Cabbage can be used as a substitute for onion in curry recipes if you do not like the strong taste of onion.
Courtesy Sweet ‘n’ Spicy phone app
Category: Curry News
Curry tip of the week 3
Do you like cooking curry with spinach but hate the chopping? Freeze a bag of baby spinach then while it is still in the bag simply scrunch it up and it will snap into tiny pieces. No chopping needed.
Where did that spice come from?
Spices in the supermarket, spices in the corner shop, spices online. Is there anywhere you can’t find spice in the UK these days? Thankfully for spice lovers, probably not. But ever wondered where it all started. It was, of course the huge British East India Company, who traded with, then ran India for many years. Discover how we got all our spices and what the early traders thought at the National Maritime Museum’s Traders Gallery, which has only been open for a few weeks. The gallery is open daily from 10am-5pm and entry is free.
Become a curry chef
Fancy yourself as a bit of a curry chef? Now’s your chance to learn from some of the best. Cinnamon Kitchen (see review) is offering masterclasses from executive chef Vivek Singh or other curry kings such as head chefs Abdul Yaseen (Cinnamon Kitchen) and Hari Nagaraj (Cinnamon Club) in the surrounds of one of London’s best Indian restaurants.
Dates
Saturday 21 January: Detox with Abdul Yaseen
Saturday 25 February: Curry, classic and contemporary with Vivek Singh
Saturday 24 March: Seafood special with Rakesh Ravindran
Cost: £175
Bookings: events@cinnamon-kitchen.com
Curry tip of the week 2
To avoid it breaking up when stirring, use a firm fish when cooking a fish curry. Monkfish or cod works well. Even tuna.
Monsoon beer tasting
Monsoon beer is a relatively new beer trying to break into the Indian food market. From Christchurch, New Zealand, you’ll only find it in a handful of places at the moment, but it’s good so expect it to spread its wings to a curry house near you soon. The Greenwich Curry Club felt that it was its duty to have a beer tasting and curry night…
Monsoon Original Pilsner (5.6% abv)
Appearance
Head: average • Lacing: fair • Body: hazy • Colour: straw
Aroma
Hops: average • Malt: average • Yeast: average • Aromas: alcohol, apple
Flavour and palate
Body: medium • Texture: slick • Carbonation: soft • Finish: twang
Drinkability and experience
Flavour duration: average • Sweet: light • Acidic: light • Sour or bitter: moderate • Off flavours: butter
Best curry dishes…
Hot and spicy, lamb
Monsoon Strong Pilsner (6.5% abv)
Appearance
Head: frothy/lasting • Lacing: fair • Body: clear • Colour: amber
Aroma
Hops: light/average • Malt: light/average • Yeast: light • Aromas: alcohol, banana, liquorice
Flavour and palate
Body: medium • Texture: slick • Carbonation: soft/average • Finish: twang
Drinkability and experience
Flavour duration: average/long • Sweet: light • Acidic: moderate • Sour or bitter: light/moderate • Off flavours: butter
Best curry dishes…
Chicken, lamb
Monsoon Organic Pilsner (5% abv)
Appearance
Head: frothy/large • Lacing: sparse/fair • Body: hazy • Colour: straw
Aroma
Hops: light/average • Malt: average/heavy • Yeast: average • Aromas: alcohol
Flavour and palate
Body: medium • Texture: slick • Carbonation: soft/average • Finish: twang
Drinkability and experience
Flavour duration: average/long • Sweet: light • Acidic: light/moderate • Sour or bitter: moderate • Off flavours: salty
Best curry dishes…
Mild dishes, chicken
Many thanks to the Mitre Hotel for hosting the event. The curry was ordered from Le Popadom. And very good it was too.
Cinnamon and a kick
As many curry fundis know, whisky is a great drink to share with your favourite food due to the spicy notes in the drink. Cinnamon lovers will be pleased to discover Fireball, a Canadian liqueur made with whisky and a heavy, heavy dose of the spice. At 33% abv it certainly has a kick too. I suggest trying it with a fragrant biryani.
Brick Lane for sale!
Gasp! Can it be true? The famous Brick Lane is for sale? Well, the sign is at least. A snip for curry lovers at £60 from Minerva Antiques in Royal Hill, Greenwich.
Curry tip of the week 1
If you are marinating your chicken then first rub some lemon onto it and let it stand for a few minutes. This will degrease the meat and it will absorb the spices better.
Greenwich Curry Club Awards winners
We are pleased to announce the winners of the Greenwich Curry Club Awards in association with the Greenwich Visitor. The shortlists were drawn up by members of the curry club then voting was opened up on this site and through the Greenwich Visitor. Congratulations to all winners!
Best Restaurant
Winner: Gurkha’s Inn
Runners-up: Memsaheb on Thames and Mogul
Best for Décor
Winner: Mogul
Runners-up: Gurkha’s Inn and Mountain View
Best for Service and Friendliness
Winner: Gurkha’s Inn
Runners-up: Mogul and Taste of Raj
Best for Value
Winner: Gurkha’s Inn
Runners-up: Chutney and Taste of Raj
Best Takeaway
Winner: Mogul (Trafalgar Road)
Runner-up: La Popadom
The Royal Curry Club 