Sue is a big fan of the Indian chef’s cuisine, having been to all his local restaurants. After tonight’s meal we could see why! We were sorry not to have Janet and Debrah, and yet again we forgot a team photo!

Starter

Karen – Pan fried potato cake

Although this was crispy when first cooked, it got a bit softer after waiting, but it didn’t spoil the taste. It was served with a mustard and yogurt chutney which was really tasty with lots of warmth. Karen hadn’t popped a mustard seed before, there’s a first time for everything!Recipe from Simple Indian.

Mains

Sue – Chicken stew

Sue cooks this a lot, and like many of the dishes tonight it contained lots of spices including cinnamon. Chicken breast with lots of onion. The coconut milk lends a Thai flavour to it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/koliishtewchickenste_87479

Jane – Prawn and tamarind curry

I chose this as it was easy and quick. When I first tasted it I thought it was going to be ferociously hot, but actually the flavours tempered, and it left it very tasty with a piquant flavour from the tamarind. It was supposed to use the whole fruit, but I substituted paste.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/prawn_and_tamarind_curry_30910

Sides

Tracey – Bengali cauliflower and potato curry

In Bengal they have an affinity to mustard, which was a dominant flavour in this great side. Uses panch puran which we hadn’t heard of and was accessed from Amazon. The recipe was from YouTube, and it hadn’t got accurate measurements of cauliflower or potato, so Tracey made loads. Definitely would keep for breakfast the next day!

Julie – Spiced cauliflower, carrots and peas.

This is a Gujerati classic which used asafoetida, which was another new one to us. It had lots of green chillis which made the air pungent whilst Julie was cooking it, but it wasn’t too spicy when we ate it.

Julie also made seeded leavened bread. This used yeast, unlike a standard naan. The ingredients resulted in lots of liquid to the flour, which made it difficult to work the bread. It turned out well, a Billy bonus side!

Pudding

Justine – pineapple soaked in spices and honey

Here is proof that a dish doesn’t have to be complicated to be delicious. The pineapple was soaked in a spice flavoured syrup, with the cloves reminding Jus of Christmas in its preparation. Absolutely lovely.