Breath of the Wild #61: Seafood Curry

Ingredients: Any Porgy or Snail, Hylian Rice, Goron Spice

Description: "This dish brims with treasures from the sea. Its spice packs a kick, so it's not for kids."

I'm cheaping out a bit on this one. I'm out of crab claws, I just got plenty of penang curry paste & coconut milk, a load of leftover mixed seafood and some leftover vegetables to use up. Also jasmine rice and some seaweed salt for garnish.

The rice can go in the steamer while we boil up the rest of this.

I'm even out of onions, but sometimes its nice to keep it simple. We've just got boiled carrots and potatoes to go with the seafood.

A generous scoop of the curry paste, and ill boil the vegetables in some hot water to soften them up.

They are looking soft, we've left plenty of room for a whole can of coconut milk and those sea "treasures".

In goes the coconut milk and seafood! I can add a bit of water if it gets a bit too thick.

Hmm, its tasting a little bit sour and unbalanced... I have some of this in the fridge, lets bring in this secret weapon, a teaspoon or two of this!

***

The spice definitely packs a delicious kick, but I dunno it tastes a little funny? Is one of the ingredients a bit aged...? or maybe its just got a strong clammy flavour from the mussels. I had the leftover seafood chowder for lunch so maybe im just sick of seafood!? Wellll it tastes pretty good with the rice still.

Breath of the Wild #59: Prime Poultry Curry

Ingredients: Raw Bird Thigh, Hylian Rice, Goron Spice

Description: "The secret to this curry's flavor is taking it off the heat while you add the spices."

Middle curry! I've got bird thighs, and the graphic also had drumsticks so ill do a couple drumsticks as well. Ugh, effort. I wanted to mix it up from the indian curries a bit and use this thai style penang paste that I really like.

I forgot what I put in the rice last time... im adding turmeric to make it yellow, a bit of salt and garam masala. Swish it around and steam it. 

Since its prime, and im making a stewed curry, lets throw in a couple veg. I've got onions, coriander and some water chestnuts too!

I started browning the chopped thighs and a couple whole drumsticks, and then added the onions and a bit of water too.

Once they are looking a bit more cooked I throw in the water chestnuts, and a few tablespoons of that curry paste... I know it says to "take it off the heat when adding spices" but we're about to add some cold liquid, much the same if you ask me.

And chase it up with the coconut milk. We can add more curry paste if its looking a bit pale.

Once thats had a good while on the heat ill throw in the chopped coriander, I also have chopped chives for the garnish.

Here's the mixed up rice, looking good and yellow.

*****

Can't fault the flavour, it's so good! I have no idea why i tried to eat this with chopsticks though, off a plate, look at it. Silly. Anyway yeah its really good I would make it again, but skip the bone-in meat.

Breath of the Wild #57: Gourmet Meat Curry

Ingredients: Raw Gourmet Meat, Hylian Rice, Goron Spice

Description: "The high-quality meat used in this prized dish satisfied meat and curry lovers alike."

How do i top the simmered tandoori beef from prime meat curry? Volume, I guess! I got a whole leg of lamb. And then a bunch of stuff to try and make a curry sauce from scratch. 

Since I got a whole leg on the bone, I guess maybe I'll try and make it manageable by slow roasting it in a pot. I'll throw on plenty of crushed garlic and grated ginger to get the flavours... infusing..?

Once thats had like an hour in the oven, im going to make this sauce. I've got onions, garlic, ginger, fresh mint, chilli paste, star anise, cardamom, dried coriander, garam masala, turmeric, mild chilli powder, and some amchoor someone gave me? It's like.. dried mango powder? Oh yeah also not pictured, nows a good time to steam the rice.

This is my first time using ghee (clarified butter)! Lets gooo. lets gheeee

I've used a blender to grind up the onions, herbs, whole spices, etc.

In goes the paste! I accidentally dropped in way too much amchoor. It's probably fine..?

And let's not forget the tomato passata! Maybe I used too much of that as well... hmm. Well, it is a lot of meat.

It's nice and easy to cut up now, and its ok if its a bit pink because its still got to simmer for at least 30 more minutes with the sauce.

I was going to make a marinade for this before I decided to roast the whole thing... I thought I could make up for this by just mixing the meat chunks in some yogurt and tandoori powder before it goes in. Don't do this folks, this is clearly not correct, look up a real recipe, don't copy this... it's stupid.

