47 - 49 Promenade, Cheltenham GL50 1PJ, United Kingdom
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Memsahibs Lounge

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Author: lounge4u
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December 17, 2021 RecipesBy lounge4u

Turkey Khichri (Kedgeree)

Turkey Khichri (Kedgeree)

Kedgeree may be known as a well-loved and hearty British breakfast dish but its origins are in fact from Indian cooking where it is referred to as khichri (in Hindi). It was during the British Raj period that it was adopted by the British and altered for their tastes in India and then again amended when brought back across to the British Isles. 

Originally, the dish consisted of a mixture of rice, lentils, spice and was always topped with shredded fried onions. One of the oldest references to the dish was recorded by the scholar and explorer Ibn Batuta in AD 1340 in which he writes: ‘’The munj {moon or mung bean} is boiled with rice and then buttered and eaten. This is what they call kishri, and on this dish they breakfast every day.’’

As it grew in popularity with the British in the 19th century, additions of smoked fish i.e kippers came about. However, as new iterations were developed in Britain, especially during the Victorian period, less spices were used, opting for more herbs like parsley or marjoram. 

Fast forward to the kedgeree we love to eat now and we can see it has returned to its Indian roots using spices like turmeric to colour the rice a pale yellow, slices of green chilli for heat and those deliciously fragrant and sweet fried onions on top – an incredible garnish that finishes off the dish perfectly. 

What makes this recipe so versatile is that it really isn’t just limited to being a breakfast dish and it’s not just a dish that needs to be cooked with smoked fish or eggs or even meat for that matter. It’s filling without sitting too heavy, and as intended in the subcontinent, a very humble dish that is perfect to break your fasts with. With Christmas around the corner, we have put together a simple recipe that allows you to use all your leftover protein from Christmas Day and serve up a delicious Boxing Day brunch that not only fills the bellies of your guests but also reduces your carbon footprint, ensuring that the turkey and sausages from your Christmas Day lunch will not go to waste. 

Happy cooking!

We would love to see how you have created these dishes at home – please do share with us and tag us on Instagram – @memsahibbar #memsahibathome

Hyderabadi Kedgeree

Course: Breakfast
Complexity: Intermediate
Preparation Time: 10 – 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 40 – 45minutes
Serves: 4 to 6

Ingredients:

3 large onions sliced   

1 tbsp grated garlic 

1 tbsp grated ginger

2 tbsp medium curry powder 

Dry whole spices (2 cardamoms, 2 cloves, 1 bay leaf and 1 inch of cinnamon)

2 green chillies, cut into halves 

Pinch of saffron 

1 tbsp salt or to taste 

Ingredients:

1 ½ cup red lentils 

1 ½ cup basmati rice  

2 cups of leftover cooked turkey meat 

1 cup of leftover cooked sausages, chopped

2 tbsp raisins and sultanas – soaked and strained 

2 tbsp ghee or clarified butter 

2 tbsp rapeseed oil 

700ml of homemade stock (recipe below) or chicken stock

Method:

  1. Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6
  2. Wash and soak rice and lentils for 30 minutes then drain and set aside 
  3. Heat the oil and 1 tbsp of butter in an ovenproof, lidded saucepan over medium heat.
  4. Add dry whole spices and fry for a minute until it’s fragrant. 
  5. Fry onions until golden brown and retain one-third of it on a kitchen cloth for garnish. 
  6. Add the garlic, ginger, curry powder and salt and fry for another minute. 
  7. Pour 100ml of water/stock and saffron and cook for another 4 to 5 minutes to make the masala. 
  8. Add the turkey and sausage meat and cook for a couple of minutes, before adding the rice and lentils and mix. Keep stirring and continue to cook on medium-high heat for another 4 to 5 minutes.
  9. Pour the remainder of the stock and transfer the pan to the oven, cook for 20 minutes. 
  10. Check the khichri and then add green chilli, raisins and sultanas. Drizzle ghee on the top and garnish with the previously retained fried onions. Then place back into the oven to cook for another 10 minutes. 
Homemade stock

Ingredients:

