The Most Loved Curry in Britain

With there being no sign of warmer weather on the horizon, we need a hearty meal that is sure to warm us up. Indian cuisine has been an element in British culture for years. British people have a love for Indian food and it is among the most popular takeaways throughout the nation, with a curry house in almost every town. It is difficult to know exactly how the love for Indian food began, however, it is probably due to the spice palette and flavoursome curries.

The tikka masala used to be the most popular curry in Britain and there are have been statements about it becoming the national dish. Chicken tikka masala is the composition of chicken tikka pieces and a creamy but moderately spicy sauce. However, it seems the popularity of masala has been overtaken by the jalfrezi. The curry involves marinated meat or vegetables with a thick sauce that is relatively spicy. It seems our spice palette has finally been accustomed to the hot curries, preferring the spice of jalfrezi to the milder korma, which only came in last place.

Jalfrezi is relatively easy to make and doesn’t require too many ingredients. The main elements in a jalfrezi are the spices in the sauce. The sauce is quite dry which allows for a spicier curry. The green chillies give the curry a hit and in small amounts, have been scientifically proven to help health. The sauce may be cooled down and given richer gravy by using cream. The most common meat used in a jalfrezi sauce is chicken, which is common with most curries. A popular alternative to using chicken can be vegetables, especially bell peppers and carrots. This is great for a healthy alternative to the original curry, as well as using brown rice.

Indian cuisine is unlikely to loose popularity any time soon and with the aromatic spices and flavours it isn’t hard to understand why.

Non-Halal Meat Served to Islamic Prisoners

Non-halal meat has been served in pies given to Islamic prisoners in an English prison.  The supplier has been suspended after traces of pork DNA were found in the pies and pasties that had been served under the pretence they contained halal meat. Islamic law states Muslims cannot eat pork and all other meat has to be halal.

The local authority are investigating the issue and the Ministry of Justice have said the products have been withdrawn. The Food Standard Agency had been told the meat served was halal and the products were labelled as halal but traces of pork DNA were still found. The issue was reported to the FSA immediately and steps were taken to suspend the subcontractor from supplying any food to the prison.  

There has been an investigation to ensure these products haven’t been distributed to other places across the UK and authorities are looking into how the contamination happened. Consumers have a right to know what they are eating and where it is come from. Suppliers have the responsibility to ensure the product is described correctly. Following all the latest issues related to food manufacture and produce there have been meetings with retailers and suppliers to ensure everyone knows the responsibilities they have.

Meat that has not been slaughtered in the correct way, under Islamic Law is strictly prohibited. The person doing the killing should bless the animal and it should be done by hand. Any form of pork is prohibited and it will be distressing for any Muslim and their families who have eaten pork due to false labelling. Halalmeat has to be labelled with the correct sign to ensure any meat consumed has followed the correct procedure.

Trust has been lost between suppliers and consumers after DNA tests have revealed so much. There has been a rise in vegetarians and more people buying from certified butchers instead of supermarket chains following both the horsemeat and prison scandals.

An Introduction to Indian Drinks

Indian Cuisine has become a large part of English dining. Patrons of British gastronomy have long been enamoured with the tastes and spices of Indian food. Since the 15^th century when traders brought back spices from the jewel in the crown, there has been an incomparable link between Indian food and the English palate. Visits to Indian Restaurants are common amongst a large number of British families and the foodstuffs have become incredibly familiar.

However receptive and open minded the British are to the food, there seems to be a reluctance to indulge in many of the drinks that Indian and Halal Dining provides. The furthest most people will go is order a Kingfisher beer. Here is an introduction to the varied drinks on offer at your favourite Indian Restaurant.

Lassi is a yoghurt based drink not disimilar to a milkshake. Available in both sweet and savoury flavours, the lassi can complement all courses and stages of a meal at an Indian Restaurant. Traditionally a savoury drink flavoured with subtle spices. The most popular flavour of lassi now is mango; the exotically sweet flavour dances on the taste buds.

Falooda is the perfect drink for those with a sweet tooth on a warm day. Incredibly cooling and sweet; the falooda contains rose syrup, vermicelli, psyllium, basil seeds, jelly pieces and tapioca pearls with ice cream to create a fruity sensation.

One of the most enjoyable ways to finish a meal in an Indian Restaurant is with a Masala Chai. A mixture of traditional black tea and Indian spices and herbs; the masala chai is a slight twist on an old favourite. The spices and herbs hit the back of the throat as a reminder and a subtle aftertaste. Surprisingly refreshing, masala chai is a wonder digestif. Masala chai is quickly becoming a favourite in many worldwide coffee houses. 

