How to cook… Chicken Kolhapuri

On November 14, 2020March 11, 2026 By In RecipesLeave a comment

Serves 4 as a main dish

Chicken Kolhapuri is a rich, hot dish is from the city of Kolhapur in Maharashtra but is popular all over India, especially in the south west. The chicken is marinated, then a masala mix created. These are then added to sauce of onions and tomatoes to create this extremely tasty curry.

What you need…
• 800g chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 3 Tablespoons oil
• 600ml Base Curry Sauce
• 2 teaspoons chilli powder
• 0.5 teaspoon turmeric
• 4 green chillies (2 chopped and two sliced for garnish)
• A few coriander leaves to garnish (optional)

Marinade
• 6 Tablespoons yoghurt
• 2 teaspoons garlic paste
• 1 teaspoon ginger paste
• 1.5 teaspoons chilli powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 Tablespoon tomato paste

Masala
• 15 curry leaves
• 4 peppercorns
• 2 cloves
• 2 cardamons, cracked
• 2 star anise
• 1 Tablespoon sesame seeds
• 1 teaspoon crushed red chillies
• 1 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
• 2 Tablespoons desiccated

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How to make it…
1. Mix all the marinade ingredients and add the chicken. Make sure all the pieces are coated and set aside for 2 hours.
2. Dry fry all the masala ingredients in a pan until they release their aromas (about 2 minutes). Grind them into a powder and set aside.
3. Heat the oil to a medium heat, add the Base Curry Sauce and cook through for 5 minutes.
4. Add the chilli powder, the 2 chopped green chillies, tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes.
5. Add the masala, mix well and cook for 5 minutes, adding a little water as needed.
6. Add the chicken and marinade, stir well, cover and cook until all the chicken is cooked through (about 10–15 minutes).
7. Garnish with the sliced chillies and/or (optional) coriander leaves and serve.

**CHEF’S TIP**
If the heat is too much for you then skip adding the chilli powder at stage 4.

How to cook… Pork Vindaloo

On November 13, 2020March 11, 2026 By In RecipesLeave a comment

Serves 4 as a main dish

As the only state in India that is largely Catholic there are no taboos surrounding the use of pork in Goa. The dish, like so many in this state, are a combination of Portuguese and India flavours and cooking styles. The result is a spicy dish with plenty of vinegar and is far removed from the British restaurant-style Vindaloo.

What you need…
• 800g pork (a mix of cheek and leg is ideal), cut into largish bite-sized chunks
• 1 Tablespoon ghee
• 2 Tablespoons oil
• 2 red onions, finely chopped
• 240ml pork or chicken stock
• 1 Tablespoon coriander leaves
• Salt to taste

Marinade
• 100ml palm vinegar
• 1 teaspoon garlic paste
• 1 teaspoon ginger paste
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 8 black peppercorns, crushed

Spice paste
• 4 large chillies, roughly chopped
• 3 Tablespoons palm vinegar
• 1 teaspoon coriander powder
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 4 cloves, ground (or 1 teaspoon clove powder)
• Seeds from 4 cardamon pods
• 1 teaspoon garlic paste

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How to make it…
1. Mix all the Marinade ingredients together, add the pork and leave for 2 to 4 hours.
2. Mix all the ingredients from the Spice Paste to form a thick paste and set aside.
3. Heat the ghee and oil in a pan to a medium heat, add the pork with the marinade and fry until all the pieces are browned (about 5–7 minutes). Remove the pork from the pan and set aside.
4. Add the onions to pan and fry until they soften and start to brown (about 5 minutes).
5. Add the pork and cook for 5 minutes.
6. Add the Spice paste and cook for 5 minutes.
7. Add the stock, reduce the heat and cook until the meat is cooked through and tender (at least 45 minutes but up to 90 minutes). Stir occasionally and add water as necessary to stop it sticking.
8. Add salt to taste and sprinkle the coriander leaves on top before serving.
• Recipe courtesy @thecurriedlondoner (Instagram)