  1. 2 cups of vegetable peelings
  2. (such as – broccoli and cauliflower stalks, Carrot and parsnip peelings, onion and garlic outer skin) 
  3. 700-800g leftover turkey carcass chopped  
  4. 1 tsp cumin seed 
  5. 1 tsp black peppercorns
  6. 1 tbsp sea salt 
  7. 1 and a half litres of water or as needed

Method:

  1. Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Toast cumin and pepper for a minute, and then add vegetable trimmings. Cook until it’s slightly soft and brown. 
  2. Add turkey carcass and salt and cook for another 5 to 7 minutes. 
  3. Add water, bring to a boil, and then simmer for 30 to 40 minutes. 
  4. Strain stock through a sieve and discard vegetables. There should be more than a pint of stock left. 
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Punch_10-scaled-1
December 1, 2021 RecipesBy lounge4u

Memsahib Bombay Presidency Punch

 

If a man comes into a victualing house to drink punch, he may demand one quart of good Goa Arak, half a pound of sugar and half a pint of good lime water; and make his own punch. If the bowl is not marked with the clerk of the market seal, then the bowl may be freely broken without paying anything either for the bowl or punch. 

Order book of the Bombay Government, August 13, 1694

The Bombay Presidency Punch owes its name to General Sir John Gayer, who penned the recipe in 1694. Gayer was the East India Company’s governor of the “Bombay Presidency” – as the trading company’s possessions in that part of India were called. 

The punch was later discovered by sailors and merchants who travelled to the area looking to open up trade routes for gold and nutmeg. They mixed the locally produced spirit with citrus, sugar, and spices to create “punch” (the name might be derived from the Hindi word paantsch, which means “five” – the number of ingredients in a typical punch of that time).

Bombay Presidency Punch

with bay leaf and cinnamon reduction 

Course: Beverage 

Complexity: Easy but Challenging in parts 

Preparation Time 15 to 20  minutes 

Cooking Time:30 to 40 minutes 

Serves:6 to 10

Ingredients

  1. 2 to 3 fresh or dry bay leaf 
  2. 2 inches of cinnamon sticks 
  3. 100-gram Jaggery/Brown Sugar 
  4. ½ Lemon zest
  5. 100 ml of water 

Method

  1. 2 to 3 fresh or dry bay leaf 
  2. 2 inches of cinnamon sticks 
  3. 100-gram Jaggery/Brown Sugar 
  4. ½ Lemon zest
  5. 100 ml of water 

To Make punch Ingredients:

Ingredients

  1. 400 to 500 ml of Palm Arrack/good Rum 
  2. 125 gram of Jaggery/light brown sugar  
  3. 6 lime juice 
  4. 1 Nutmeg 
  5. A few rose petal
  6. 2 scoop Lemon/Mango Sorbet 
  7. 2 cups of water and 2 cups of ice
  8. 100 ml of Cinnamon and Bay leaf reduction (rest preserved for later use) 

Method:

  1. Break up jaggery and put into a punch bowl. 
  2. Cut the limes into 4 and muddle together until all the jaggery has dissolved. 
  3. Add Arrack and stir, add water and mix it well. 
  4. Add cinnamon and bay leaf reduction and mix it well.
  5. Now add ice and garnish with grated nutmeg then add sorbet and rose petal.

Ingredients for garnishing punch cups: 

  1. 2 to 3 cubes of Ice
  2. Couple of mint leaves
  3. 1 Kaffir Lime leaf 
  4. 1 cube of Turkish delight
  5. Teaspoon full of Pomegranate
  6. 1 fresh/dry Bay Leaf

Put all the ingredients in a punch cup or highball glass accordingly and the present it with the punch bowl. 

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Prawn-Kofta
November 2, 2021 RecipesBy lounge4u

Prawn Kofta and Kofta Curry Recipe

Recipes from the Cheltenham Food and Drink Festival 2021

In 2014 when I first went into the kitchen with a hope to cook and serve, I had no idea I would be a chef that would end up presenting a masterclass at the Cheltenham Food and Drink Festival. It was a great pleasure meeting you all, and as promised, the recipes and cooking techniques for the Prawn Kofta and Prawn Kofta Curry are below for you to enjoy cooking the dishes that I presented to you, in your own kitchen, at home.

