Indian Food Made Easy
For the last few months, my life has been consumed by the filming of this series, Indian Food Made Easy and the writing of the accompanying book.
The filming has been a real labour of love! In the run up to the filming, I accidentally hurt my back so that it was in spasm for 2 weeks - I was only able to stand straight 5 days before we were to start filming and the interim period was peppered with meetings at home, sessions of physio-therapy, an appointment with an osteopath and a last ditch attempt to be able to film by calling in a healer. This was immediately followed by a miserable cold which had me popping vitamin C and Lemsip every few hours. I then managed to nick a thumb and a finger within the first five minutes of getting a chopping board in front of me and I hadn’t even started chopping! We had samurai swords disguised as kitchen knives. I spent the first two hours trying to get shots which didn’t include my fingers and using every trick in the book to stem the bleeding. Aside from that and laryngitis, the show has been lots of fun, early mornings, hard work and a fantastic experience.
I travel around the country bringing the joys of regional Indian food and the simple or simplified methods of how to cook them with me. It has been lots of fun and a time of many first experiences of my own. I wore my first pair of wellies and cashmere socks (both loaned). I know, I know, it sounds ridiculous but I grew up near mountains and when we went to the countryside we wore skis. My first time in a fire station and of course in their uniform. The guys were fantastic and the station had a bar, snooker table and a plasma TV; I never wanted to leave. I got spoiled and pampered in Charlton House, walked through fields of spelt and ate loads of it (bread, cereal and even a roti. It was surprisingly good). My first visit to Cornwall and I was smitten, the food was fresh and delicious, met some lovely locals and tried to pick up tips on how to set up your own curry company (if you live in the area, give The Little Cornish Curry Company a go, they are so passionate about their food and you can taste it). I will go back to Cornwall with the family so any tips on where to go and stay are welcome. I hacked off the top of a green coconut with a kitchen knife (a job normally left to seasoned handlers and a machete) to drink the cool coconut water contained within. Great fun but definitely not recommended at home. Had a chilli-infused cocktail named after me, the drink was delicious, the name less so… But what will remain with me the most is the wonderful people I met along the way and the fantastic, strangely calm, crew who became friends over the summer.
Anjum Ananad on BBC 2
Anjum Anand’s new 6 part series ‘Indian Every Day’ on BBC 2 airs from 9th July at 8.30pm.
Watch Anjum in her new BBC series where she travels around the UK creating delicious Indian food that is light and healthy and bursting with flavour. In her show she will demystify Indian food showing people how easy it is for anyone to cook authentic home-style Indian food.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/tv_and_radio/indianfood_index.shtml
Anjum’s favourite restaurants
Being an Indian, I am always asked where the best Indian food in town is. Being someone who knows and loves Indian food, they sometimes even listen. I cannot say I have the utmost authority as I have not visited every Indian restaurant in the city but here are some I do go to and love.
Lahore Kebab House
2 Umberston Street, London E1 1PY
Telephone 0871 3328336
This restaurant in Whitechapel is an East End institution, the Punjabi food that they serve is simple, very authentic, incredibly fresh and delicious and super cheap which might explain why you can often find queues for tables. I live in North London so don’t get to visit that often but if it were nearer my house it would be one of my locals.
Malabar
An informal restaurant that is packed in the weekdays with local Notting Hill and Holland Park crowds. The food is not fancy but very able. A great place for a quick and lively dinner.
Rasoi
10 Lincoln St, Sloane Square, London SW3 2TS
The truth is I have not had multiple meals here but the one, yes I am basing this on just one meal, was one of the best this side of Asia. The chef at Rasoi, which simply means kitchen, is Vineet Bhatia. It Is a Michelin starred restaurant and Is a combination of authentic tradtional flavours and cooking techniques as well as an inventive genius. He would do things I have thought of doing but never got around to and now am not sure I will bother trying. It was superlative food from a sophisticated kitchen and a great wine list to boot. It is definitely a special occasion restaurant.
Chutney Mary
This restaurant has become one of my favourites after it revamped its menu a few years ago. The authentic dishes are well spiced and flavoured and the invented dishes cut the mustard. Really worth trying as it seems to work for both the Indians and non-Indians. It is all served in a lovely restaurant with in a civilized, if formal atmosphere.
Gaylords
97-81 Mortimer Street, London W1
This has to be one of the best authentic Indian restaurants in London, it’s been around for over 30 years and it’s where Indians go to eat traditional North Indian food. It was the first restaurant to bring over the tandoor and their tandoori food is still the best in London. It’s a restaurant I have visited throughout my live with family and friends. They also cater beautiful meals. They are the ones we called to cater for all our big occasions, engagement, birth of my daughter etc. it is not trendy as such, but it is slightly formal and the food is amazing.
Online retailers
There are so many shops and markets selling ingredients for Indian food that it would be impossible to guide you all to your local ones. By and large, we all know where we can find them it is just a matter of making time to get there. Even in London there are so many areas but the four main ones are Ealing Rd in Wembley, Southall, Drummond street in W1, Ealing; Green St, West Ham. and Tooting. In all four areas one can buy Indian food especially fresh fruit, vegetables and spices. For those who can’t make the time here are some sites that will deliver all your ingredients to your door at the touch of a button.
http://www.spiceworld.uk.com
http://www.theasiancookshop.co.uk
http://www.steenbergs.co.uk
http://www.thespiceshop.co.uk
http://www.spiceswarehouse.com
http://www.pureindianspices.co.uk
Able & Cole - Online organic fruit and veg
This company has deservedly won several awards including Organic Retailer of The Year, they offer free home delivery of fresh organic produce straight to your door and their produce selection and quality is great.
Drummond Street
Just to the immediate north west of Euston Station is Drummond Street that is home to a number of Indian restaurants and food shops and a good place in central London to buy Indian fruit, vegetables, spices, rice, flour and pickles. You can buy things like Alfonso mangos which are delicious and much cheaper than you would find in a supermarket, their season is April – May. I also love buying Custard Apple, a fruit that has a sweet, creamy white flesh.
Indian Food Made Easy
Anjum’s latest cookbook with over 70 new recipes, all the recipes from the TV series are included with chapters on Light snacks, Seafood, Meat and Poultry, Vegetables, Lentils and Beans, Rice and Breads, Chutneys and Raitas and Desserts and Drinks. Anjum uses fresh, local and seasonal produce with all the ingredients readily available in supermarkets. Throughout the book there are tips and techniques as well as expert secrets from some of the country’s top Indian chefs.
Available from all good book shops, £14.99, Quadrille Publishing.
ISBN 9781844005710
Times Online
Visit the Times Online food pages to read some more of Anjum’s recipes.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/real_food/