**CHEF’S TIP**
If you really want to turn up the heat add more chillies to the Spice Paste.

**Pork Vindaloo** is the classic Goan dish for heat lovers.

How to cook… Balti Tandoori Keema

On September 19, 2020March 11, 2026 By In RecipesLeave a comment

Serves 4 as a main dish

Balti dishes were elevated to cult status thanks to Birmingham of all places, where inexpensive Balti restaurants can be found everywhere, after first emerging in the 1970s. It’s a style of cooking from Kashmiri, coming from a small area in Pakistan called Baltistan. Cooked in a Balti (sometimes called a karahi) and produces fresh, aromatic and mostly dryish dishes. This Balti Tandoori Keema combines Balti Masala and Tandoori Masala and is added to any mince of your choice.

What you need…
• 3 Tablespoon tandoori powder
• 2 Tablespoons oil
• 1 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
• 600g mince
• 3 garlic cloves, sliced
• 3 Tablespoons tomato paste
• 0.3 red pepper, chopped
• 0.3 yellow pepper, chopped
• 1 onion, roughly chopped
• 2 teaspoon garam masala
• Small handful fresh coriander (chop up the stems to add to the curry and set aside the leaves for garnish)
• 2 tablespoons yoghurt
• Salt to taste

Balti Masala
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 3 cardamon
• 2 cloves
• 8 curry leaves
• 3 dried red chillies
• 0.5 teaspoon sea salt

How to make it…
1. Dry fry the ingredients of the Balti Masala in a pan until they release their aromas (about 2 minutes). Grind them to a powder. Add the tandoori masala, mix together and add some water to form a paste. Set aside.
2. Add the fenugreek seeds and fry for 15 seconds. They should sizzle immediately. You can test the ghee is hot enough by adding one seed.
3. Add the mince and fry for 10 minutes, making sure all lumps are beaten out and the meat is fully sealed.
4. Add the Balti and Tandoori paste your made in step 1, mix well and cook for 5 minutes.
5. Add the garlic and tomato paste and cook for 15 minutes.
6. Add the peppers and onion and cook for 5 minutes.
7. Add the garam masala, the coriander, the yoghurt and salt and cook for another 5 minutes, making sure everything is cooked through with the peppers and onions soft but not mushy.
8. Add the coriander leaves to garnish and serve.

**CHEF’S TIP**
If you really like creamy keema curry simply add more yoghurt.

How to cook… Chicken Recheade

On September 19, 2020March 11, 2026 By In Recipes1 Comment

Serves 4 as a main dish

For such a small state Goa certainly has some great dishes and Chicken Recheade is another one of those. As much a pickling paste as a curry it is made by combining red dried chillies, black pepper, garlic, ginger, and spices with vinegar to form a paste that is used to marinate the chicken then cooked with chopped onions, tomato paste and garam masala. As with many Goan dishes it combines Indian and Portuguese styles of cooking and ingredients.

What you need…
• 800g chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 4 Tablespoons oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin powder
• 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 Tablespoon tamarind paste
• 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
• Salt to taste

Marinade
• 15 dried red chillies
• 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
• 2 cloves
• 2 teaspoons garlic paste
• 1 teaspoon ginger paste
• 4 Tablespoons vinegar

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How to make it…
1. Dry fry the first 4 ingredients of the marinade in a pan until they release their aromas (about 2 minutes). Grind them to a powder.
2. Add the rest of the marinade ingredients to the ground whole spice powder, mix well and rub into the chicken. Set aside for 1 hour.
3. Heat the oil in a pan to a medium heat and fry the onions until they soften (about 5 minutes).
4. Add the turmeric powder, cumin powder, mix well, then add the chicken with the marinade. Cook for 2 minutes.
5. Add the tomato paste, tamarind paste, brown sugar, mix well and cook for 5 minutes. Add a little water if needed.
6. Add the garam masala and salt and continue cooking until all the chicken piece are cooked.

**CHEF’S TIP**
Use water sparingly when cooking this dish as it should be thick, almost like a pickle.

Super hot **Chicken Recheade** is another great dish from the state of Goa.

