Karen Wright: South Indian flavour with a Yorkshire twist
Out of the blue, last week I received an invite to Kerala Canteen, a south Indian restaurant in Leeds. The timing was just right as I had settled into my new home in Wakefield and was feeling ready to venture out again.
When I realised the location of the venue was opposite the Leeds bus station up the little road by BBC Leeds, I decided to walk from my home and catch the bus there. I took my friend Stephen as my plus one as a treat for him as he has been so good helping us get moved house.
When we arrived at the restaurant I was struck by how cool and calm the decor was. Although it was only five pm, there were quite a number of diners enjoying a meal before heading to the Playhouse around the corner. The menu is varied and interesting in that it is a blend of typical South Indian dishes that are also inspired by Yorkshire favourites.
The owner and chef Bobby Geetha is a MasterChef: The Professionals quarter finalist, and he was on hand to mingle with diners and explain the ethos behind the cuisine. I found this very interesting and after tasting the roast chicken with chilli and garlic I felt the urge to try to recreate it at home.
Bobby explained to me that to achieve succulent and juicy roast chicken, he poaches it gently and then once cool he roasts it with spices. He serves his chicken with Hasselback potatoes and onion gravy, so I decided to go the whole hog and give the method a whirl.
What a success it was, I bought a small skin on chicken crown and poached it very gently in stock before cooling quickly. Then I added some spices, garlic and chilli and roasted it in the oven alongside the gunpowder Hasselback potatoes. The chicken was totally fantastic,
moist and juicy, and I don't think I will ever miss the poaching first element again when I roast chicken. My husband John was very imressed with the result!
I can highly recommend a visit it the Kerala Canteen, I definitely will put it on my favourites list and intend to return soon.
Next week I will be travelling to Brighton again and staying at the Caravan and Motorhome Club site there in one of the glamping pods, heatwave predicted so a dip in the sea is on my list of things to do!