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Cookery book club - July - Hugh F-W Veg and curries by Madhur Jaffrey and the Hairy Bikers (vroom vroom)

342 replies

Curioustiger · 24/06/2013 13:15

Come join the Mumsnet cookery bookclub! Each month we choose two cookery books - one popular, like Nigella / Jamie / Delia, so you probably already have it / can borrow it and one a bit more unusual. We cook a minimum of two recipes each - you choose the recipe, they just have to be ones you have never cooked before- which works out at four new recipes each month.Then we chat about them!

For June our books were:

  • Mexican Food Made Easy by Thomasina Miers
  • Thirty Minute Meals by Jamie Oliver

And we posted here

For July our books are:
  • Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall Veg Every Day
  • Madhur Jaffrey Ultimate Curry Bible AND / OR madhur Jaffrey's Curry Easy AND / OR Hairy Bikers' Great Curries


For August, our books will be:
  • Fuchsia Dunlop Every Grain of Rice (chopsticks at the ready ladies)
  • Dan Lepard Short and Sweet


We will always try to pick at least one book with recipes available on the Internet, and local libraries are great for cookbooks if you can order in advance. We pick books three months ahead so will be choosing September's books this month.
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Curioustiger · 24/06/2013 13:15

Starting this one early as have a busy weekend so trying to be organised!

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ScienceRocks · 24/06/2013 13:25

Thanks Tiger! The Hairy Bikers and Fuchsia Dunlop have just fallen through my letterbox (not literally) courtesy of the Book People so I am looking forward to a planning session. I am not a fan of HFW, and as the Veg book isn't available at my library and I have no desire to buy it, I will probably stick to just the HB for July.

Loving cook book club, by the way!

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Curioustiger · 24/06/2013 13:48

I flicked through the veg book on the weekend and most of the recipes looked quite nice. But I'm not sure that's enough justification for yet another cookery book... I will try the Internet recipes though...

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KneeDeepInDaisies · 24/06/2013 13:51

Marking place. Waiting for the library tell me when they've arrived.Smile

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ELR · 24/06/2013 14:58

Thanks tiger marking place.

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LeonardoAcropolis · 24/06/2013 15:08

Hooray! Marking place, I have cooked a lot of the Hairy Bikers' curries. They are superb and really accessible. Most of the ingredients can be found in the supermarket however I struggle to find curry leaves or a curry leaf plant, any ideas anyone? I have checked garden centers and looked for seeds but no luck.

I don't have HFW Veg but have found recipes on Channel 4's website.

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LowLevelWhinging · 24/06/2013 15:12

leonardo, I found curry leaves in Tesco in their poncey chef's ingredients range, rather than with the normal spices.

You know the section where they have fancy oils/rices/herbs and stuff?

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LowLevelWhinging · 24/06/2013 15:13
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akarucker · 24/06/2013 15:21

Oops, just got back from the library with the wrong curry book. I got Madhur Jaffrey 100 Essential Curries. I wonder if these recipes are taken from the curry bible though? They all look good. The HB one is on order so hopefully will be here in time to start cooking in July.

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LeonardoAcropolis · 24/06/2013 15:25

Ah! Fantastic, thanks lowlevel. Will go for another look.

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Pantah630 · 24/06/2013 15:39

Signing in as well. I've copied a couple of recipes from MJ before it went back to the library and have been leafing through HB. Almost time t dust HFW off the shelf Grin

I found a big bag of curry leaves in our local Asian Spice shop if Tesco don't stock them.

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AlohaMama · 24/06/2013 17:04

Have both these books so I'm jumping on board. Recipe choice will be somewhat influenced by a) presence of new baby in house so it will have to be quick, and b) moving country in 8 weeks so trying to use up store cupboard ingredients. Hoping to use at least 1 of the 9 tins of coconut milk I have in the cupboard Hmm

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Pufflemum · 24/06/2013 17:08

Signing in too. I received the Hairy Bikers book today, it all looks very tasty. Anyone got any favourites to recommend starting with?