How to cook… Ginger Chicken

On September 19, 2020March 11, 2026 By In RecipesLeave a comment

Serves 4 as a main dish

This chicken curry is infused with the bold flavours of ginger and is popular in North India. Lovers of Chinese food will be drawn to the freshness of the amount of ginger that is used in paste form, freshly chopped during the cooking process and with ginger juliennes used as garnish for good measure.

What you need…
• 2 Tablespoons ghee
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon garlic paste
• 1 teaspoon ginger paste
• 4cm piece of ginger cut into juliennes (most are used in the cooking process but keep 4–5 for garnish)
• 600ml Base Curry Sauce
• 2 Tablespoons tomato ketchup
• Small handful fresh coriander, chopped
• 800g chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• Salt to taste

Spice Mix
• 1 Tablespoon mild curry powder
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon chilli powder
• 1 teaspoon vinegar

How to make it…
1. Heat the ghee to a high heat. While it is heating up mix the Spice Mix with the vinegar and enough water to form a sloppy paste.
2. Add the cumin seeds and fry for 15 seconds. They should sizzle immediately. You can test the ghee is hot enough by adding one seed.
3. Add the garlic paste, ginger paste, ginger juliennes and cook for 1 minute on a lower heat. You may have to remove the pan from the heat initially to stop the paste burning. (If it burns then throw it away and start again.)
4. Add the Spice Mix paste and cook for 2 minutes. It should now be thick and gloopy.
5. Add the Base Curry Sauce and the tomato and cook for 2 minutes.
6. Add the chicken, mix well and cook for 5 minutes.
7. Add the garam masala, salt and coriander, and continue cooking until the chicken is fully cooked.
8. Serve, garnished with the remaining ginger juliennes.

**CHEF’S TIP**
If juliennes are a bit fierce in heat for you then finely chop the fresh ginger instead.

**Ginger Chicken**, with three doses of ginger.

How to cook… Green Chilli Chicken

On September 12, 2020March 11, 2026 By In RecipesLeave a comment

Serves 4 as a main dish

Green in appearance and with plenty of green chillies, this South Indian dish is dryish and fiery in heat. Green Chilli Chicken is also sometimes Andhra Chilli Chicken as a nod to the heat from that neighbouring state. It’s a quick dish to make, with the chicken first marinated with the chillies, coriander, curry leaves, garlic, ginger and yoghurt, then added to a sauce of onions, tomato and mixed with spices.

What you need…
• 800g chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 3 Tablespoons oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 Tablespoon tomato ketchup
• 1 green chilli, cut in half lengthways (for garnish)

Marinade
• 2 Tablespoons yoghurt
• 4 green chillies, chopped
• Small bunch of coriander, chopped
• 1 teaspoon garlic paste
• 1 teaspoon ginger paste
• 6 curry leaves
• 0.5 teaspoon salt

Spice Mix 1
• 0.5 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
• 0.5 teaspoon dried red chillies
• 0.5 teaspoon cumin seeds

Spice Mix 2
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 0.5 turmeric powder
• 0.5 teaspoon coriander powder

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How to make it…
1. Blend all the ingredients for the marinade. Add the chicken pieces and set aside for 30 minutes.
2. Heat the oil to a medium heat, add the Spice Mix 1 and fry for 15 seconds. They should sizzle immediately. You can test the ghee is hot enough by adding one seed.
3. Add the onion and cook it until it softens (about 5 minutes).
4. Add the Spice Mix 2, tomato ketchup, mix well and cook for 2 minutes.
5. Add the chicken with the marinade and fry until the chicken is cooked (about 10–15 minutes).
6. Garnish with the sliced chilli and serve.

**CHEF’S TIP**
This is supposed to be a dryish dish but if you prefer a bit more sauce use more yoghurt.

**Green Chilli Chicken**, fresh, hot and tasty.

How to cook… Naga Chicken

On September 12, 2020March 11, 2026 By In RecipesLeave a comment

Serves 4 as a main dish

Nagaland is one of the smallest states in India with a population of fewer than two million people. Located in the far north-east of the country, bordering Myanmar (formerly Burma) it is famed for the super hot Naga Chilli and this Naga Chicken dish. Used in curries it gives a slightly sweet and tart flavour as well as fierce heat, producing a dish that is on par with a Vindaloo in the hot stakes.

