Indian food. Proper, like.

SUBJI  (sub-jee) n.

1. The Punjabi term for curry

2. Applicable to vegetarian and meat dishes.

3. Makes your life better, no need for bland takeaways

4. A perfect cooking experience with Subji San.

We all like Indian Food don’t we? Curry, whatever you want to call it, has become a part of the British culinary blueprint. It’s become our second nature and accessible to most. Did you know that most of the Indian restaurants up and down the country mainly focus on Punjabi food? It’s become the most accessible of the various cuisines from the Indian sub-continent and a part of our national identity.

That's where Subji comes in - their ethos is simple; to show you the value in cooking Indian food the way it’s meant to be cooked.  They enable you to gain the skills to cook authentic Indian food in your own home without all the fuss. Simple. You don’t need to go to a restaurant, and you certainly don’t need to get that takeaway.

The dishes available to learn from Subji are traditional and home-based. Most of them you’ll recognise, but a lot you won’t – but their approach remains simple. To strip away the unnecessary restaurant veneer and show you how Indian food is meant to be cooked. You’ll still find a Korma in the Subji archive but cooked the way it’s meant to be. Trust us, once you’ve begun making it yourself you’ll never look at an Indian takeaway in the same way.

What do I get?

All your classes include comprehensive tuition, your ingredients (if you don’t decide to provide your own*), and a copy of the recipe. Learn all about the specific ingredients, how combinations work and the skills to understand each stage of the cooking process. They appreciate in this day in age we're all more food aware and more experimental; so you may have most of the spices already / or prefer to buy certain fresh produce inline with your own budget and beliefs.

*That's why Subji offer 2 different prices; one where you provide the ingredients; the other where you leave it to us. 

Subji have kindly shared this Black Eyed Pea Subji recipe with the Edible blog readers as an example of the kind of food you'll learn to cook and master. 

Ingredients (for 4 People)

Vegetable Oil

1 medium red onion, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, crushed.

2-3 inch piece of ginger peeled and grated.

3 green chillies, finely chopped (include the seeds)

1 tin of chopped tomatoes, or fresh chopped equivalent

1 teaspoon of crushed cumin seeds

2 tins of black-eyed peas, drained (or 1 cup dried equivalent, soaked overnight in boiling water drained and then simmered in fresh water for approx 45 minutes). Just use the tins eh?!

2 cups water

1 teaspoon Turmeric

1.5 teaspoons of ground Coriander

1.5 teaspoons of ground Cumin

2 tablespoons of Garam Masala

1 tablespoon of Salt.

2/3 teaspoon of Pepper

1 small handful of fresh chopped Coriander

Juice of 1 lemon. 

Method

In 2 tablespoons of oil, gently fry the onion, garlic, ginger and chillies together with the cumin seeds for about 5 minutes, until softened. Add the tomatoes and cook for about 5 minutes, then add the Turmeric, ground Coriander, ground Cumin, Garam Masala and Salt. Cook out the spices for a good 5-7 minutes.

Add the black eyed peas and the 2 cups of water; and gently simmer for about 20 minutes until the sauce has reduced by a 3rd and is thickened. Finally add the fresh coriander leaves and the lemon juice and serve.


You can learn more about Subji over at their website

Down to a tea

A few years ago I did a very long and quite gruelling nutrition course. While on the course I became rather obsessed about the food I was eating, what I was drinking, my caffeine intake, blah blah blah. I was partial to a good 4 or 5 cups of very strong, black filter coffee and it became quite apparent that this wasn't in my best interests. So I gave it up. Cue two very uncomfortable weeks as my body went through 'the healing crisis'. 


Anyhoo, I also gave up alcohol and sugar at the same time. This made the pub pretty much unbearable unless they did a good line in herbal teas. We all know there are a whole load of rather nasty herbal teas out there (Twinings, I'm looking at you) and I have become quite an expert on the subject. In fact, should you need to know where in Brighton does a good herbal, you'll do worse than ask me. 


