Anjum's the curry queen!

[pointedstarman]

Just taken to making my own curries after years of mediocre takeaways that all taste the same and are stuffed full of colouring and addditives.

Got a Anjum Amand recipe book (Anjum's New Indian) cheap from local supermarket and haven't looked back. Biggest surprise is how different it all tastes from the takeaway! Reciipies are easy but a little conservative on the use of chile....

Don't buy your spices from supermarkets - biggest rip off ever. I use a local asian food shop that will sell me a pound of ground spice for less than one of those pathetic little pots sold in supermarket.

[Arun_D]

I quite often use her recipe for naan breads (last night in fact!)

I'll have to check out the book, thanks.

[Mobile Chicane]

I buy spices whole (they keep better) and grind them as I need them.

OP is absolutely correct in that Asian grocers are the places to go for these. I buy in bulk and divvy up with friends.

[Kneetrembler]

Mobile Chicane said:

I buy spices whole (they keep better) and grind them as I need them.

OP is absolutely correct in that Asian grocers are the places to go for these. I buy in bulk and divvy up with friends.

Or Southall town if you are nearby or get the chance,for spices,indian veg, and the sweetshops are to die for.
Another alternative is to bulk order on line www.spicesofindia.co.uk & the asiancookshop.co.uk

[pointedstarman]

Agree on the whole spices thing - the taste better too and a spice grinder doesn't cost that much. I buy some ground spices but largely use whole.

Found my shop from the recommendation in the back of the cookbook - the shop is only a few miles from me but they do deliver (http://www.theasiancookshop.co.uk/).

[Blown2CV]

yes, good book. There are more than a few colonial references in there too!