What's the best bottled Indian sauce?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, I am an Indian. You don't need sauce.
If you have little ginger, garlic, paprika, salt, curry powder (or garam masala), it is easy.

For chicken curry of 2 lbs chicken:
1. Chop a medium -large onion, jalapeno
2. Heat spoon of oil and add cumin seeds, chopped onion and jalapeno.
2. Grate ginger and mince garlic while above is frying. Add them when onions are almost cooked.
3. Cut 2-3 tomatoes and add them to the above fried mixture and fry till the oil leaves.
4. Add cut chicken pieces and brown them.
5. Add paprika, salt and garam masala. Add little water.
6. Let it cook over medium flame. Garnish with cilantro. Adjust spices and if it is spicy add a spoon of yogurt or splash of half and half and cook them.

Serve with rice or roti.

I really appreciate this. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:related.... what is worse, bottled sauce or frozen Indian meals?

never had bottled Indian curry sauces but I can say that Trader Joe's frozen Indian food is something Indian college kids love to microwave.

[Anonymous]

The best dried ground spices is the "MDH" brand for north indian foods.

Go to an Indian grocery store to buy your spices. Follow the recipes on the back of the packet and you will get the most delicious and authentic Indian dishes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:related.... what is worse, bottled sauce or frozen Indian meals?

Frozen Indian food is by far the better choice.
Trader Joe's Indian entrees and snacks are very good. The Tandoor Chef brand available at Wegman's, MOM's and Whole Foods is also good. If you go to an Indian store the Swad and Mirch Masala frozen brands are good. Sukhi's Kitchen is underwhelming to my taste.I try to stay away from the packaged ready-to-eat Indian food stored on the shelf.
I was born and raised in India, fwiw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:related.... what is worse, bottled sauce or frozen Indian meals?

never had bottled Indian curry sauces but I can say that Trader Joe's frozen Indian food is something Indian college kids love to microwave.

Not Indian but I always have some in the freezer

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have a raita recipe to share?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:related.... what is worse, bottled sauce or frozen Indian meals?

Frozen Indian food is by far the better choice.
Trader Joe's Indian entrees and snacks are very good. The Tandoor Chef brand available at Wegman's, MOM's and Whole Foods is also good. If you go to an Indian store the Swad and Mirch Masala frozen brands are good. Sukhi's Kitchen is underwhelming to my taste.I try to stay away from the packaged ready-to-eat Indian food stored on the shelf.
I was born and raised in India, fwiw.

I love the uttapam, cheap and easy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:related.... what is worse, bottled sauce or frozen Indian meals?

Frozen Indian food is by far the better choice.
Trader Joe's Indian entrees and snacks are very good. The Tandoor Chef brand available at Wegman's, MOM's and Whole Foods is also good. If you go to an Indian store the Swad and Mirch Masala frozen brands are good. Sukhi's Kitchen is underwhelming to my taste.I try to stay away from the packaged ready-to-eat Indian food stored on the shelf.
I was born and raised in India, fwiw.

OP here. I'm always looking for excuses to visit Trader Joe's. It's all the way across town so I don't go unless I have a very good reason (or craving.) Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Raita:
Chop vegetables of your choice: I usually use cucumbers, tomatoes, and little bit of onion, with a small amount of chopped hot green chilies which can be left out. Mix with yogurt to your desired consistency. Some people add sour cream instead of or in addition to yogurt. Garnish with chopped cilantro and a dash of chaat masala (optional)
This is our simple everyday raita.
The sky's the limit as far as the ingredients go. Finely grated carrots, radishes, boiled potatoes, crispy fried okra-whatever catches your fancy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have a raita recipe to share?

Depends if you want a more mild North Indian cucumber raita or a spicier South Indian/Hyderabadi raita. I'm South Indian and ours is pretty simple.

Take roughly 300 mg of a rich yogurt, such as Greek yogurt. Then on a cutting board, chop up 1 green chilli, 1 tomato, 1 medium sized onion and 1 tbsp of cilantro very finely. Add to the yogurt and then add salt to taste. Mix up and serve.

[Anonymous]

Not OP but I will have to try these recipes. Where is there a store where I can buy Indian spices in the Springfield or Woodbridge area?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not OP but I will have to try these recipes. Where is there a store where I can buy Indian spices in the Springfield or Woodbridge area?

There is Shri Krishna in Springfield. New Grand Mart in Falls Church and Alexandria will also have them and massively more produce options.

[Anonymous]

Piggybacking to ask what makes Indian style yogurt different. I see it at Costco ax ND am tempted (I love most yogurt), but if I hate it, I'll have a Costco-sized tub rebuking me for weeks.

[Anonymous]

It is a bit thicker and more sour. I don't think the difference is dramatic.

[Anonymous]

I used Seeds of Change Organic Tikka Marsala jarred sauce from Fresh Market recently and it was better than expected. I used it with chicken and served with that frozen jasmine rice from Trader Joe's. Easy and very good.