‘Food for thought’, this menu is only the start of what can be assembled for special suppers or supper parties
** Starters **
(With green, tamarind and coconut chutneys; Persian preserved lemon and red chilli pickle)
Crushed masala potato papadum nibs
Mini-puris stuffed with masala cauliflower, tomato/onion salsa, sev sprinkle
Kale pakora (subtle spicing and crispness makes for much more delicate morsels vs the usual takeaway suspects)
Rose harissa lamb (or turkey) keema kabab
** Biryani (other main) course **
** Vegetable course **
Salads/raita
Beetroot and radish (both roasted) raita in yoghurt/creme frais base with tempered mustard seed or
Borani Esfanaj (spinach) raita in garlic/herb yoghurt/creme frais base
Shirazi (tomato/cucumber herb) salad in lime base
Other sides matched to contrast choice of biryani:
Paneer kofta - hand-made paneer - spinach cream of cashew and fennel
Pumpkin (or butternut squash; roasted) - fenugreek - coconut
Stuffed baby aubergine - tamarind - cayenne
Crisp okra - tomato - cumin/coriander
Parsi vegetable patia - medley of colours in delicate seasonings
Mumbai (Parsi) five-star dal - red lentils, tomato, cumin/garlic tadka
** Parathas **
Whole wheat and flakey
** Dessert **
Rooh Afza phirni - fragrant Persian rice pudding on guava compote (sparingly) coddled in aniseed liqueur or guava passionfruit rum - pistachio praline lime crumb
or
Fragrant mango pannacotta - pistachio praline lime crumb
** Chai or fresh mint tea, mithai and halwa **
(Paired wines also available by arrangement)
Other a la carte selections:
Butter (makhni) chicken: tandoori marinade grilled chicken enveloped in buttery tomato light cream with coriander, fresh ginger, cumin and lemon (an elegant, well-versed recipe handed from an auntie, and vastly different from usual takeaway suspects!)
Orange blossom pan-seared cod scallops: subtly spiced cream for fragrances to take centre stage
Masala-roasted salmon: pink against verdant green spinach and coriander sauce
Tahdig pulao: Persian rice with saffron, crisp with fluffy, buttery core
Aubergine fesenjān: Roasted baby aubergine in Persian stew of pomegranate molasses and walnut base (vegan)
Exclusive masala dosa brunch, lunch or supper:
Authentic South Indian crisp ‘paper’ dosa filled with masala potato, red chillies and coconut spice-tempered chutney, served with lentil sambar and yoghurt rice with cucumber (please note: this special meal requires on-site preparation of the dosa - while all other components also prepared traditionally as influenced by the chef’s South Indian upbringing!); sweet ending of semolina-cardamom kheer with butter-roasted almond-sultana.