A home cook who swears by her own method for making a curry has guaranteed that once you copy her method, there will be no turning back.
Sharing her expertise in Indian cuisine, Sobia Bashir took to TikTok to reveal how to craft a “proper” masala from scratch, avoiding the usual shortcuts to create a tantalising dish.
She said: “Your chicken curry will never taste the same again after this masala.”
As Sobia showcased her simmering masterpiece, she explained: “This what you are getting wrong when you make a curry – if you want your chicken curry to sing then keep watching.”
She kicked off by finely dicing onions to ensure they melt down beautifully into the sauce and then introduced a “generous amount” of butter to the frying pan.
Sobia then combined onions with butter and cautioned her audience: “Now this bit takes time. You want them [onions] deep golden. That colour gives body to the curry – so don’t rush it, just let it happen.”
And assuring viewers not to panic over charring the onions, she proceeded to fold in both garlic and ginger, stressing the need for patience to achieve adequate caramelisation.
Advancing through her recipe, Sobia moved on to add passata but instructed not to go overboard – “just enough to loosen things up”.
Next on the list of ingredients was a dash of water to slow the cooking pace before she delved into her four trusted seasonings. “My regulars are always the same,” she noted.
For magical results, you’ll need four key seasonings. The foodie recommended: “Garam masala, coriander, red chilli basa and salt”.
Sobia added these, noting that whilst some prefer to add the garam masala at the end, she avoids this as it leaves a “grainy texture” and doesn’t “settle” properly. “Spices need to be cooked through, no shortcuts,” she emphasised.
She then moved on to enhance the dish with a dollop of yoghurt for that essential “tang and depth”, followed by a generous helping of chopped green chillies.
It was at this juncture that Sobia shared her unique twist — what she calls the “magic” of the recipe. “When you see the butter or oil start to separate from the masala, you’ll know it’s ready,” she noted.
That’s the cue to introduce the chicken, or any other protein choice, into the flavoursome mix.
Amassing more than half a million views on TikTok in just 24 hours, Sobia was inundated with praise for the simple tutorial.
One viewer said: “FINALLY! Cooking the way I was taught by a master chef from India. Adding the spices including garam masala at the beginning allows the spices to cook properly.
“One other thing I was taught. Cook the sauce the day before and let it cool down. Then add the meat and let it marinade over night. This makes a huge difference to the dish.”
A second TikTok user applauded: “Clear instructions, no messing about. Top marks.” Echoing the sentiment, a third person added: “This was one of the best articulated recipes I’ve ever seen on TikTok. Thank you so much for not starting with ‘did you know’.”
Whilst a fourth agreed with Sobia, stating: “This was the BEST couple of tips I was ever given years ago – brown the onions (it takes so much longer than you think! ) and the separation of the oil. Really excellent straightforward tips to make a wonderful curry.”
