Introduction: In this edition of Stevie’s Ingredient Deep Dive, we turn our attention to ginger—a spice that brings a vibrant warmth and unmistakable zing to curries around the globe. Beyond its bold flavour, ginger is prized for its aromatic qualities and its ability to harmonise with other core ingredients, creating the signature depth and complexity curry lovers adore. Join me as we explore what makes ginger essential, how it enhances both taste and texture, and discover tips for unlocking it

Onion masala is a cooked onion base used in many curry house kitchens. By blending onions with garlic and ginger and cooking them slowly, chefs create a smooth, slightly sweet foundation that can quickly be turned into curry gravy or used directly in dishes like bhuna and korma. In the delivery kitchen we used to make onion masala in large batches.It ’s one of those behind-the-scenes preparations that saves huge amounts of time during service. This is the short-hand recipe we used in the...

Tomorrow I turn sixty. Today is the last day of my fifties, and it seemed like a good moment to pause for a minute and look back on a journey that has taken up more of my life than I probably ever expected — my love of curry.