What you need…
• 800g chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 2 tablespoons Naga chilli pickle
• Salt to taste
• 2 Tablespoons ghee
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 0.5 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
• 1 teaspoon garlic paste
• 600g Base Curry Sauce
• 2 Tablespoons tomato ketchup
• Small handful fresh coriander (chop up the stems to add to the curry and set aside the leaves for garnish)
• 1 teaspoon garam masala

Spice Mix
• 1 Tablespoon mild curry powder
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon chilli powder
• 1 teaspoon vinegar

How to make it…
1. Rub the chicken with 1 Tablespoon of Naga chilli pickle and a pinch of salt and set aside for 15 minutes.
2. Heat the ghee to a high heat. While it is heating up mix the Spice Mix with the vinegar and enough water to form a sloppy paste.
3. Add the cumin seeds and fenugreek seeds and fry for 15 seconds. They should sizzle immediately. You can test the ghee is hot enough by adding one seed.
4. Add the garlic paste and cook for 1 minute on a lower heat. You may have to remove the pan from the heat initially to stop the paste burning. (If it burns then throw it away and start again.)
5. Add the Spice Mix paste and cook for 2 minutes. It should now be thick and gloopy.
6. Add the Base Curry Sauce, tomato and cook for 2 minutes.
7. Add the chicken and the rest of the Naga chilli pickle, mix well and cook for 5 minutes.
8. Add the garam masala, salt and coriander stems and continue cooking until the chicken is fully cooked.
9. Serve, garnished with the coriander leaves.

**CHEF’S TIP**
If you are worried this will be a bit hot taste the sauce once the add the chicken has been added and start adding the rest of the Naga chilli pickle bit by bit until you get the heat you prefer.

How to cook… Aloo Gobi

On September 12, 2020March 11, 2026 By In RecipesLeave a comment

Serves 4 as a side dish

Potato is the all-time favourite for side dishes and cauliflower is its popular partner. Aloo Gobi very simple to make with cooked potato and cauliflower pieces added to some Base Curry Sauce.

What you need…
• 250g potato, cut into 5cm chunks
• 250g cauliflower, broken into 5cm florets
• Pinch of turmeric
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1 teaspoon garlic paste
• 1 teaspoon ginger paste
• 2 Tablespoons ghee
• 200g Base Curry Sauce
• salt, to taste
• few coriander leaves, to garnish (optional)

Spice Mix
• 0.5 teaspoon turmeric
• 0.5 teaspoon chilli powder
• 1 teaspoon garam masala

How to make it…
1. Boil the potatoes and cauliflower in water, with the turmeric, until cooked. While they are cooking mix the Spice Mix with enough water to form a sloppy paste.
2. Heat the ghee to a medium-hot heat and fry the mustard seeds for 15 seconds. They should sizzle immediately. You can test the ghee is hot enough by adding one seed.
3. Add the garlic paste and ginger paste and cook for 1 minute on a lower heat. You may have to remove the pan from the heat initially to stop the paste burning. (If it burns then throw it away and start again.)
4. Add the Spice Mix paste and cook for 2 minutes. It should now be thick and gloopy.
5. Add the Base Curry Sauce and cook for 2 minutes.
6. Add the salt, potatoes and cauliflower, mix carefully so as not to break the vegetables, and cook until heated through.
7. Add the (optional) coriander leaves to garnish.

**CHEF’S TIP**
This recipe will create a dryish dish but if you like more sauce with your side dishes simply add more Base Curry Sauce.

Curry house favourite Aloo Gobi is easy and quick to make.

How to cook… Curried Mussels

On September 6, 2020March 11, 2026 By In RecipesLeave a comment

Serves 2 as a main dish

The classic mussels dish is the Belgian speciality of mussels cooked in a white wine sauce with shallots. This dish of Curried Mussels adds the mussels to spices and coconut milk to produce a mild curried dish.

