Daily dispatches on the Washington, DC area's food, restaurant and dining scene.

Our Favorite Things: Patak's Indian Cooking Sauces

Curries and kormas in minutes.

By Sara Levine Published Monday, November 27, 2006

Cooking Indian food can be intimidating. Just trying to track down all the right spices at the grocery store often proves futile. But at least once a week—with ingredients purchased from the meager offerings of the “Soviet” Safeway at 17th and Corcoran—I manage to prepare delicious dinners of chicken rogan josh or tikka masala in my teeny apartment kitchen.

How? This task may sound akin to participating in the vending machine challenge on Top Chef, but it’s actually a no-brainer. Patak’s awesome Indian cooking sauces can be found on just about any local supermarket shelf—from highbrow Whole Foods down to my Safeway, which is sometimes out of paper towels.

I've been able to find at least six sauce varieties, including south Indian madras, a fiery sauce made with coriander, cumin and hot chilis; rogan josh with tomato and cardamom; mild tikka masala flavored with tumeric and lemon; and creamy north Indian korma with coconut milk and ginger—all jarred and ready to go. I simply cut up some chicken breast (you could also use lamb—the traditional pairing with spicy rogan josh—or shrimp, or vegetables), cook it up in a pan with a little olive oil, drain the excess fat, and add some sauce to the pan. No need for precision here—if you like a lot of extra sauce to soak up with rice or naan, add generously. Then, simmer uncovered for 20 minutes. Enjoy a glass of wine or a cold beer. Hide the jar of remaining sauce in the fridge, and trick your friends and family into believing you slaved for hours over a hot stove. Or, let them in on the secret behind my new favorite weeknight meal.

Patak's Cooking Sauce, $3.89 to $4.95 at Whole Foods, Safeway, and other area stores.

Comments

Great article.
I just started trying to cook some Indian dishes as well at home and found the jared sauces a great time-saver. I love spicy and hot foods and an Indian friend introduced me to Nirvav brand Vindaloo Paste (about $3.00 for a 10 oz jar ).
If you like spicy Indian, this a a great Vindaloo sauce for chicken, shrimp or for over rice. But buy two jars!!
Jon
www.theDCTraveler.com

Posted by: Jon,

I agree...Patak's is awesome! I really love their Tikka Masala. I add a little Garam Masala blend seasoning and curry powder to kick up the heat. I also mix in some finely diced onion before baking. It really tastes like I know what I'm doing!

Posted by: Natalie,

Thanks for the suggestion! It was a great article and now I can't get enough of those sauces! They make cooking Indian food so easy! Just have some friends over, hide the jar, and they will think you are a skilled Indian chef!

Posted by: Becky,

I enjoy your sauces. Found them a couple of years ago at a Safeway in Westminster, Colorado. Now I cannot find them when I go to Safeway stores in metro Denver, Colorado. I live about 300 miles from Denver (western slope of Rocky Mountains) and would like to stock up when I visit family in Denver area.
Thank you.
rlkay@bresnan.net

Posted by: Ruth Kay, Apr 17, 2009 02:49:37 PM

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Our Favorite Things: Patak's Indian Cooking Sauces

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