sage in the sausage MMCMuffin recipe"?
I use Onion granules rather than Onion Powder - its the same?
I find it best to leave the lamb kebab over night and slice it this certain way, tastes far better and far easier to cut - MOST AGREE
Where do i get onion poweder or granules from?
A lot use a ginger and onion paste, that is better?
I use htsp less in the sweet and sour recipe?

The thing is all of our local takeaways are different but their recipes are based on the foundations/fundementals of this book. I think there should be a postof sorts that contains integral information. The following I class as Integral.........

I notice the majority (like nearly all ) say "I use half the recommended amount of sage in the sausage MMCMuffin recipe"

the following not integral

Well I used light brown sugar in my Sweet n Sour and was lush
Well I used Dark brown sugar in my Sweet n Sour and was lush

I just think we should be rather MSE and save food and the ingredients and compile a list whereby we "the majority" agree a "major" change in the recipe


Thoughts?

Triker

You could just pm the OP and ask them to add the amendments....:D

losingpatience

So my chinese banquet was a big success and there was absolutely nothing left! Alot of the things I made I haven't actually had from a chinese takeaway so I can't comment as to whether it tasted like them really. But here's a mini review ( for reference I doubled all the recipes as there was 4 of us ):

Chinese dipping sauce - really lovely, great even just poured over some rice if you have rice left over. Full of flavour and went with pretty much everything. Will go great with prawn toasts, wantons, spring rolls etc. I normally just have soy sauce with them but will definitely be making this sauce in future instead as it's got so much more flavour

Fried Rice - Again very easy ( I didn't cook and leave the rice for as long as suggested so can't say how much of a difference this would have made ) but everyone commented how it tasted like the real thing and wasn't at all congealed or clumped together like it can sometimes be from takeaways. I just cooked the rice about an hour before I needed to stir fry it and it was lovely

Chinese curry ( I added chunky onions, chicken and some quartered button mushrooms ) - At first this was too spicy and caught the back of your throat. I put a tablespoon of lemon juice in and 2 tablespoons of double cream and the result was a lovely flavoursome curry that was slightly creamy. It actually had more depth of flavour then the normal chinese curry I get. This was the first dish to be polished off, everyone loved it!

Beef chow mein ( I had some chicken left over which I bunged in as well ) - This was very tasty but I personally felt it was lacking something so may put some sliced carrot in next time. The sauce wasn't like what my local takeaways like ( though my local can be a bit greasy sometimes ) yet my sisters fiance, who's from down south, said it was just like what you would get from a takeaway. The marinade for the beef made the beef yummy! ( I tried a bit after it was fried off )

Soy and honey chicken wings - These were really lovely, not too overpowering a taste from the marinade it was in ( I only had time to marinade them for a few hours and may marinade them overnight next time ) they were addictive! I'm not a fan of sweet and sour type food but loved these as they weren't too sweet and the soy balanced the flavours perfectly. A very cheap side dish to make

Spare ribs - I didn't try these as I don't like them but everyone else again thought they were lovely and tasted just like the real thing. Everyone said they were "proper chinese ribs"

Hope thats of some help. The food was really nice, and now I have all the spices in it will make making it all next time really cheap!

I think I'll attempt the donner kebab next weekend

carrieparkinson

the tortillas are bang on

VenusFlytrap_2

OK, add me to the list of converts - hadn't heard anything about the Takeaway Secret before this thread, but reading all your rave reviews has convinced me so it's now on order from Amazon. Big thanks to everyone who posted pics of their delicious food too, you've all got me craving curry and kebabs, can't wait to try making them myself! :T

kinkine

Well, it took me a while but I managed to trawl this whole thread. Ordered the book today from Amazon on free delivery and planning next Friday's Fakeaway - thinking kebabs!

Thanks for everyone's input and "tweaks" - I have been making notes as I read along and cannot wait to get started myself.

On checking through my numerous cook books I discover I actually have The Curry Secret, so something from that is going to be on our menu this week. :T

angeltreats

Well I have finally given in and ordered this book. And The Curry Secret. But we've had no internet for two weeks since moving house, so I've done no online shopping and am allowed a little splurge

VenusFlytrap_2

Well, got the book yesterday, did a big shop last night and bought half the spices aisle for all the recipes I want to try and tonight for tea had the doner kebabs... oh my God, they are gorgeous! At least as good as the takeaway, if not better. Even my very fussy OH was impressed and his friend who's round for the evening loved them as well, he's even had me write down the recipe for him!

Also tried the 'takeaway style' hot chocolate, made with cinnamon flavoured milk and vanilla essence, which is divine, and rounded it off with the chocolate chip cookies - they've gone down very well indeed! Lovely and crispy at the edge, chewy in the middle, just perfect - OH's friend said they were better than Subway! Am usually !!!! at making cookies/biscuits so really chuffed with these.

Can't wait to try more recipes - think I'll be doing Chinese/Indian over the weekend - and think some of them will definitely become regulars. All the spices and cinnamon sticks for hot choc etc aren't expensive, but they're nice little additions that make homemade food taste a bit special. Thanks so much to the OP for starting this thread, what a great find! :T And thanks to everyone else for all the tips and tweaks.

jackieb

I ordered 2 and they came today. One for me and one for my son. I can't wait to have a go - especially the prawn toast and chicken noodle soup!