A thumbs up to asian grocery stores

reehsetin

if you have a look in the indian shops some have kerela juice

Neiliboy

As children Karela was the Indian equivalent of boiled green cabbage....eeeugh! My parents eat them all time - stuffed with chick pea flour masala

Still wouldnt touch them today !

xadoc

Anyone know a link to any good websites with identification and recipes for such fruit and veg?

Am spoiled for choice around here (Birmingham). Trouble is I don't know what to do with lots of the veg and have thus far only taken the plunge with okra.

Have tried asking the blokes that work there, but they either don't know what it is themselves, don't know how to cook it, or don't have a clue what I'm asking full stop!

Milk is often a good buy - currently 2x 4pts for £1 at one local store.

And Bags of onions @ £2.99, sorry... sacks of onions )

Basmati rice - another bargain. I could go on and on. Now the stores are branching out into selling Polish stuff my life is complete!

Do most of my shopping in Lidl and local independent shops. Only go to Tesco/ASDA once a month or so, saves me a fortune.

VIJAY_FROM_KENT

The best way to try Karela, if you are a newcomer to it, is to stuff them with Tamarind (Imlee) concentrate. You can buy it in the Asian store as well. Slice open the Karela, throw away the seeds and fill the space with Tamarind, which is sweet and sour. Then fry in a wok or saucepan with a little oil until cooked :beer:

siren13577

I read this with interest, I think it's great people are beginning to experiment with exotic cuisine. I love fennel on peanut butter sandwich and with chinese leaves, I know you can get chinese leaves anywhere but the fennel leaves are a problem. If you are in Liverpool, the best place for all types of food, more like world cuisine is Mattas on Bold Street, they sell everything, from those marzipan sweets to many different types of fish. My favourite, which always takes me back to my childhood are the Sesame Snaps, yummy and now they do them in chocolate coated. Does anyone have any interesting recipes they'd like to share? Pm if you fancy or post here (?)

Thanks

newmommyjen

You will find the packs of chinese noodles, much cheaper too and more of a range in the chinese supermarkets. Instant vemercilli is my fave, empty packet in to a bowl pour enough boiling water over it and cover with plate for 3mins.Yummy. Beats pot noodles any day, about 25-40pence a packet ( cheaper by the box) . The soup the noodles swim in is also good enough to drink too.
sesame snaps about 50p, health shops sell them around £1.10

babybimbles

oooh what an exciting thread!

I dont like kerala but yes add it with something like tamarind and it should take away the bitterness!

Here is a simple chicken or meat recipie:

Most asian shops now sell frozen fresh garlic and ginger (separately) either to blitz yourserf or already pureed - you can buy fresh and peel it yourself but I have kids and prefer to buy these packs!

Your spice box should have:

1. garam masala powder
2. red chilli powder
3. dhania zeera powder (can be bought in this combination)
4. salt
5. tumeric powder

for about 1lb meat you need

one medium onion, finely chopped. Fry in some oil, you can brown it quite dark like I do or do it mid brown. Add a teaspoon of ginger and garlic mix, more garlic if you like. Then add quarter tin of tomato blitz up or about 3 large blitz fresh tomato. Add half teaspoon level tumeric (cooker should be on slow), red chilli powder to taste (alternatively blitz up a green chilli with the tomatoes), two teaspoons of dhania zeera powder, half to 3/4 tsp of garam masala powder. Add some freshly chopped coriander and maybe some freshly chopped mint, again to taste. You could also add a tspn of yoghurt but mix vigorously so it doesnt curdle.

Let the masala slow cook and when it starts to slightly stick to the bottom add your meat, and then cook on mid heat till tender. You could add potatoes nearer the end.

Voila!

stilernin

Carmen wrote:

Is it something like Kerela??

Spotted this in the frozen section of Mr T's the other day and wondered what it was. There were no suggestions or instructions on the packet.

Has anyone else tried this?

goldilocks

another recipe for the kerala is roughly scrape the more knobbly parts of,slice, take out seeds, rub with salt and leave overnight.ths removes some of the bitterness.next day,wash and fill with spicy keema mix cooked,[spicy mince]which has been cooled.tie cotton thread round it to keep the filling in place and shallow fry on lowish heat till cooked
remove the thread and serve with chappatis or nan
kerala's are good for you,too
hope you enjoy

buxton2006

Yeah a big up from too for Asian food shops. I find that the meat is fresher, cleaner and cheaper. The Pakistani mangos in the summer are lovely and sweet. Also check out some of the boxed curry mixes. Also big bags of almonds and cashews are cheaper