Easy Red Curry Sauce (North India)

This is really simple to make and goes really will with Indian koftas (balls!). I don't make meat kofta's (more on that later) but I really love experimenting with vegetarian versions (of which there are many, most of India being vegetarian...). You could also use this as the base for simple meat or chicken curries too, so it's a really cool recipe to have in the old repertoire.

Enough for 4 meals
Total cost per meal: 0.60 zl (12p UK, 77 Armenian Dram)

What we need:

- 1 tin of tomatoes (blended)
- 1 large onion (finely chopped)
- 1 inch ginger (minced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- 1/2 tsp cumin powder
- 1/2 tsp garam masala (homemade, naturally)
- 1 tsp deggi mirch (Kashmiri red chilli powder)

Kashmiri red chilli powder is considered by Indians to be mild and is used mainly to impart a vivid red colour to a dish. However, personally I find it does have a bit of a kick as well, so if you're using this then you might want to use 1/2 tsp instead. If you can't get hold of Kashmiri red chilli then substitute by using 1/3 tsp chilli powder and 2/3 tsp paprika. If you don't want it hot at all, just use paprika - then it's nice and kid-friendly.

Let's boogie!

1. Prep the ingredients and whizz up the tomatoes, ready for later. Do the ginger and garlic in a fine grater.

2. Heat up a pan. A little oil. Wait till hot. Onions in. Turn down to a low medium-heat. Add a couple of pinches of salt to help bring out the juices from the onions and cook them faster.

3. When they start to brown slightly (after around 10 minutes), add the ginger-garlic paste. Cook out the rawness (30 seconds)

4. Spices in!

5. Saute for a few seconds.

6. Tomatoes in. Cover. Turn down heat. Simmer for 10 minutes.

7. When the oil starts to slightly separate from the liquid and forms droplets in the sauce, you know it's all done and just kill the heat.

8. That's it. You might want to add a little cream before serving - nice!

What did this cost?

- the tomatoes: 1.90 zl
- the onion, ginger and garlic: 0.30 zl
- the spices and the rest: 0.20 zl

Total: 2.40 zl
Good for 4 meals
Cost per meal: 0.60 zl