These spices are nices!
With less than two weeks left in England, I’ve been starting to get a little panicky about all the outstanding items on my England to-do list. I spent most of last weekend traipsing all over London on a mammoth shopping trip, picking items that are either unavailable in Rio (Colman’s mustard, PG Tips and of course delicious Marmite) or massively expensive (electrical goods general).
One of the food things I miss most when I’m in Rio is Indian food and I had been meaning to go for a curry ever since I got back to London. With time running out I was starting to think I’d missed my chance until last Sunday when I had a stroke of luck. It happened to be a particularly freezing day and I was feeling a bit sorry for myself and then I stumbled upon this rather amazing Indian food market!
There must have been around 30 stalls, clustered together close to the Southbank Centre, next to the Thames. The majority of them were selling food from various parts of India.
Everywhere I looked there were spicy dishes and intense colours.
To the left you can see cinnamon, in the middle you can see mustard seeds and at the back you have cloves and star anise. But who can identify the golden spice on the right?
A big bunch of Coriander/Cilantro/Coentro. Surely in everyone’s top 5 herbs?
Indians are famous for their spicy pickles and chutneys. I have to say, I’ve never seen Venison Pickle before!
This steaming pot of chickpea curry smelt amazing.
Who’s had Pani Puri? Seriously, these are amazing! First they make a small hole in the top of these thin, crispy, golden shells…
…next they add spiced potato, chickpeas and various sauces…
Finally they pour in some more yummy sauce (I should have checked what this was really). **UPDATE** the good people at Hork OK Please! just contacted me to tell me that this delicious looking sauce is made from lemon, two masalas, coriander & mint chutney & tamarind and date chutney. Is it lunch time yet?!
The finished article, ready to be gobbled down quickly. Sweet, fragrant, spicy, spectacular!
**UPDATE** These delicious Pani Puri are made by the fabulously colourful “Horn OK Please“. Check them out on Twitter: @Horn_Please!
This intensely flavoured curry originates from the western Indian state of Gujurat. This was actually vegetarian, using paneer, the yummy Indian cheese.
If all the spice gets too much for you, a Lassi (yoghurt drink) is the ideal thing to cool you down. They had tons of different fruit flavours and they all looked amazing.
It wasn’t just the food that looked good. I think this girl, working on an Indian cosmetics stall, was prettier than the model on the product she was selling.
I hadn’t even thought about Indian food not yet making it to Brazil, but you’re right. I’ve never eaten it there. I was surprised the last time I was in the country by the amount of Arab food though (tabbouleh, quibe, etc…). The stall you stumbled upon looks amazing. Wish we had one like that here in Calgary. Can’t guess the spice…
Yes, they love Arab food don’t they? I’d put Kibe and Esfiha in my top 10 finger foods available in Brazil. I’d like it if Indian food would take off in Rio. But then its scarcity in Brazil makes it an extra special treat when I come back to the UK :)
I also meant to say – there is apparently a ‘Curry Club’ run by another English guy called Tom who lives in Santa Teresa. I’m hoping to check it out when I get back!
That food looks sooo good.
Please, *please* don’t add a top herb discussion group, or app to Eatrio. I visit daily, and women are sometimes by my side as I access the blog.
Btw I have friends over at Policia Federal: that marmite is not getting in. :-)
I think the Gritty doth protest too much – c’mon, admit it! You would download the ‘Top Herb’ app in a second… ;)
Freaking love Indian food. Explosion of flavors, its soooo good. Lucky for me, the entire area where I live is becoming heavily Indian and there are new restaurants popping up ALL THE TIME.
Now, as for smuggling things: When I was part of the Cali cartel, I would just swallow bags of heroine and they would let it pass through my system. You could try the same! =D
Alex, that’s not a bad idea. I’ll swallow a load of bags of Marmite. That would make me a Marmite Mule :D
(I’d probably ‘accidentally’ tie one or two bags a bit loose so I’d get a slow release Marmite high on 11 hour flight)
Great pictures, mate! Makes me want to try some. Have you been to the Stables Market in Camden? If so, how do you think they compare?
By the way, is the mystery spice asafoetida?
Thanks Andrew :) I’m not sure whether I have been to the Stables Market. Hmmm, I have been to the general markets up in Camden (you know, the ones that all the tourists go to), but not in years. Do they have a lot of food stalls?
London has some really amazing markets I think – my particular favourites are Borough Market for food (so good!) and Columbia Road Flower Market.
Nice knowledge with the Asafoetida guess, but I’m afraid that’s not the answer I’m looking for! :(
Isn’t Asafoetida a condition Alex acquired during his last trip to Thailand?
I love guessing games. :) It’s fenugreek, isn’t it?
I know everyone says street food is great but I’m always a bit wary of the provenance of some items, not to mention the hygiene in preparing it. Like a friend of mine says, “The food’s delicious but if you watch them make it, you won’t eat it”.
Yes, the Stables have lots of food from many different countries. It’s worth a shot if you’re in North London.
We have a winner! Fenugreek it is! Well done Andrew :)
Gritty, write 100 times “I mustn’t make fun of Alex’s STDs” ;)
Cheers! I have both spices filed under the same mental category: spices that only exist in Garam Masala. :)
I have to admit, asafoetida sounds more like a medical condition than something edible…