I'm back on the alcohol now so pubs aren't a problem though I do have a problem with cafes and coffee shops being unable to serve good tea. 


Enter Teapigs. I'm not sure how they're doing in but they seem to be managing to get around. I'm certainly not complaining though. Teapigs make the best herbal teas this side of... well, anywhere. Full, whole leaf teas that are strong, ethical and damn nice. 


I'm particularly partial to their liquorice and peppermint tea - it's sweet yet minty and perfect for mornings or just after lunch to satisfy a sweet craving. Liquorice is very good for stress too, especially is the form it comes in these amazing dome bags. The plain peppermint is a winner too - peppermint is perfect for settling the stomach so if you've eaten too much or feel a bit bloated from that doorstep sarnie you couldn't resist, get on it. 


I've taken to buying in bulk off their website - it works out a lot cheaper as the tea isn't cheap. But let's all refer back to that old saying 'you get what you pay for'. 


You can buy Teapigs in a few places around town, including Temptation and Cream Tea opposite the dome booking office. You can also get it straight from the Teapig website, as well as a load of information on tea. 

A Druid Always Drinks Sensibly

The Druids Arms is not just a party pub. Many a night I have spent there, drinking Sambuca whilst talking to strangers into the wee hours. And enjoy it as I do I have recently discovered that there is more to be had here than merely booze.

The pub (and I have to say, gratefully, that it is a pub rather than a bar which Brighton is being infested with) has changing faces throughout the night, aided by the food served there. In the early evening Pokky’s Thai Kitchen fills every corner with mouth-watering smells of lemongrass and lime. Steaming plates are carried to tables by Pokky himself with drinkers peering in envy. The erudite food and light chat and banter pairing perfectly. At 10pm, just as the evening is being diluted into shots and giggles, a quick change occurs; drinkers oblivious. Now it’s the turn of the naughty little brother to feed the Druid’s masses – Olly and Benton. With a list of burgers as long as a very long thing they cater to every taste, if you like burgers this is the place for you, and hey, at 1am, after a few jars who doesn’t like/need/crave a burger?!

I tasted and tested both out just for you lucky Edible readers, really, it’s a hard job but someone’s gotta do it.

Pokky’s Thai Kitchen (Mon – Fri 5pm – 10pm, Sat 3pm – 10pm. Starters £3.25/£3.50, mixed starters £6.50/£7.50, soup £4.50, mains and noodles £5.95)

Ok, so Thai food is everywhere these days. Well, yes, it is, but not Thai food that is this good and has this much love and care put into it. Pokky has been serving food in The Druids for the last two and a half years and never disappoints. The menu is straightforward with all of the usual suspects appearing and main dishes are available with tofu, chicken, prawn, pork, beef or duck.

We had the mixed starter, which, at £7.50 is a friggin’ steal. The meaty bites were thoughtfully arranged on one side and the veggie bites on the opposite side. As you can see in the photo the portions are generous and three yummy dips come with it. The sweetcorn cakes were the star for me, whilst meaty mate loved the small spicy meatballs which didn’t seem to appear on the menu as a starter on it’s own. Despite the batter and deep-frying nothing tasted oily and, although filling, it didn’t feel heavy.

For the mains we had Tofu Massuman Curry with coconut rice and Noodles with Chilli and Duck. My curry dish came with lots of tofu and fresh, crisp vegetables. It packed a slight chilli kick made smooth with a creamy coconut milk. The noodle dish had tasty strips of duck and a barrage of complimentary flavours in every mouthful. And, yet again, it wasn’t oily or heavy; although after this and the mixed starter I was feeling slightly more rotund than when I entered!

I have heard rumblings that food from Laos (which Wikipedia has just told me is called Laotian cuisine) may also be available soon if punters are up for it. Count me in!!

