Curry!

RichyRich

Righty-oh, I'm not a regular poster on OS because, basically, I know jack all about it, but I'm a regular lurker and keen to learn. For too long I've been lazy, not mealplanned, and just nipped into Asda's or wherever on the way home to pick something up for tea.

I think this is symptomatic of having a responsible job where I work all hours god sends and living on my own so have nobody to keep me in line!

So, I've decided to bite the bullet and be more OS to make sure I'm healthier. This, I am aware, will require organisation, which I'm not particularly good at, so you might have to bear with me. Also, I don't have a freezer, so as much as I would dearly love to make up batches and batches of stuff for me to heat up as and when, it ain't gonna be possible.

So, I love curry, so thought I'd start with doing that. But with not having much time about, I thought I'd invest in a slow cooker and have it ready for me when I get in from work. I found CQ's recipes, which are highly praised, but not having a freezer doing the base then adding bits in isn't really an option.

So I spent some of last night seeing if I could tweak it to make in one go. This is my first foray into OS (apart from using vinegar as softener) so I'd quite like it to go well. Can any of you lovely people advise if the following shameless adaptation of CQ's Chicken Bhuna would work? And if not, what would I need to change (as long as it's not adding shrooms, cos I canny stand them so have taken them out).

Here goes:

Lazy Chicken Bhuna

250g Onions
12g Ginger
12g Garlic
375ml Water
pinch salt
60g passata
200g diced chicken
1/4 tsp tomato puree
1/4 tsp tumeric
1/4 tsp paprika
1/4 green pepper, sliced
1/4 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp garam masala
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp dried fenugreek
1/4 tsp coriander

1. Blend onions/garlic/salt/quarter of the water until perfectly smooth
2. Brown Chicken in frying pan
3. Bung everythingin slow cooker

Comments, suggestions, etc., all invited

Thanks
Rich

ifonlyitwaseasier

sounds nice, i might borrow the recipe

i'd add some more veggies and chickpeas/lentils (tinned or presoaked) and then you can make it last a bit longer/serve more people/ freeze a few portions etc

Pink.

Hi RichyRich,

It sounds good to me too. I might give your recipe a go later this week.

Pink

RichyRich

Glad to see two experienced people think it might work. I'll keep my fingers crossed as I pick up a slow cooker later this week.

Then I can shamelessly nick more recipes and do them for my tea

Am i right in thinking there'd be no health issue with saving anything left over and bringing it to work to warm up in the micro for my dinner the next day?

Pink.

RichyRich wrote: »

Am i right in thinking there'd be no health issue with saving anything left over and bringing it to work to warm up in the micro for my dinner the next day?

Absolutely no health issue at all, as long as you cool any leftover as quickly as possible and keep it in the fridge. When you're reheating it, make sure it's piping hot before eating it. Let us know how you get on.

Pink

RichyRich

Yes, I will do. Probably a good idea to make a plan of what to eat this week before going shopping, so I'm off to scout round the OS Board looking for recipes and will make a list out of it.

Thanks again for your help; I'll report back

Ben84

I've saved lots of curry in the fridge and reheated it later in the week. Just be sure to cover it well or everything in the fridge becomes curry flavour.

I don't save rice and reheat it however, it's a food poisoning hazard. I only cook what we will eat to avoid leftovers. Half a mug per person of dry rice seems to be about right.

RichyRich

Thanks for that Ben, I'm not a fan of rice and normally eat my curries Bradford style...i.e. no cutlery but chunks of chapati instead! You can take the boy out of Bradford, but can't take the Bradford out of the boy!

Right, I've meal planned till Thursday, on the basis that I don't know what I'll be doing at the weekend so don't want to buy something and not be able to eat it. Also, there'll probably be some leftovers so I'm sure I'll be able to do something with them for Friday's tea.

Meal Plan
Monday: Spaghetti Bolognese (because (1) I can make it and (2) I don't have my slo-cooker yet, have tomatoes, tom puree, herbs and pasta in, so can just pick up some mince on my way home and it will be nice and easy and quick to make, once I've done my washing up!)

Tuesday: Lamb Stew (going to pick up some neck or breast of lamb on my way back and have it cook all day in my sparkly new slow cooker throughout Tuesday.)

Wednesday: Chicken Bhuna (recipe above)

Thursday: Braising Steak (something else that seems reasonably easy in the slow cooker)

I'm going to nip to Tesco rather than Asda after work tomorrow because I think it's more likely I'll be able to pick up a stick blender and slow cooker there, as there's pretty much zero chance that I'll be able to get to Argos for their £12 slow cooker before the shop shuts. Tesco also has the advantage of having Aldi next store so I'll go there first and whatever I can't get there I'll go to Tesco for.

My shopping list currently looks like this:

Onions
Ginger
Garlic
Passata
Chicken
Tumeric
Paprika
Green Pepper
Chili Powder
Garam Masala/Curry Powder
Cumin (ground)
Fenugreek
Coriander
Mince
Lamb Breast
Various Vegetables (for stew)
Potatoes
Milk
Braising Steak

Which I reckon should last me for what I want given what I have in stock already. I'll keep the thread updated with how I get on. Wish me luck!

Rich

vivaladiva

Is the blending of onions etc a quick way of doing CQ's recipe. I used the bulk recipe from the original thread and it was fantastic. The downside was it did stink the house out with the oniony smell. Has the recipe been modified since?

RichyRich

Its my modification to get it all done in one fell swoop rather than making the base then adding bits - I'm lazy and want a reasonable curry with little effort that will be ready when I get home. I bet the whole street will stink of curry by the time I get back!

RichyRich

Chapatis, Mint Sauce and Yogurt now added to shopping list