Chip Shop Curry Sauce

Very popular with most chip shops in the UK is a style of curry sauce that has become known as chip shop curry sauce.

Essentially it is a Chinese style curry sauce and can be used as a base for a really good Chinese chicken curry as I have shown you at the end of this post.

I’ve put an optional ingredient at the end of the list which is Chilli Jam for those of you who like it hot, but bear in mind that the hotter it is the less like chip shop curry sauce it becomes.

Chip Shop Curry Sauce

Time 45 minutes

You will need

 

2 tablespoons - Soft Brown Sugar

2 tablespoons – Light Soy Sauce

2 tablespoons- Chinese Rice Wine

2 tablespoons – Corn Flour (mixed with a little water)

2 cloves – Garlic (crushed)

1 - 20 Gm piece – Fresh Ginger (roughly chopped)

1 - Onion (roughly chopped)

4 tablespoons – Mild Curry Powder

500 Ml - Chicken Stock 

½ teaspoon – Salt

A little olive oil

1-2 teaspoons – Chilli Jam (optional)

Put the onion, garlic and ginger in a liquidiser until smooth.

Heat the oil in a pan, cook the liquidised onion, garlic and ginger over a low heat for about 5 minutes.

Add the curry powder, brown sugar, soy sauce, rice wine, turmeric, salt and chilli jam (if using) mix well, then add a little stock and mix into a paste then cook on a low heat for 10 minutes.

Add the chicken stock bring to the boil then add the corn flour, mix well and simmer for 20 minutes.

That’s the sauce done, now if you want to make a Chinese style chicken curry carry on below.

I normally use diced thighs for this, so mix the chicken into the curry sauce and leave it to marinate for about 30 minutes.

Heat a little oil in a wok or pan and pick out the marinated chicken pieces then cook on a high heat for about 10 minutes.

Now add the rest of the sauce and simmer for 30 minutes.

Then serve with a rice of your choice.

Spaghetti Meatballs in Spicy Tomato Sauce

The meatballs in this dish are garlic and beef, gorgeous enough on their own but served with this spicy tomato sauce it’s a wonderful thing.

Spaghetti Meatballs in Spicy Tomato Sauce

Serves 2              Time 45 minutes

You will need

150 Gm - Spaghetti

400 Gm - Minced Beef

3 cloves - Garlic (crushed)

2 - Eggs (beaten)

75 Gm - Tomato Paste

1 – 400 Gm can of Chopped Tomatoes

1 – Tablespoon Fresh Coriander (chopped) or frozen freeflow

1 – Teaspoon Dried Oregano

1 – Tablespoon Fresh Basil (chopped) or frozen freeflow

2 - Red Chillies (deseeded and finely chopped)

100 Ml - Red Wine

A little Olive Oil

Cook your spaghetti as you would normally but if you want something special then go to my way to prepare Spaghetti.

The meatballs

Mix the mince, eggs and garlic in a bowl and season with a little salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Make sure you mix well with your hands to break the mince down and mix everything evenly.

Now flour your board and roll the mixture into balls about half the size of golf balls.

Heat a little olive oil in a wok or frying pan.

Fry the meatballs a few at a time for about 10 minutes turning from time to time.

Be gentle with them at first until they are cooked on the outside.

Make sure they are cooked all the way through; it’s a really good investment to have yourself a probe in your kitchen for this type of thing.

After about 10 minutes take them out and set them aside.

The sauce

Now heat a little olive oil in a pan and add the oregano, coriander and chilli and cook for a couple of minutes before adding the tomato paste and red wine.

Mix well into a paste and cook on a medium heat for about 5 minutes.

Now add the tomatoes mix well season with salt and pepper and cook down for 10 – 15 minutes.

 Add the meatballs and the basil for the last 5 minutes then serve.

Pork Loin Steak & Spinach Platter with Chilli Apple and Mint Salsa

If you are going to cook a special meal on Valentine’s Day you want it to look good, taste good and you don’t want to spend all day in the kitchen.

I think a meal for two is so much more intimate if it’s a sharing meal, a platter for two in the middle with a plate each with your accompaniments.

This is such a simple meal to create but it looks so impressive, a great Valentine sharing meal.

Pork Loin Steak & Spinach Platter

with Chilli Apple and Mint Salsa

Serves 2             Time 30 minutes

You will need

2 – Pork Loin Steaks

100 Gm - Spinach

For the salsa

1 - Granny Smith Apple (peeled, cored and chopped)

1 – Red Chilli (deseeded and chopped)

1 tablespoon - Fresh Mint (finely chopped)

1 – Small Onion (minced)

100 Ml - Honey

1 tablespoon - Cider Vinegar

Start by combining the apple, chilli and onion in a bowl.

Then combine the honey, cider vinegar and mint in a separate bowl.

Now pour the mixture into the bowl of apple, chilli and onion and mix well.

Put into a container and place in the fridge.

Pour about an inch of water in a pan put the spinach on top then add a little grated nutmeg and a squeeze of lemon.

Cover and let it steam for 3 or 4 minutes on a medium heat.

While that’s going on season the steaks and place on a griddle or frying pan on a medium to high heat for 4 – 5 minutes each side.

Cooking time for the steaks will vary depending on the size but don’t overcook because you will dry them out.

Drain the spinach and plate up with the steaks.

You see I told you it was simple, just add the salsa from the fridge.

Serve with your favourite vegetables, rice or noodles.