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The Kitchen Table

My Indian Cooking Experience

13 years ago

I printed out 3 recipes, and kept 2 to use as a reference.

Both called for potatoes (which, in eating the dinner, we both thought was redundant....not necessary, and no added flavour).

They also called for tomatoes, and I would put more in next time.

I didn't use ALL the spices......there were a lot, plus I didn't feel like buying saffron, mace, and some other things. I did good to find cardamom!

I also put garam masala in as well as the spices.

The flavour was subtle, I could really taste the cloves. We both liked it.

Next time, I will cook the rice separate from the meat and combine before serving. We love basmati, and it always cooks up right, as in separate. Not tonite though. I cooked it with the chicken and onions and spices and tomatoes. That must have been what went wrong.

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Comments (9)

ruthieg__tx
13 years ago
Looks good....Glad you liked it.
patti43
13 years ago
It looks yummy! I don't blame you for not buying saffron. Judging from the price, you'd think it was pure gold! I love basmati, too. Such a wonderful flavor.

I like my rice gooped up. That's the way my mother made it (but we ate it like oatmeal with milk and nutmeg on top). When I started cooking I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong, because the rice grains never would cling together. Well, duh!!

What are you trying next??
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alisande
13 years ago
That looks great! I'm hungry!!

I haven't priced saffron lately, but I think it's one of the highest priced spices--and spices tend to be pricey in general. Maybe it's just as well you left it out. I know it's out of my price range. :-)
Jasdip
Original Author
13 years ago
I wonder how a few threads of saffron would weigh anyway? The plastic bag would weigh more than the spice!

When I bought the cloves and cardamom I asked the girl if they would register. (they did).
glenda_al
13 years ago
I just came to say that I would definitely have added the saffron. I love saffron.

Looks good though!
ruthieg__tx
13 years ago
You can also buy small amounts of saffron for a lot less than the per pound or oz price. Even some of the spice companies package it in small reasonably priced amounts.
sjerin
13 years ago
That looks wonderful! You even got a nice crust on the potato, which is sometimes hard to do. I've not heard of biryani being cooked with tomatoes but I'm sure it's delish. Did it take you very long to make the dish? Saffron has a distinctive taste, (I don't love it,) and it takes very little to get it, and less to get the color. The leftovers should be especially good. Mmmmmm!
lesterd
13 years ago
So what is the name of this dish??? I'm curious about adding the rice right into the dish...I've never seen that done.

DH only eats Chicken Makhani (or Butter Chicken) but I go for it all! Nothing better than a good Vindaloo! I love spicy food.

One of my favorite cookbooks is Madhur Jaffrey's first book...I've had it for about 20 years. It was a gift from my cousin and once I started trying the recipes, I became a huge Indian food convert. In it, she even gives a recipe for making Garam Masala. I do that and the smell of cooking those spices is wonderful!
lesterd
13 years ago
Please ignore my first question. I just saw the other thread...Chicken Biryani.

I would suggest her cookbooks, though.

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