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.
