For a few months now I have been secretly very excited about something that was in the pipeline…and the time has finally come to tell you what that is!
I was picked as one of 30 food bloggers to enter a competition run by Foodies 100 who are working with Uniform Dating to create a recipe app for uniformed professionals called Uniform Foodies.
The app is launched today and if you fancy adding a recipe or just reviewing what recipes there are then head to the App Store (disappointed to see that I can’t do this as I have Android devices!).
Anyway, back along Uniform Dating carried out a national survey of uniformed professions to find out what they love to eat when working, and my challenge was to create a recipe that matched one of their top three favourite dishes…a salad, fish and chips or an indian curry.
Now to the very exciting bit!
Uniform Dating have been working with the chef Michael Caines.
He compiled three recipes for the app and is the one who is judging the competition.
The three finalists in the competition will be invited to London to attend an exclusive cook-off with Michael Caines.
My tummy dances and spins around just at the thought of that!
So, I hope you can appreciate why I am so excited!
Of course, I haven’t completely forgotten about you in this process.
I was determined that whatever I created would be ‘free-from’ and suitable for families too, so I hope you enjoy my recipe.
I was destined to create a curry.
When I was 16 I visited India with my sixth form college.
It was an experience of a lifetime and kick-started a passion for adventure and travel in the following years, which has, unfortunately since been dampened down by having kids!
There was one dish that I remember above all others and it was this that I wanted to recreate in a recipe that would appeal both to the uniformed officers that it was aimed at for the competition, and for families.
That dish was malai kofta…a creamy curry sauce with vegetarian (but cheesy) balls inside.
It was truly outstanding and something that you rarely come across in the Indian restaurants around here.
I hope none of my readers are Indian because this probably doesn’t resemble the ‘real thing’ at all!
It is, however, very tasty and something a bit different from the norm!
The kofta’s could easily be included on their own in a picnic lunch for something a bit different.
Malai Kofta Curry
Ingredients
- For the Kofta's:
- 110 g mature cheddar cheese - grated (I tried paneer being more Indian, but it didn't add any flavour!)
- 100 g gram flour
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1/2 - 1 tsp chilli powder
- 2 tbsp homemade cashew nut cream* - or bought cashew nut butter
- 1 tbsp poppy seeds
- A little water if required to bring the mixture together
- For the sauce:
- 1 red onion - finely chopped
- 1 clove of garlic - finely chopped
- Thumbnail sized piece of ginger - finely chopped
- 1 tsp chilli powder
- 1 tbsp cumin seeds
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1/2 tsp tumeric
- 2 cardamon pods
- 300 ml passata
- 100 ml water
- 3 tbsp single cream
- 4 tbsp homemade cashew nut cream* or bought cashew nut butter
- Fresh coriander - to serve
- Chopped cashew nuts - to serve
- Salt to taste
- *For the cashew nut cream:
- 1 cup roasted - salted cashew nuts
- 100 ml water
Instructions
- To make the kofta's, place all the ingredients in a medium-sized bowl and bring together with your hands until firm.
- Roll into 8 balls of equal size.
- Place on a baking tray and bake in a pre-heated oven at 190 degrees (170 degrees fan oven) for 25 minutes, turning once.
- In the meantime make the sauce by placing the onion in a large pan with a little oil and water. Cook over a low heat with the lid on until translucent but not brown. Add more water if it becomes dry and starts to brown.
- Allow the water to evaporate, then add the garlic and ginger and continue to cook for a further minute.
- In a separate pan, dry fry the cumin seeds, chilli powder, coriander and tumeric over a medium heat for a minute or so until you hear the cumin seeds pop.
- Add the passata, water, dry fried spices, cardamon pods, cashew nut cream or butter and salt to taste and simmer over a low heat for a further 10-15 minutes. Add more water if the sauce becomes too dry.
- At the end of the cooking time add the single cream and stir until heated through.
- To serve, place the sauce in a bowl and add the cooked koftas. Scatter over some chopped coriander and cashew nuts and serve with rice and papadums (checking that they are gluten-free!).
I was given a £50 Sainsburys voucher for the purposes of creating this recipe.
Corina says
It looks beautiful and I love that fact that it’s a little bit more unusual than the standard curries you see in restaurants over here. Congratulations on being picked as one of the three finalists too – I am so envious!
The Free From Fairy says
Thank you so much for your lovely comment Corina. Your lamb rogan josh looked amazing too. I think they had a tough job!
Laura @ Kneadwhine says
This looks ever so tasty! Definitely pinning for future reference.
Good luck with the competition.
The Free From Fairy says
Thank you so much Laura! I am so excited. I couldn’t care less if I win or not, I am overjoyed to be going to cook with Michael Caines!!
suzanne3childrenandit says
How fabulous! I love a curry and to share one that is ‘free from’ for all your readers must be very helpful indeed. Good luck!
The Free From Fairy says
Thanks Suzanne. We should find out today!
Sara (@mumturnedmom) says
This sounds absolutely lovely! I’m a vegetarian and a huge fan of curry, so this is right up my street 🙂 Congrats on being asked to compete, fabulous!
The Free From Fairy says
Thanks Sara. I am now much hoping and wishing that I am picked to be one of the 3 finalists. We should know today and the suspense is killing me!!
Cate @meaddthree says
Yum, this looks and sounds delicious!
Rollercoaster Mum says
That looks delicious. I love a good curry and Indian food in general although husband is far better at cooking them than me.
The Free From Fairy says
I don’t believe it!! Have a go at this and surprise him. It is pretty easy!
Emma T says
Sounds and looks amazing. Love the idea of adding the koftas
Molly says
That’s so exciting Vicky! Best of luck! The kofta curry looks amazing xx
The Free From Fairy says
Thanks Molly! It tasted pretty yummy!
agatapokutycka says
It looks delicious.
I was surprised to see that so many uniforms rated fish and chips so high.
The Free From Fairy says
Hi Agata. It is funny isn’t it? An unhealthy lot it would seem!
Mel says
Looks like you are going global, Vicki! Congratulations! Your curry looks delicious and your photos make my mouth water. x Mel
The Free From Fairy says
Ah thanks Mel! My fingers are crossed!