A friend was extolling the benefits of pre-made packets of curry paste (specifically, Vermont (Japanese) pastes), and in particular that it takes no time at all to produce a meal.
Today I cooked a chicken curry and I timed the process to prove him wrong.
Preparing the sauce ingredients - 50 minutes.
Another 20 minutes to cook the basis of the sauce (onions, garlic, ginger, chillis and a little turmeric, ground coriander and ground cumin).
Liquidise, add the chopped tomatoes and simmer - another 40 minutes.
Now we have the sauce, time to cook the curry. Brown the chicken in batches (and reserve), stir fry the dried chillis and more onions and add more ground coriander, ground cumin, chilli powder and paprika - 30 minutes.
Return the sauce to the wok, add the chicken and cook for 20 minutes. Add yoghurt, fenugreek seeds and garam masala and cook for 5 more minutes.
Sprinkle over the chopped coriander leaves and there you go. Perfect chicken curry in less than 4 hours.
Piece o' pish.