Ande Masala (egg curry)

A rich curry sauce suitable for meat or baked sliced mushrooms but try it with eggs first ! you won’t be disappointed.

For your spices a indian corner shop is better than a supermarket. Please don’t be daunted by the length of this recipe you can soon get it down to 30 mins.

Roughly chop 2/3 large onions place in a large frying pan with 1/2 a cup of vegetable oil and a couple of ozs of butter (or ghee). Add to this say 4 cloves of garlic or a desert spoon of garlic powder - a restaurant would use powder. A chopped red pepper minus the seeds adds depth and a sweet heat but it isn’t essential.

Cover and sweat the onions until they are transparent, then remove from the pan and puree either all or say three quarters of the mix, then return it to the pan and continue to gently fry until golden.

Meanwhile mix your spices – you will need a reasonable size of bowl. The measurements below work for us but you may wish to adjust particularly the chilli powder and paprika to the desired strength.

mix spices and sugar thoroughly then slowly add ¹/₃ of a cup of milk to form a paste (save other ²/₃ of the cup of milk for later).

Add the paste to the now golden puree and stir in figure eight movements for ²/₃ minutes then add the remaining ²/₃ cup of milk plus the tinned tomatoes and a dessertspoon of tomato puree.

Stop stirring and allow the sauce to ‘curdle’ which will take about 3-4 mins on a low heat then stir in and simmer gently for 30 mins. If the sauce sticks then add more oil – maybe ½ a cup full - you’ll be surprised how much it takes up.

Add one dessertspoon of garam masala, one dessertspoon of fenugreek leaves and to taste lemon juice and tomato ketchup (indian restaurants secret ingredient).

Freshly boil the eggs (allow 1-2 person), halve and pour sauce on top.

Serve garnished with fresh coriander leaves, yoghurt (mix with onion rings or chopped cucumber plus mint sauce for a raitha), and sweet mango chutney.

A tip on the rice is to prepare it earlier, wash before cooking, undercook (6 mins simmering in ready boiled water), drain and rinse and if possible blow dry in a circa oven with no heat on. Then microwave when ready to eat.

Enjoy.

For improved results:

• make up a large batch and freeze in portions (sauce only not the eggs), the flavour improves

• make the day before and marinate the eggs in the sauce in the fridge

• serve with a ‘dry’ curry containing onion and mushroom or potato/spinach & veggie mince to compliment it.

Recommenadations:

The New Tastes of India by Das Sreedharan - simply stunning recipes, you'll never eat out again.