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Curioustiger · 24/06/2013 17:33

Hello Aloha and good luck with your housemove! I love anything with coconut milk so let me know which ones you pick!

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AlohaMama · 24/06/2013 19:56

So far from Maddhur Jaffrey - I'm going to do the Singapore-style shrimp curry, and easy chickpea curry. Leafing through I realised I've done so many from this book, all of which I love it's hard to choose new ones.

From veg I've got Courgette penne spouffle listed so far, happy to have other suggestions.

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ELR · 24/06/2013 21:11

I love the cheesy leeks on toast from hfw and also there's a pasta pesto dish with green beans and potatoes which is nice.

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greensnail · 24/06/2013 21:34

Signing in for July. Will be collecting my books from the library tomorrow so looking forward to choosing my first recipes.

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bluebump · 24/06/2013 21:38

I made the tomato risotto from Hugh F-W and a dauphinois potato dish too, both were lovely. I started with some basic ones as you can see Grin but they all look fairly do-able.

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snoworneahva · 24/06/2013 22:03

Just had Radishes with Butter from HFW - odd, not unpleasant but not sure they made each other into something better. Interested in making Avocado and Ruby Grapefruit with chilli salad, Asian inspired coleslaw, Swede with onions and sage, carrot hummus and broccoli salad with Asian style dressing. Awaiting my copy of the Bikers from the library.

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pregnantpause · 25/06/2013 11:01

Aloha- I've tried the spouffle, and would advise some serious seasoning. The DC loved it, but Dh and I found it very bland. I have made it again for DC but it's nothing special, and I have to add loads of salt to mine.

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fallenempires · 25/06/2013 12:06

I haven't got the HFW book but will watch this thread with interest.I've been working my way through HB's Great Curries over the past few months and haven't had a bad one yet.
I can recommend
Traditional Lamb Saag
Lamb Kofta Curry
Lamb Dopiaza
Quick Chicken Madras
Chicken Tikka Masala
Chicken Makhani
Masala Roasted Chicken with Minted Yoghurt Sauce
Samosas
Onion Bhajis
Chicken Tikka
The only things that haven't worked are the naans and chapattis.

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ShoeWhore · 25/06/2013 12:26

I love the HFW veg book and would really recommend the North African stew which is a firm favourite in our house. Also I made the summer version of the couscous salad and it was so delicious. The pearl barley broth is also very good (but a bit wintery for June perhaps!).

I made the mushroom ragout with polenta and loved the mushrooms but not too keen on the polenta, that might just be me not being a big lover of sloppy polenta though!

I'd like to try the tahini-dressed courgette and green bean salad next.

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catwithflowers · 25/06/2013 17:36

Fallen, I didn't like the look of the breads although have made several of the curries and they are delicious. I do make naan and chapati but to a different recipe.

I also have the HFW book and have so far only made the beetroot and walnut hummus which my partner and I liked but kids didn't. Am excited for next month Smile

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catwithflowers · 25/06/2013 17:38

I have a fab Indian grocers round the corner who sell all the spices I need for Indian cookery really cheaply and in big quantities!!

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HuevosRancheros · 25/06/2013 18:30

I made the lamb dhansak from HB, but used quorn insted of lamb. And didn't put butternut squash in as I don't like it. Curry was lovely.
Also made the sag paneer, really really lovely.

I do have a gripe with this book, though In some recipes (not sure what %, but certainly the dhansak), it doesn't include many spices in the recipe, just uses 'curry paste' (i.e. a shop bought one, Pataks or whatever). It says this is for ease, but I didn't have any in, and wanted to make it from scratch, so ended up googling a recipe and making up a batch. Didn't mind making it, didn't take long, but think the HB should have included a recipe for a paste, for those inclined.

(if anyone is interested, I used a Jamie recipe as it was the first one google presented me with, and it was pretty good. But that was what made the curry, so a bit cross with HB for that)

Rant over.

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