What you need…
• 1kg mussels, cleaned and de-bearded
• 1 Tablespoon oil
• 0.5 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 0.5 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 teaspoon garlic paste
• 1 teaspoon ginger paste
• 1 Tablespoon curry powder
• 0.5 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 0.5 teaspoon garam masala
• 250ml coconut milk
• 10 curry leaves
• salt to taste
• cracked black pepper (to garnish)
• 2 spring onions, chopped (to garnish)

How to make it…
1. Fry the oil in a pan to a medium-hot heat and fry the mustard seeds and cumin seeds for 15 seconds.
2 Add the onions and stir-fry for 2 minutes.
3. Add the ginger and garlic paste and cook for 1 minute.
4. Add the curry powder, turmeric, garam masala, stir well and cook for 3 minutes.
5. Transfer the ingredients of the pan to a large saucepan (big enough to hold all the mussels) and turn the heat to medium.
6. Add the coconut milk, stir in well and heat through for 1 minute.
7. Add the curry leaves and salt, mix well and bring to a boil.
8. Add the mussels, being sure to remove any that are already open and simmer until they open (about 5-7 minutes). Discard any that do not open.
9. Garnish with cracked pepper and the spring onion, and serve in the pan as a sharing pot.

**CHEF’S TIP**
Just add some chilli powder to spice up this dish.

**Curried Mussels** is a spiced up version of the famous Belgian dish.

How to cook… Medium Vegetable Curry

On September 5, 2020March 11, 2026 By In RecipesLeave a comment

Serves 4 as a main dish

There are 1.3 billion people in India and 55 million in the Indian diaspora across the world. Hundreds of millions of these are vegetarians so there is naturally a huge number of vegetable curries. This is the staple British Indian restaurant Vegetable Curry. Take a good serving of your Base Curry Sauce, add a bit of garlic, a sprinkle of spice and the vegetables for a great medium-strength curry. Garnish with fresh coriander.

What you need…
• 800g mixed vegetables, cut into bite-sized pieces
• salt to taste
• 2 Tablespoons ghee
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon garlic paste
• 600ml Base Curry Sauce
• 2 Tablespoons tomato ketchup
• small handful fresh coriander (chop up the stems to add to the curry and set aside the leaves for garnish)
• 1 teaspoon garam masala

Spice Mix
• 1 Tablespoon mild curry powder
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon chilli powder
• 1 teaspoon vinegar

How to make it…
1. Boil the vegetables in water with a little salt until they are just soft, but not over-cooked, remembering that different vegetables have different cooking times. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat the ghee to a high heat. While it is heating up mix the Spice Mix with the vinegar and enough water to form a sloppy paste.
3. Add the cumin seeds and fry for 15 seconds. They should sizzle immediately. You can test the ghee is hot enough by adding one seed.
4. Add the garlic paste and cook for 1 minute on a lower heat. You may have to remove the pan from the heat initially to stop the paste burning. (If it burns then throw it away and start again.)
5. Add the Spice Mix paste and cook for 2 minutes. It should now be thick and gloopy.
6. Add the Base Curry Sauce and the tomato and cook for 2 minutes.
7. Add the vegetables, garam masala, salt and coriander stems and continue cooking until the chicken is fully cooked.
8. Serve, garnished with the coriander leaves.

**CHEF’S TIP**
Select a range of vegetables that give the dish a mix of colours and textures. But unless you’re under seven you don’t have to eat vegetables you don’t like…

Select your favourite vegetables, add Base Curry Sauce and a bit of spice for a classic **Vegetable Curry**.

The Royal Curry Club

Tag: Indian Restaurant Curries

How to cook… Chicken Kolhapuri

How to cook… Pork Vindaloo

How to cook… Balti Tandoori Keema

How to cook… Chicken Recheade

How to cook… Ginger Chicken

How to cook… Green Chilli Chicken

How to cook… Naga Chicken

How to cook… Aloo Gobi

How to cook… Curried Mussels

How to cook… Medium Vegetable Curry

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