A Malwani clam curry made with a bright green coconut-coriander paste, tangy tamarind and warm ground spices. The gravy is thick and aromatic, with fresh herbal heat from green chillies clinging to the clams.
Ground spices for the sauce
4.6 gStirred into the coconut paste in the main pan (step 9)
Put 1600 g clam and 400 ml warm water in a large saucepan. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 3–4 minutes, until the shells open. Throw away any clam still shut after 5 minutes.
Pour the cooking liquid through a fine sieve or muslin to remove grit. Keep 200 ml of the strained liquid.
For the coconut paste, heat 27 g vegetable oil in a large frying pan over low heat. Add 300 g red onion, thinly sliced, and fry for 8–10 minutes, until soft and light brown.
Add 150 g freshly grated coconut and 50 g desiccated coconut. Fry for 4–5 minutes, until the mixture looks drier and turns pale brown.
Add 60 g coriander leaves and stems and 4 g green bird’s eye chilli. Fry for 2 minutes, then take off the heat and let cool a little.
Blend the cooled coconut mixture with 250 ml water to a thick paste. Set aside.
Heat 27 g vegetable oil in a large heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add 150 g red onion, finely chopped, and fry for 6 minutes, until beginning to brown.
Add 12 g garlic, finely chopped, and 10 g fresh ginger, finely chopped. Stir for 20 seconds, keeping the mixture moving.
Add the coconut paste and the ground spices for the sauce: 0.8 g ground turmeric, 2.5 g Kashmiri chilli powder or mild paprika and 1.3 g garam masala. Fry for 3–4 minutes, stirring and scraping the pan.
Stir in 12 g tamarind paste, the 200 ml reserved clam liquid and salt to taste. Simmer over low heat for 1 minute; the gravy should be thick enough to cling to the clams.
Add the opened clams and stir so the masala covers them. Cover and simmer over low heat for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Scatter over 3 g coriander leaves, finely chopped, and serve warm.
Use 15% to 20% of the weight (about 1 g for every 5 to 6 g fresh cloves). Whisk into sauces; gives a savoury, toasted garlic flavour without raw pungency.
Use 20% to 25% of the weight (1 g for every 4 to 5 g fresh). Stir into the gravy; adds peppery heat and warmth, though it misses the crisp, zesty kick of raw root.
Steep a tiny pinch (0.1 g per 2 g turmeric) in 2 tbsp warm water; use to match the rich golden hue. Contributes an aristocratic, honeyed floral flavour rather than earthy bitterness.
Use 50% of the weight mixed with equal parts ground coriander and a pinch of ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and ground green cardamom. Sprinkle near the end for a warming finish.