My stock of goodies from India has vanished in less than a month of being here, other than the masalas. Back to the shops for some more supplies. Luckily, Birmingham has many many Indian shops, Pakistani/Bangladeshi etc. We tend to go to Soho Road in Handsworth, although Tesco/Asda closer stock a surprisingly large range of stuff. What we like and don't like:
1) Cofresh chakri sticks (around 99p to £1.50) - lovely, highly recommend. Not the standard butter chaklis but great tasting.
2) Natco chana - 700 gms for £2 plus. Usually buy the unpeeled. Too many hard unpeelable ones, the Mahabaleshwar ones much better quality, think its East End.
3) Gits Idli and Sambar - 79-89p- good old standbys, the Idli mix is lovely, the Sambar a bit artificial but I cannot make it from scratch and get it right, this does the job.
4) Natco Kala Namak - lovely flavour to salad etc for 49p.
5) Sunny's Masala Sev - 99p - nicely spiced.
6) Patak's Hot Mango Picke (£1.49 usually) - huge hit with everyone we know and 2 bottles in the house at most time. Must try. Know someone who used to take it back to India (unbelievable I know!)
7) The rest of Patak's pickles are good, the Lime and Brinjal are on offer for 99p at times.
8) Patak's curry pastes - £1.79 - my secret quickfix to party food! Says it all really, must try. All of them.
9) Natco and East End Alphonso Mango Pulp 99p -fantastic for mango lassi or mango mousse - quick fixes for guests.
10) Cofresh Potato whirls - 50p each on offer - sharply flavoured, ok.
11) Laziza Biryani Masala - 99p - has added a wow element to many meals I have served at parties. Fabulous and another must try. This is made in Pakistan but available at certain places in Soho Road. Lots in Sparkbrook/Ladypool Road. also seen at a couple of shops in Bombay!
12) Indian shop yogurt - Henna I think. Very cheap and not very nice at all. Watery and tasteless.
13) Cofresh frozen Punjabi samosas -£2.99- must try, keep a stock in the freezer for guests or a snack. They aren't as large as the fresh ones but very nice and crispy, flavourful etc.
14) Ahmed's pickles - 79p last time we bought some - do not recommend at all. We have bought them around 6-7 times and they are rancid/lots of seed in the mango one etc. Probably all old stock.
15) Natco Red Lentils- £2 per kg - Found the cheapest in Costco of all places! Good to buy a big bag and easy to cook, doesn't need as much soaking as I've seen people in India do.
I could go on forever, lots of other stuff like the lovely marinated masala fresh meat at Tesco, will reserve for a later post!
1) Cofresh chakri sticks (around 99p to £1.50) - lovely, highly recommend. Not the standard butter chaklis but great tasting.
2) Natco chana - 700 gms for £2 plus. Usually buy the unpeeled. Too many hard unpeelable ones, the Mahabaleshwar ones much better quality, think its East End.
3) Gits Idli and Sambar - 79-89p- good old standbys, the Idli mix is lovely, the Sambar a bit artificial but I cannot make it from scratch and get it right, this does the job.
4) Natco Kala Namak - lovely flavour to salad etc for 49p.
5) Sunny's Masala Sev - 99p - nicely spiced.
6) Patak's Hot Mango Picke (£1.49 usually) - huge hit with everyone we know and 2 bottles in the house at most time. Must try. Know someone who used to take it back to India (unbelievable I know!)
7) The rest of Patak's pickles are good, the Lime and Brinjal are on offer for 99p at times.
8) Patak's curry pastes - £1.79 - my secret quickfix to party food! Says it all really, must try. All of them.
9) Natco and East End Alphonso Mango Pulp 99p -fantastic for mango lassi or mango mousse - quick fixes for guests.
10) Cofresh Potato whirls - 50p each on offer - sharply flavoured, ok.
11) Laziza Biryani Masala - 99p - has added a wow element to many meals I have served at parties. Fabulous and another must try. This is made in Pakistan but available at certain places in Soho Road. Lots in Sparkbrook/Ladypool Road. also seen at a couple of shops in Bombay!
12) Indian shop yogurt - Henna I think. Very cheap and not very nice at all. Watery and tasteless.
13) Cofresh frozen Punjabi samosas -£2.99- must try, keep a stock in the freezer for guests or a snack. They aren't as large as the fresh ones but very nice and crispy, flavourful etc.
14) Ahmed's pickles - 79p last time we bought some - do not recommend at all. We have bought them around 6-7 times and they are rancid/lots of seed in the mango one etc. Probably all old stock.
15) Natco Red Lentils- £2 per kg - Found the cheapest in Costco of all places! Good to buy a big bag and easy to cook, doesn't need as much soaking as I've seen people in India do.
I could go on forever, lots of other stuff like the lovely marinated masala fresh meat at Tesco, will reserve for a later post!
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