Allow me to back up a smidge to earlier today. Here's the scene...so, here I am working with my stomach audibly growling, likely over everyone's headphones and Rob turns his chair around. "Hey, I'm ordering Indian food. You in?" Oh dear LORD did I want in on Indian food. The restaurant near our office is incredible, but knowing my faux pas last night, I declined explaining my fail with the resolve to cook tonight. Rob goes on to tell me how he's been grinding his own spices of late...making curries. Now I NEEDED curry. It was no longer a want.
I put the kids to bed and started flipping thru a curry cookbook I had. Inspired by a lamb and apricot curry, I closed the book and got started. I had apricot, but no lamb...I still had some beef from the farm and I also had some prunes (which go quite well with beef). Perfect...now off to the spice cabinet with me. Hmmm...no cardamom (right...it's Thursday, limited supplies here) time to make my "heat" from other spices. I chose a few cloves and a few whole Allspice.
A little oil in the pan, a chopped onion, cinnamon stick, cloves and allspice and it was already smelling awesome. Then 1 TBS curry powder along with 1 teas each of cumin & coriander. I added the beef and a handful of chopped prunes, some water and started the basmati rice. After the curry simmered a bit, I decided I didn't like the color, so I added some turmeric for color and some salt and gave it a taste. Mmm! I served it over the basmati rice and topped it with cilantro, which is one of my favorite herbs.
The tandoori roti was a fail, in my opinion. It was not as airy as I would have liked, though I feel that this could (in part) have been due to the fact that my oven may have needed to be cranked up to 500, perhaps even putting the cookie sheet (or a pizza stone) in the oven to heat it first. Once I perfect that one, I'll post it!
Love and warm bellies to you all!
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