It does look like a real curry though!!!

To plate up we have the basmati rice, and fresh coriander for sprinkles. And more of that pineapple relish stuff.

****

It's tangy and flavourful! Was the beef one better though..? I think it was... somehow for all that effort the flavours feel just a little underdeveloped. It's got a perfect heat and sourness, but its lacking in meatyness. I guess winging it can only take you so far. Oh! I just realised I didn't add any salt or sugar.

Breath of the Wild #56: Prime Meat Curry

Ingredients: Raw Prime Meat, Hylian Rice, Goron Spice

Description: "The high-quality meat in this curry has given it a deeper taste than most other curries."

We're on a MISSION...to make a better meat curry than the last one! For the in-between meat ive chosen a delectable beef shin. I've got a much more upmarket pre-made curry sauce, rogan josh style this time. And because the last sauce was so shamefully bland, ive also got some tandoori masala dry spices. And basmati rice, and the garnishes from last time plus a leaf of fresh coriander.

I chopped the meat up into nice big chunks and in goes the tandoori spice as i sear it with some vegetable oil. 

Once thats nicely browned we can put in the curry sauce, and because its a saturday I can actually let this simmer on a low hear for a good hour or so, really try to make that beef reasonably tender. We can add in a bit of water if it threatens to dry out.

That's looking good! Wow those spices have really turned it a rich red, it looks like a restaurant curry. 

*****

Wow! Big difference! The curry is much more flavourful. The beef could be more tender still, but the stewing has made a big difference. So has the tandoori spice, its done a huge amount for the depth of flavour and a pleasant tangy heat. This is probably the most british-indian takeout style curry ive ever made! 

Breath of the Wild #54: Vegetable Curry

Ingredients: Any Carrot or Any Pumpkin, Hylian Rice, Goron Spice

Description: "This healthy curry is popular for its mild flavor and moderate spiciness." 

I thought i'd try another curry paste I bought to mix things up a bit. It's another thai style yellow curry type. Just thought this would go nicely with veg. I've already given the "pumpkin" (butternut squash) a bit of baking in the oven to soften it up, and then we've got a big onion, courgette, tomatoes, and some chives. Oh and not pictured is some jasmine rice in the steamer.

First I'll fry the onions, medium sized chunks I guess i'd call that, in a tiny bit of veg oil.

I want to have some vegetables on the top like in the graphic, so ill chop some bigger and some smaller pieces, and take a few out once they've cooked in the pan before adding the curry.

Same deal with the tomatoes.

And the pumpkin, I guess just half of the thing will be plenty, cutting off the peel and chopping it into cubes, with some half-ring slices for the top.

Hello yello! I guess this is designed for chicken but... well, you gotta try stuff.

In goes the whole thingy of curry paste and a can of coconut milk. It says use half a can and hot water but I don't want half a can sitting in my fridge... very thoughtful of me I know.

Then I leave that to stew for a while, looks good enough to eat. Oh, I will serve it with rice and sprinkle the chopped chives on top.

****

Mild and creamy yet with a subtle spicy aftertaste. The vegetables on top don't really add anything, I guess if I did this again without the oddly specific vegetable choices i'd have used some more fitting ingredients, like... coriander and bamboo shoots or something. The tomato goes surprisingly well though. 

Breath of the Wild #51: Glazed Meat

Ingredients: Any Meat, Courser Bee Honey

Description: "The sweetness of the honey permeates the meat, giving it a complex taste profile."

Based on the wobbly fatty looking meat, I thought pork belly would be good for this! But it looks like... i picked up a pork loin joint instead! Oh well, I like that too! Then i've got honey, soy sauce, sesame oil, sesame seeds, miso paste and one (slightly old) chilli.

A bit of everything and ill blend it together!

Ok i know it looks really nasty and the strong miso smell is a lot, but it also smells like its gonna be goooddd

I think ill use my nice pumpkin pot to roast this! Itll just about fit, i will keep rotating it around periodically as it cooks, otherwise itll probably be dry on one side and wet on the other.

After about 2 hours its looking good!

And on the inside too, we can chop off some big chunks to serve. I think ill make some peas to have on the side.

*****

The miso and sesame does a lot, making it very umami. It's mildly sweet and salty, i didn't over do it with the honey or soy sauce. Very rich and flavourful, and now I have plenty of roast meat!