Olly and Benton’s Burgers (Mon – Fri 10pm – 1am, Sat – 3am. Prices from £2.90 - £4.50, sides from £1.50 } these prices may change when the boys reopen)

Olly, Benton and their waiter are always on hand to discuss your burger choices and very happy to do so. We made use of this invaluable service (well, it is a big decision!) and we were extremely satisfied with their recommendations for our own particular burger preferences. The list of burgers can be daunting and, with no description of the burger, just a catchy name, it can also be bewildering. However, the result is a personal burger-consultation.

The menu does cater for every taste, onion, tomato and gherkin are optional and cheese can be added. The sides are the standard but ever-pleasing fries and onion rings. An array of sauces are also available. The veggie burger I went for, well, actually, it’s vegan, was the mushroom burger with gherkin. It was mouthwateringly delicious, I wanted another one immediately after I had finished it. Paired with the onion rings my belly was very content, perhaps a little over-content! Meaty mate went for a beef burger with blue cheese. From the enthusiastic mumblings that came from his burger-filled gob he was also delighted with the fare.

As you can see in the pic the burgers arrive in cute little boxes, which are all made from recycled material and then recycled again.

The burger boys are taking a wee break whist they re-jig the menu, the launch party on 15th February, will, I’m hoping, be resplendent with foot-high trays of burgers being waitered around, now that’s an alternative Ferrero Rocher advert I wanna see!

Feta Stuffed Burgers

It's a familiar scene for everyone - peering into the fridge only to be uninspired, to the freezer to be even less inspired, to the cupboard, er, yeah, don't even go there. Back to the fridge - mince! Feta! Surely I can do something with them?

Burgers it was. The mince, cayenne pepper, chopped garlic, soy sauce, nutmeg and some breadcrumbs all went into a bowl and in went my hands. I mixed it all together and shaped as many burgers as the mix would allow. Then I pushed a couple of large cubes of feta into each and sealed by pressing the meat over the hole.

I flash fried the burgers in a hot pan on each side for a minute each and then grilled until cooked.

Serve with whatever you want, I had coleslaw and grilled tomatoes. Mmmmmmmm!

This is not a recipe.

It’s a solution. The problem? The after-dinner sugar craving. After every evening meal my body has a desperate need for a dessert. And, as I sit there (watching The Soprano’s which really doesn’t help as, in every other scene, the characters eat yet another plate of Italian scrumminess) all I can think about is what pudding I can have. However, like many of you I am health- and weight- conscious which makes desserts a tricky, and guilt-ridden, area. The following recipe is healthy, quick and cheap to make and, I think, delicious. It’s probably good for kids too, but as I don’t have kids I didn’t have any of the wee ones to try it out on. And my cat turned up his nose to it. Enjoy.

1 tsp orange juice (fresh is better if you have it)

2 tsp agave nectar or honey

pinch of ground ginger

pinch of ground cinnamon

2 tbsp roughly chopped dates

2 tbsp roughly chopped walnuts

2 tbsp roughly chopped brazil nuts

a few linseeds

Mix the orange juice, agave or honey and spices together. Combine with the dates and nuts. Scatter the linseeds on top. It’s that simple – another reason why I can’t really call this one a recipe!

Street Style

If there's one thing Brighton has been lacking, it's somewhere you can get quick, authentic Thai food. So when the Edible team found out a new place called Street Thai had opened in Brighton Square, we booked a table and got down there to try it armed with camera and notepads. 


Brighton Square itself has been crying out for something to lift it food wise - it's had all manner of failing cafes that never get it quite right. The square itself is lovely, housing Rounder Records and a few boutiques (let's not mention the teeny bopper Claires. Oh, I did). On a Saturday lunchtime this little square is buzzing with Brighton visitors discovering the tucked away areas of our great city or Brighton residents buying records from Rounder. I've often thought that it needed a really good lunch place with a twist.