In 2020, after six years of growing East India Cafe in Cheltenham, we decided to sell and concentrate on Memsahib Gin and Tea Bar as well as other ventures. Rick Stein once said that ‘’cuisine reflects the culture’’ and that it is imperative that we now know what we eat and how we eat. For us, as chefs, the provenance of what we consume is crucial. We believe sustainable cooking means sourcing your ingredients ethically and locally, whilst the preparation of it should be centred around not only creating an incredible dish, but doing so whilst producing food with less waste. With the reopening of hospitality in the UK and learning from a very challenging year throughout the pandemic we decided to revise our menu and our food production with sustainability at the heart of what we do.

At Memsahib Gin and Tea Bar, we serve Anglo-Indian cuisine. It’s an amalgamation of Indian, European and Mughal cuisine, which was developed during the British rule in India. However, the way we like to eat nowadays has changed dramatically over the last decade, and with that in mind, we made the whole menu tapas-style dining and called it ‘Memsahib’s Picnic’.

Below are two recipes; one for a snack style Prawn Kofta and another for a curry style Prawn Kofta using a creamy coconut milk. You won’t find sustainably grown local prawns in the UK, and as a chef, we feel terrible to hold a block of shrimp that has travelled six to eight thousand miles to come to our kitchen. However, we believe we have addressed this issue with our Land Ocean Farm project, where we hope to produce white-legged shrimp in a biosecure environment using recirculating aquaculture technology. In a couple of years, you will be able to find Gloucestershire grown prawns in your local shop and being served in restaurants.

Sustainable food production requires education and learning, awareness and overall continuous practice and improvement. We really believe in this ethos at the Memsahib Gin and Tea Bar and also encourage our guests and followers, through our masterclasses, to practise the reduce, reuse and recycle strategy. This allows us to be fully responsible for the products we consume as well as the waste we create. Globally, around a third of all food produced is lost or wasted, which contributes between 8 – 10% of total greenhouse gas emissions. In particular, food waste at home is a huge contributor to our emissions and reducing it can be so powerful in the fight against climate change. I also firmly believe that we can be that much closer to eradicating food poverty if we can achieve zero food waste, and especially so from commercial food production kitchens.

There is enough food for us all – we just need to be mindful in our consumption of it.

Happy cooking!

We would love to see how you have created these dishes at home – please do share with us and tag us on Instagram – @memsahibbar #memsahibathome

Prawn Kofta

Course: Appetiser
Complexity: Easy
Preparation Time: 15 – 20 minutes
Frying Time: 2 to 4 minutes
Serves: 6 to 10
Equipment: Food processor and a frying pan

Ingredients:

  1. 1 kg fresh king prawns, shelled with heads off
  2. 3 green chillies, medium to hot
  3. 2 large Spanish red chilli
  4. 2 inches of ginger
  5. 4 banana shallots, chopped
  6. 1 tbsp of roasted cumin, crushed
  7. 1 tbsp of turmeric powder
  8. 1 tbsp of fish sauce
  9. 1 tbsp of fine sea salt
  10. ⅓ cup of chopped coriander
  11. 1 tbsp of lemon juice
  12. 50 to 75 ml rapeseed oil /olive oil

Method:

Roll the chillies on your chopping board and then slice them in the middle. Shake them to deseed. Add to the food processor, along with the chopped ginger.
Add all the other ingredients, except for oil, coriander and prawns to the food processor and pulse a few times until it is all mixed and has formed a blended masala type mixture.
Now add the prawns and coriander and pulse again to mix and form a very thick and sticky paste.
Transfer to a bowl and keep in the fridge for around 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes, heat a pan with oil. Once hot, try shallow frying a tester dumpling-sized kofta. Cook until it develops a golden brown colour. Have a taste and if necessary, adjust the seasoning. Then repeat the process with the rest of the mixture.
Alternatively – grease a roasting tray and place your prawn kofta to cook in the oven. Roast at 180 degrees in a preheated oven for 12 to 14 minutes.

