Dal Palak, I have bought this mix time after time, I have cooked it with Lentils, Chickpeas & Mushrooms, so easy , so delicious. I am a Vegetarian & this works well with Vegetables as well as Pulses.
Mrs Balbir Singh®
Melanie Banks-Wright
A little bit of magic in a tin!
A LITTLE BIT OF MAGIC IN A TIN – AND PERHAPS A VERY CLEVER BIT OF MARKETING!
I was already aware of the marketing campaign and the wonderfully authentic story behind Mrs Balbir Singh's spice blends. But nothing quite prepared me for the experience of actually opening the tins and following a recipe.
Just reading about these spices sets the senses on fire. I find myself imagining Mrs Balbir Singh cooking, tasting and sharing meals around a family table in a home far away from chilly England. You can almost smell the spices, feel the warmth and picture generations of knowledge, tradition and love being passed around the kitchen.
The PR works. I was in, hook, line and sinker.
I even persuaded my family to buy me the complete collection of 14 tins for my birthday.
Am I a fool? Have I simply fallen for clever marketing? After all, we know that the actual cost of the spices and tins represents only a fraction of what we are paying. But perhaps that is missing the point entirely.
On receiving my collection, I couldn't wait to get started. That very evening, I cooked Shahi Chicken using the Shahi Chicken Masala blend.
And, quite honestly, I was blown away.
I wasn't expecting to be quite so impressed. There is something rather wonderful about following a recipe that has been thoughtfully put together, with the spice blend already expertly balanced. The result was absolutely delicious. Not just a good homemade curry, but something that made me stop and appreciate the depth and complexity of the flavours. It was the sort of meal that makes you want to put down your fork for a moment and think, "Goodness Gracious Me", I've actually made this!
The recipe cards deserve a mention in their own right. They have that lovely vintage appearance, almost as though they have come straight out of Mrs Balbir Singh's original recipe book. They add to the whole experience, making you feel connected to something much bigger than simply opening a tin and adding a spoonful of spice.
In fact, I now have another ambition: to get my hands on an original copy, or an authentic reprint, of Mrs Balbir Singh's 1961 Indian Cookery. I suspect I would be in absolute culinary heaven.
And this is where I think the real genius lies. Yes, the branding is clever. Yes, the story is beautifully told. Yes, you are paying for much more than the contents of a tin. But when you actually get into the kitchen and cook the food, the product has to deliver. And, in my experience, it absolutely does.
I have fourteen blends to explore, a collection of recipes to work my way through and a growing enthusiasm for discovering more about the extraordinary diversity of Indian cooking.
So, have I fallen for the marketing? Absolutely.
Do I regret it? Not one bit.
In fact, if the first evening is anything to go by, I think my family might have bought me one of the best birthday presents imaginable.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have thirteen more tins to work my way through.
I'm officially a convert.
14-PACK: The Complete Collection
John Glassford
Original Garam Masala
Excellent spice blend
Truly enhances the prepared meals
Original Garam Masala
John Glassford
Old Delhi Butter Chicken
Great spice
Truly enhances the prepared meals
Fresh spices
I would purchase again
Old Delhi Butter Chicken
Isaac Joseph
Everything of good quality
Everything of good quality. I made the byriani yesterday and it was delicious. I’ve made many dishes from scratch myself and unfortunately there’s always something missing. These recipes always result in restaurant quality meals and I like that it is just spice blends so you know what’s going in and still adding fresh ingredients
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