BIR Base Vegetable Gravy
Course: Sauces and PrepCuisine: IndianDifficulty: MediumServings
6
servingsPrep time
15
minutesCooking time
2
hoursIngredients
5 liters water, divided
8 cloves
8 green cardamom pods
3 Bangladeshi bay leaves
2 Cassia bark (cinnamon slicks), 1 inch
8 onions, quartered
6 tomatoes, quartered
2 carrots, sliced
2 green bell peppers, de-seeded and quartered
1 cup avocado or equivalent vegetable oil
4 tbsp garlic and ginger paste
2 tsp salt
2 tsp curry powder
2 tsp coriander powder
½ tsp cumin powder
½ tsp garam masala powder
½ tsp red chili powder
4 tbsp tomato puree
Directions
- Heat 1 liter water to a small sauce pot on medium, add spices (cloves, green cardamom pods, Bangladeshi bay leaves, and Cassia bark), cover and let simmer while the gravy is prepared in a large pot.
- Heat oil in a large pot on medium high, add garlic and ginger paste, and cook for 3 minutes to cook off the raw taste of the ginger and garlic.
- Add the rest of the spices (salt, curry powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, garam masala powder, red chili powder) to the large pot, stir and cook for 2 minutes.
- Add a splash of water to the oil and spice mix in the large pot and stir.
- Add the tomato puree to the large pot, stir and cook for 3 minutes.
- Add prepared vegetables to the large pot, thoroughly mix the vegetables with the oil and spice mix, cover and cook for 5 minutes while stirring frequently.
- Add 3 liters of water to the large pot, stir and cook for 45 minutes.
- Strain the flavored water from the small sauce pot into the large pot and let the large pot continue to cook for another 45 minutes, stirring every 5-10 minutes.
- Remove the large pot from the heat, then using a hand-help immersion blender, blend the entire pot for 5-10 minutes until smooth.
- Add the remaining almost 1 liter of water to the large pot, and cook on a medium-high heat for 15-20 minutes. Make sure to bring the gravy to a nice boil.
- Remove from heat and let cool.
- In batches, use a food processor or blender to fully puree the gravy to a smooth finish.
- Use immediately, store in the fridge, or separate and store in the freezer.
Notes
- BIR stands for British Indian Restaurant