Prawn Koftas are always best when served and enjoyed hot! If you decide to roast them, they can be stored in the fridge for two to three days and can be reheated and fried again.

Prawn Kofta Curry

Course: Main
Complexity: Intermediate
Preparation Time: 15 – 20 minutes
Frying Time: 20 to 25 minutes
Serves: 6 to 10
Equipment: Food processor and a medium-sized saucepan

Ingredients:

  1. Fried or roasted Prawn Kofta
  2. 3 medium-size onions, finely chopped
    (it’s recommended to use a food processor to get the consistency)
  3. 2 tbsp of garlic and ginger paste
    (same amount of ginger and garlic blended with little olive oil and turmeric – store in the fridge to reuse. It keeps best for more than 7 to 10 days)
  4. 1 tsp of turmeric
  5. 1 tsp of Kashmiri chilli powder (this type of chilli has less heat but more flavour and colour)
  6. 1 tbsp of coriander powder
  7. 1 tsp of cumin powder
  8. 1 tsp of garam masala
  9. 2 green cardamom pods
  10. 1 large bay leaf, break it into two
  11. 1-inch cinnamon stick
  12. 1 clove
  13. 2 medium-sized tomatoes, chopped
    1 can of coconut milk 400 ml (higher percentage of coconut extract) dilute it with
  14. 100 ml cold water
  15. 2 green chillies
  16. 75ml of cooking oil

Method:

Heat the pan and add oil. Fry all of the masala (cardamom, bay leaf, cinnamon and clove) for a minute and a half or until your kitchen smells very aromatic.
Now add onions and saute on medium heat until it becomes medium golden brown – around four to five minutes.
Add the garlic and ginger paste and fry for one to two minutes.
On a very low heat, add all the ground masala (turmeric, Kashmiri chilli powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, garam masala) and cook for 30 seconds.
Add 100ml of water and cook until the oil rises slightly to the top (in Bengali, this process is called koshano, and it’s vital for a good thick consistency to the sauce).
Add tomatoes and 50ml of coconut milk and cook again until once again, the oil rises to the top.
Now add those fried or roasted Prawn Kofta and cover with a lid. Cook on a low heat for two minutes.
Now add the rest of the coconut milk and bring to a boil, then simmer for 20 minutes.
Finish it up by adding a tablespoon of lemon juice and garnish it with a pinch of garam masala on top.

This prawn kofta curry goes well with steamed boiled rice and a little bit of onion and cucumber salad, as well as a hint of chat masala powder to balance all the five flavours together. I’m certainly a believer that curry does in fact taste better the next day so certainly do consider making this Prawn Kofta Curry in a batch and refrigerating or freezing to store. It’s a great way to plan at home and a really efficient way to cook and eat what you need.

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Gin-Making-2
July 2, 2021 RecipesBy lounge4u

Gin & Tea – how do we do it?

This year has been a roller coaster for everyone. But it doesn’t mean that we can’t enjoy our lives anymore. I would say, indeed we can, but in this case we’ll have some help from a good old G&T. 

COVID-19 took a lot from us: we can’t go out without a mask, events are cancelled, a lot of things have been moved online, most of us can’t enjoy a meal in the restaurant… And this list just keeps going and seems to never end. In those uncertain times, we need to remember how to relax and stay calm while we’re at home. And who said you can’t enjoy your favourite gin from Memsahib Gin and Tea bar at home? Exactly, no one. It might seem a bit daunting, but trust me, it doesn’t take a lot of effort.

Let’s start with a bit of background: what is gin exactly? Gin is a neutral spirit distilled from something natural like wheat, barley, potatoes or grapes. There are three traditional types of gin: London Dry, Plymouth Gin and Old Tom gin (Craft Gin Club, 2020). Gin can also be flavoured, sloe or even a liquor but all of them are different from traditional types. However, today we’ll need London Dry Gin. Not many people know, but you can infuse gin with anything. Literally anything: tea, veggies, fruits, coffee… and it will taste fantastic. 

