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6. Curry Hotspots

Shruti visits the UK's curry hotspots - from London's Brick Lane to Birmingham's Balti Triangle.

Head to the programme website to find the recipe for a classic chicken balti from Shababs, which is quicker to prepare than you might think.

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12 minutes

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Shababs' Chicken Balti

  • Serves: 1聽
  • Prep time: 15 min聽
  • Cook time: 25-30 min聽
滨苍驳谤别诲颈别苍迟蝉听
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil聽
  • 250g raw breast chicken, diced聽
  • 1 garlic clove, chopped聽
  • 陆 small onion, diced聽
  • 录 green pepper, diced聽
  • 陆 tomato聽
  • 陆 tsp salt聽
  • 陆 tsp turmeric powder聽
  • 陆 tsp paprika聽
  • 录 tsp chilli powder
  • 陆 tsp cumin powder聽
  • 陆 tsp dried fenugreek leaves聽
  • 录 tsp coriander powder聽
  • 录 tsp garam masala聽
  • Chopped green chillies to taste聽
  • Chopped coriander to garnish聽
For the sauce:聽
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil聽
  • 1 medium onion, peeled and chopped聽
  • 1陆 tbsp ginger and garlic paste聽
  • 陆 tsp salt聽
  • 2 cardamom pods, split open聽
  • 1 black cardamom pod, split open聽
  • 2 cm piece cinnamon stick聽
  • 2 cloves聽
  • 1 bay leaf聽
  • 陆 tsp turmeric聽
  • 陆 tbsp paprika聽
  • 陆 tsp chilli powder聽
  • 100g tinned plum tomatoes聽
  • 陆 tbsp tomato pur茅e聽
  • 250ml water聽
惭别迟丑辞诲听1. For the sauce, heat oil in a pan on medium-high heat.聽2. Add the whole spices, onions, ginger and garlic paste and salt.聽3. Cook for 5-10 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent burning.聽4. Cover and turn down the heat to low to achieve a gentle simmer. Leave to cook for 15 minutes.聽5. Add the turmeric, paprika and chilli powder. Turn the heat back up to medium and cook for a further couple of minutes, stirring frequently.聽6. Add the tomato pur茅e, the tinned plum tomatoes and water. Mix everything together and cover.聽7. Leave to cook on low heat for at least an hour, stirring every half hour. The longer it's cooked, the better the flavour.聽8. Remove from the heat and blend (including the whole spices) until very smooth. There may be some tiny dark specks in the sauce from the spices - it's fine to leave them in or sieve them out if preferred.聽9. Return to a low heat and cook for a further 15 minutes uncovered.聽10. For the curry, heat oil in a balti bowl, add the onions, green peppers, garlic and stir on a high flame.聽11. Add the tomatoes.聽12. Add turmeric, paprika, chilli powder and stir.聽13. Add the sauce.聽14. Add ground cumin, dried fenugreek, garam masala and ground coriander and stir.聽15. Add chopped green chillies (optional).聽16. Garnish with fresh coriander.