Mastering the Art of Indian Cooking: Asma Khan’s Top Tips
Indian cuisine is a vast and varied landscape, often misunderstood by British palates that favour creamy kormas and classic tikka masalas. However, according to renowned Indian-born British restaurateur Asma Khan, proprietor of critically-acclaimed Darjeeling Express in London’s Soho, there is more to Indian food than these popular takeaway choices.
In an exclusive interview, Khan shared her expertise on the art of Indian cooking, dispelling common misconceptions and offering top tips for recreating authentic, nourishing curries at home. As featured in an article from The Irish News, Khan emphasized that Indian food is not as complicated as many assume.
"I think there’s no reason to throw the baby out with the bathwater," Khan says. "Your favourites, things that are nostalgic and you’re emotional about, even if it is not authentic, I think it’s still a very big thing for us. Because the status of Indian food in this country, it changed the palate of a nation."
Khan’s top tip for mastering Indian cooking is to keep it simple. "Do not overcomplicate it. Indian food is very modular," she advises. "If you look at recipes, there are whole spices, the garam masalas, as we call them, but they’re whole, not powdered. You know, the cinnamon stick, the cassia bark or cardamom goes in, then the onions and the ginger and the garlic, you’re building it up."
Another crucial aspect of Indian cooking is the use of fresh, seasonal ingredients. Khan stresses that "the most important thing, especially at this time of the economy being where it is, [is] inexpensive ingredients. Things with cabbage and cauliflower and potatoes, eggs, nothing expensive, and cheaper cuts of meat."
The Indian cuisine focuses heavily on nutrition, packed full of life-boosting spices and vitamin-rich ingredients. Khan notes that "I [want] to talk about all the nourishing, healing benefits of our food, because in our culture, food was medicine first. So there’s a lot of very healthy, nourishing things about our food."
Khan also encourages home cooks to make Indian recipes their own way, adapting ingredients and adding personal touches. "This is very personal," she says. "People will look around and say: ‘Oh, I don’t make the dal that way’. Yeah, sure. This is my mum’s recipe!"
Asma Khan’s new Food Network series, Secrets of the Curry Kitchen, showcases her expertise in Indian cooking, sharing the secrets behind the nourishing, layered flavours of Indian food. With these top tips and a little practice, anyone can master the art of Indian cooking and create delicious, authentic curries at home.
Tuning in to Secrets of The Curry Kitchen
Secrets of The Curry Kitchen airs weekly on Food Network from 9pm on Thursday, May 8, and is available to stream on discovery+. For those eager to learn more about Indian cooking, Khan’s cookbooks and Darjeeling Express restaurant offer a wealth of inspiration and expertise.
According to The Irish News, Khan’s approach to Indian cooking is centred around building flavours, using seasonal ingredients, and embracing the cuisine’s modular nature. With these principles in mind, anyone can create authentic, nourishing curries that showcase the best of Indian cuisine.
In conclusion, Asma Khan’s top tips for making real Indian curries at home offer a valuable insight into the art of Indian cooking. By keeping it simple, using fresh ingredients, and embracing the cuisine’s modular nature, anyone can master the art of Indian cooking and create delicious, authentic curries at home. As The Irish News reports, Khan’s expertise and passion for Indian cuisine have made her a leading authority on the subject, and her top tips are a must-follow for anyone looking to explore the world of Indian cooking.
