Why do home made Indian meals never taste as good as the ones you get in a restaurant? Even when you follow the recipes from Indian cook books to the letter.
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ANSWERS: 13
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It's the spices. Chef's in restaurants probably make their own secret spice mix using fresh ingredients that are freshly ground. If you want to make delicious Indian food, go to an Indian grocery and buy your Indian spices there. The longer ground spices are stored, the less flavor they will have (just like ground coffee).
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You can follow a recipe to a "T" but most of the time chefs will omit a technique / simple ingredient to avoid duplication. Like Peter B stated, "Chef's in restaurants probably make their own secret spice mix using fresh ingredients that are freshly ground." this is true. I am a working chef and prepare my own dry rubs, blends and marinades to suit my taste. I don't mind sharing a recipe or method but one needs to know how to adjust for their liking and fellow diners.
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You do not spit in the food and leave the stuff lying around for days.
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They probably use MSG - I know the Chinese - do and that enhances the taste greatly
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I think there are two main reasons: 1. The Indian ingredients you buy from most supermarkets are probably not the same as the ones Indians would be from their own grocery stores. 2. I'm led to believe, by a former colleague, that the real base for a curry is a sort of paste that is made and then kept going, a bit like a stockpot used to be.
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could be the pans too. the restaurant ones are used constantly and every good cook knows to never actually wash your pans; simply wipe them with a little oil to clean them.
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When Indian food cooked to cater more people, they are made more spicy and prepared for general taste. At homes food is prepared for specific taste and less spicy.
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You must perservere and learn how to handle and manipulate spices. It will come, and when it does takeaway will be a thing of the past.
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The restaurants have better quality ingredients and spices. -
well, have you ever tasted an italians twist on american food? it tastes different than how we make it! it all depends on how you make it, and the ingredients you use!
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I've had the opposite experience in a different genre. I can't eat in Thai restaurants, but at with my Thai friends preparing the meal, I couldn't get enough if not for the sake of decency.
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Oh no I find the exact opposite... ones in restaurants, or from take-aways are never as nice as home made curries for me. I think its the ghee they use in restaurants, and the additives. I don't like them, and I don't use them.
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I think because no matter what the cuisine - a recipe is a guide and you have to make it to suit your taste. I always adjust spices - For example, If it calls for 1 clove of garlic, I will use 3-4 that suits my pallete. When I make stuffing I use triple the Bell Seasonings that the recipe calls for. Recipes are for the masses - you have to make them yours.
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