So, how can we create your homemade gin and make the atmosphere of the bar at home? Think of your favourite flavour (mine is Tropical Mango, so now we’ll work with this). We’ll need a bottle of London Dry Gin, your favourite fruit/tea and 24 hours of patience. 

 

Infused Gin making process:

Step 1: Pour 500ml of London Dry Gin into a large jug;

Step 2: Take an empty tea bag and add 1.5 teaspoons of Tropical Mango tea to it;

Step 3: Place the teabag in the jug with gin and leave to infuse for 24 hours.

Once 24 hours have passed, take your favourite glass, fill it with about four medium-sized ice cubes, add a slice of lime and a couple of juniper berries. When this step is done, grab a measuring jigger, pour 35ml of Tropical Mango gin and top it up with a light tonic. If you are not a big fan of tonic, then you can easily replace it with anything you like more: ginger ale, lemonade, juice…

Then savour the tast and enjoy the moment and congratulate yourself on your efforts.

 

 

 

Gin and tea are possibly the most quintessential ‘English’ beverages you can find – especially considering the rise in popularity that gin has gained in recent years. Tea has been a British staple since the 17 th century, having first been discovered in China where it was used for medicinal purposes. Today, many different flavours of tea are available – from English breakfast to green tea and a vast variety of floral teas. Similarly, the recent gin craze has seen the emergence of brand new flavours, ranging from raspberry to lemon drizzle flavoured gins.

Tea is the second most widely enjoyed beverage in the world after water. India is home to the second largest producer of tea, as well as some of the world’s favourite tea varieties including Assam and Darjeeling. It’s suggested that the drinking of tea in India can date as far back as 750 BC, before being re-discovered and commercialised in Britain. Tea production in India began due to the increasing demand of tea from the British. This tea production was positively received and as a result, inspired tea production across wider areas of India, before prospering into the modern day.

According to the fermentation process, there are many different varieties of tea. The tea leaves themselves are known for their nutritional and medicinal properties, providing the body with essential antioxidants whilst increasing metabolism. Tea is also thought to protect the body against cancer and cardiovascular disease. Due to its popularity, health benefits and history in India, we’ve experimented with a range of different tea flavours and properties to provide our guests with a true taste experience.

The popularity of gin, similarly to tea, arose from medicinal purposes. During the British Raj, British soldiers and officials of the East India Company were given gin and tonic. During this time, tonic contained high levels of quinine, a medicine that helped to stave off malaria – and thus, the popular gin and tonic cocktail was born. However, today, this beverage contains much less quinine since it is no longer used for medicinal properties. Gin, an ever-growing popular drink, can be seen on the shelves of many homes across the world, being enjoyed in a variety of ways.

During the British Raj, the Memsahib would create amalgamations of gin and tea, producing innovative recipes that were enjoyed widely. At the Memsahib Gin and Tea Bar, we want to re-create the living room of the Memsahib, serving cocktails and punches akin to those in the Memsahib’s home.

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Galouti kebab
December 1, 2020 RecipesBy lounge4u

Turkey Galuti kebab

Galouti kebab is a popular dish made during many celebrations in India and so it it is only fitting for us to turn to it too! Our kebab is made with minced turkey and combined with a brussel sprouts ketchup. 

Turkey Galouti Kebab 
Course:Starter 
Complexity:Intermediate  
Preparation Time 25 to 30  minutes 
Cooking Time:5 to 7 minutes 
Serves:6 to 8

Ingredients:

  1. 1 kg turkey mince  (7% fat & triple mince recommended) 
  2. 1 tbsp lemon juice
  3. 15 g to 20 g mint leaves
  4. 25 g coriander (leaf & stalk)
  5. 50 g mature smoked cheddar (grated)
  6. 1 tbsp ginger & garlic paste
  7. 1 tbsp ghee/melted butter
  8. 1 red onion (medium-sized, finely chopped)
  9. 1 ½ tbsp ground garam masala 
  10. 1 tsp turmeric 
  11. 1 tsp Kashmiri red chilli powder 