Street Thai sits in the space that I think, though I'm not sure, was an Ask or something uninspiringly similar. The appearance of it is modern and fresh, despite looking like it belongs to a brand. Though we visited at night, I instantly thought about how good it would be to sit in the window and watch the world go by in the day. When I walked inside I was pleasantly surprised - the wooden decor is modern and inviting without being at all pretentious and there is a great vibe. A great addition is the Thai street art on the walls which is the creation of a friend of the manager. There is also a large upstairs area where you can hold private parties. 

The music policy is very Brighton, with the music featuring a various selection from the K&D Sessions and Grand Central amongst other similar sounds. What struck me most though is how passionate all the staff are about the food. When given the menu, we asked for recommendations and the staff were full of ideas and their faces lit up when talking about the food. I can't tell you how happy that made me. 

The menu is laid out very much like a Wagamama menu, which isn't necessarily a bad thing as everything is clear and easy to find. The choice is excellent with good descriptions. When ordering, the staff ask how hot (spicy) you want your food which I really liked. There is also optional chopped chillies on the table. 


We all ordered our meals and the staff were very accommodating for me as I am on a special diet. Actually, they couldn't have gone further out their way to make sure I was catered for. We got chatting to the manager at this point, an attractive Thai lady named Booki who used to run a Thai cookery school on Lorna Road. Naturally inquisitive, I talked with Booki on what drove the Street Thai idea and I couldn't help thinking if the food was as genuine as she was then we were on to a sure fire winner. 

And win we did. Our starters came out and looked wonderful. The food at Street Thai is quick but attractive and there is no sparing on taste either. I opted for Moo Ping - BBQ pork on skewers with sweet chilli sauce - and I didn't regret it, the pork was beautifully seasoned. Steve had Chicken Satay which was far from your standard fare of satay, it came accompanied with lovingly prepared satay sauce and cucumber relish. The real show stopper was the Bhuu Nim Tort Prik Thai Dam (fried soft shell crab to you and I) - a great big pile of succulent crab with a delicious garlic and black pepper sauce. We also had the recommended Yum Mamuang Koong Pao - a delicious, zesty mango salad topped with grilled tiger prawns, coconut flakes and cashew nuts.

Fast is the name of the game at Street Thai and we received our mains as soon as our starter dishes were taken away. Amy and Steve both had the Pad Kra-Prao Gai Krob, stir fry crispy basil leaves with chicken, green beans, pepper, chillies and garlic. This large dish comes with an accompanying bowl of soup and Booki has recommended they have the egg on top which was beautifully cooked. The rice is included with the dish which is good to see, I never get why Thai restaurants have it as an extra order - who wants to eat Thai curries and stir fries without rice? I opted for a salad - the Larb Gai, translated as chilli-laced minced chicken on leaves. Despite my food envy for the other two, I enjoyed my salad immensely. 












Dessert was the real clincher for me - I am fond of crunchy, sweet things so the pandan Crepe really had me going - beautiful, toasted coconut flakes in a pandan leaf crepe. The green tea cheesecake is made in the Street Thai kitchen and is oozing with authenticity and the coconut ice-cream was amazing. 


I finished with a pot of pandan tea - pandan is a Thai leaf that is not standard fare in Thai restaurants in this country. The leaves are steeped in the pot and the result is a sweet tea that is perfect as a dessert tea. 

We chose the Wits End Sauvignon Blanc at around £13 for a bottle, quite honestly it was the nicest low/mid price Sauvignon Blanc I've had for a long time. Most starters at Street Thai come in at about £4.50 and mains about £7.00. As mentioned, rice comes with most of the dishes and you get a choice of rice or roti with the curries. 


We left the restaurant full of praise for our Street Thai experience and we talked about it lots with friends we met at a pub afterwards. Should you be wandering through Brighton Square on Saturday you'll probably spot me in the window, I can't wait to get back for more. 

Stand and be counted.

Just a little snippet for Sunday - Edible has come across some amazing bespoke cake stands. Word has it Due South put in a large order and we can see why, we love them!


See them here.