The Health Benefits of a Halal Diet

Pre-packaged foodstuffs have a tendency to contain a large number of unnatural ingredients. In order to keep the food from expiring or the right colour, scientists rather than chefs seem to have more input in what we eat on a daily basis. When you really think about all the foreign bodies that you are allowing into your system and your family’s systems, is it really healthy?

The basic beauty of a Halal diet is the knowledge that the food is prepared in a controlled environment with special precautions having been taken to ensure its purity. Buying your food from a Halal supplier or dining at a Halal Restaurant can have significant positive impact upon your life. Made up with only the factors that nature has provided, Halal foods will not contaminate the body and mind.

Celebrity chefs such as Jamie Oliver are fighting the cause for greater transparency in regards to how the ingredients in our foods are presented. The health connotations of pre-packaged dinners and snacks are now more clearly demonstrated on the packaging. Using colour-coding systems, consumers are privy to the bare facts of their food.

Due to their Muslim faith, many Indian Restaurants will serve only Halal dishes. In regards to meat dishes, the animal will have lived a pure life and been treated well from the very beginning. As such, Indian Cuisine with its fresh ingredients and wholesome spices is often a very healthy and beneficial affair.

With foods that do not contain harmful pesticides, toxins or pollutants, Indian Cuisine in a Halal Restaurant is often one of the most healthy and beneficial meals that you could treat your family to. Islam encourages its followers to treat their bodies with great care and respect and that includes the food that we subject it to. 

Where Pakistani Cuisine meets Indian Dining

Indian Cuisine is readily available all over Britain. Almost every town and city in the country will be represented by an Indian Restaurant and Indian food. Alongside Italian dining, Indian food overshadows the cuisine of almost every culture outside of the UK in this country. The large population of Indian people who live in Britain is one of the main contributing factors as well as the use of flavours so foreign to tastes native to England. This makes it all the more surprising that Pakistani cuisine does not share the same coverage in the UK despite their similarities in flavour to Indian Cuisine and the high volume of Pakistani people living in the UK.

However, there is a large Pakistani representation in many Indian Restaurant menus. With similar usage of spices and flavours; these dishes fit seamlessly within the Indian Cuisine. Dishes from the two countries are often enjoyed simultaneously. The Pakistani provinces of Sindh and in particular Punjab share many similarities in taste to their Indian counterparts. Punjabi food is commonly found within the confines of an Indian Restaurant.

With similar temperatures and weather conditions in the two countries; India and Pakistan are able to harvest similar foodstuffs and spices. Mustard, black pepper, cardamom and turmeric are commonplace in the two countries, heavily influencing the flavours of the delicacies.

Masala is used very liberally throughout the cuisine of both India and Pakistan. It allows for a wide variety of flavours to be produced within their dishes. The masala can flavour rice and whole wheat depending upon the spices used.

Many of the curry dishes that are popular in Indian Restaurants have their histories deeply entwined with that of Pakistan. Rogan Josh, Biryani and Butter Chicken have long all been popular dishes in Pakistan. Restaurants in Pakistan use a great deal of decadent ingredients such as butter, ghee and cream to create incredibly rich dishes.

Unleavened breads such as Naan and Roti are just as popular in Pakistan as they are India.

There are such similarities between the two cuisines that it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between the two.

Keep Warm this Winter with Asian Cuisine

One of the most warming feelings on a winter’s night is to settle down on the sofa under a blanket with a big bowl of rich, decadent food. The sensation of warm food hitting the palate and the smells absorbing the senses helps you forget the dreary, cold climes outside the window. There are few better types of food for this than Asian Cuisine. Asian Cuisine is based around big, bold flavours and simplicity of eating; a bowl for your favourite meat or vegetable dish and bread to dish it up. With a large Asian population in the UK it is not difficult to find an Asian Restaurant to deliver to your door. Here are a few of the best dishes to eat on a cold winter’s night.

Reputed to have been created as a mistake in Delhi when a chef had ran out of many ingredients but was required to prepare a dish for a VIP; Butter Chicken is a rich, creamy dish that is as versatile and it is enjoyable. Generous portions of butter, tomato and various spices are added to a chicken that has been slowly marinating overnight in a yoghurt and spice mixture. The succulent chicken is perfectly accompanied by a naan bread.

Not quite as spicy as Vindaloo or Phall curries but still packing a considerable punch; Beef Madras envelopes the consumer with an instantaneous tingling taste. More flavoursome than its spicier counterparts, Beef Madras concentrates on creating a taste sensation that is second to none. Beef Madras is best enjoyed atop a bed of rice to counter the heat of the curry.

In the winter there is a tendency for many to overeat and gain unwanted weight. For those worried about the calorific content of the intake but still want to enjoy warming Asian Cuisine; the Tarka Daal is the perfect dish. Gently spiced and filling split beans create an enjoyable and warming stew without the unwanted calories.