Method (marinating and frying) 

  • Put all the ingredients except mince in a mixing bowl and mix it well. 
  • Now mix the mince with the mixture and marinate it for at least 2 hours in the fridge. Overnight marination recommended.  
  • With your hands take gold ball sized portions of the mixture and flatten slightly. 
  • Heat up the pan, add oil and ghee together and pan-fry the Galouti on high heat for 2 minutes each side, add two crushed garlic and a rosemary stalk then put in the 180 degrees preheated oven for another 3 minutes.
Brussel Sprouts Ketchup

Course: Condiments 

Complexity: Easy

Preparation Time 15 to 20  minutes 

Cooking Time:30 to 35 minutes 

Serves:10+

Ingredients:

  1. 1 kg washed Brussel sprouts 
  2. 5 tbsp tomato ketchup 
  3. 1 tbsp turmeric 
  4. 1 tsp cumin powder 
  5. 1 tbsp coriander powder 
  6. 1 tsp smoked paprika 
  7. 1 tbsp Kashmiri chilli 
  8. 1 green chilli
  9. 5 tbsp olive oil 
  10. 2 cloves of chopped garlic 
  11. 1 tbsp sugar 
  12. 1 tbsp salt 
  13. 2 tbsp white wine vinegar/ lemon juice  

Method 

  • Put all the ingredients in a pressure cooker and cook for 30 minutes or cook in a pan until the Brussel sprouts are soft and ready to blend. 
  • Once cool – blend and sieve it through and preserve it in the fridge for three months.
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University-of-Calcutta
April 2, 2020 NewsBy lounge4u

The connection between India and Cheltenham

A deep relationship was established between Cheltenham and India over several years. Sadly though, it seems much of this history goes unrecognised today, with many not knowing that Cheltenham was once considered an ‘Anglo-Indian Paradise’, and, outside of London, had the most Anglo-Indian residents in Britain. At the time, these residents regarded the town as a ‘Calcutta in the Cotswolds’, seeing it as a place where they could intermingle and socialise, with it becoming a fashionable place to recuperate. Over time, Cheltenham was deemed a great place for entertainment and retirement. The East India Company received its Royal Charter in 1600 from Queen Elizabeth I, before gradually taking control over India, which resulted in the period of Company rule from 1757 until 1858. After a hundred years or so of dominance, the power of the East India Company ended as a result of the Indian Mutiny of 1857. This caused the demise of the Company, and the commencement of British Crown rule, with the British Raj period beginning. Following this, Lansdown, Montpellier and surrounding areas in Cheltenham became the British base for many Anglo-Indian families.

It is highly likely that there would have been a strong connection between Cheltenham and officers of the Bengal Native Infantry Regiments. The Promenade in Cheltenham is home to the Boer War memorial, which features the names of British Army men who served and died in South Africa and India. Many churches and graveyards in Cheltenham are now also scattered with memorials that represent connections with India and the East India Company. The Anglo-Indian presence in Cheltenham continued into the 20th century, and many buildings of the East India Company can still be seen in the town. The Regents Arcade, now a part of Cheltenham, was once a coaching inn with stables known as the ‘Plough’. Additionally, the Imperial Club, now known as Waterstones’ bookshop, was once a social place where Anglo-Indian members of the Cheltenham and Gloucestershire Club enjoyed delicious curries. Behind Kings House is the Cheltenham Ladies College, where daughters of many Anglo-Indians were educated.

Word has it that Princess Victoria, who was to become the Empress of India, once paid a visit to the Royal Crescent. While the legacy of Empire is a much debated and very divisive topic, it’s suggested that the positive effects of British Rule in India included the establishment of law and order in a divided land, while it also created a civil service that assisted many.

Today, the Indian experience in Cheltenham can most certainly be enjoyed by many, with a number of Anglo-Indian descendants still thought to be living there today. With a large array of Indian restaurants and Indian themed spas (take Ellenborough Park, for example), many Indian traditions are still celebrated and enjoyed widely around the town.

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