Isaac.Eiland-Hall.com

Kedgeree

I just did a completely impulse Google for “Kedgere”, which is how I think our family spelled one of my favorite dishes… If we did truly spell it that way, it looks like it was a mispelling of “Kedgeree”, so that’s good to know…

Check out the link for a “traditional” recipe…

Here’s the text I wrote up recently regarding my family’s (and more specifically – my personal) version of this dish:

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The Zen of Kedgere
(Because I write methods moreso than recipes)

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Base ingredients:

1. Butter – enough to sauté onions
2. Curry – to taste, but don’t be shy, as the milk will calm it down
3. Evap milk – the secret to curry dishes IMNSHO
4. Tuna – I’ve converted to in-the-bag – Walmart brand is good and cheaper, but I can’t eat canned anymore, it’s good. J
5. Onions – I don’t do onions, but they are traditional. So if you don’t want to, don’t bother.
6. Rice – Basmati is best, but any will do fine

Nearly-Base ingredients:

1. Raisins
2. English peas (in or on the side – hard choice – Le Seuer Baby English in the can are best for this – meaty peas, not sweet)

Optional:

1. Carrots
2. Pineapple
3. Coconut
4. Celery
5. Tropical fruits

Cooking concepts:

Have rice ready.. Kedgere doesn’t take long to cook.

Saute onions in butter until translucent and how you want them. Add curry, stir, then add tuna, stir and heat thoroughly. Remove from heat, add evap milk, then combine with rice.

If you add raisins (recommended), add them when you add the milk and instead of removing from heat, cook on low heat (for electric stove, have another burner on low and transfer so you don’t scald milk). Peas can be added at end.

If you think about the “optional” list—go “fruity” or “savory”, but not both… i.e., if you go carrots/celery, don’t go fruits/coconut, and vice-versa…

There are other directions to take this dish—like adding pine nuts, or bell pepper… but really, this dish is good when simple – onions/raisins, maybe peas. That should be how it’s served 90% of the time…

Amounts? Well, it depends on what you want… Couple of cups (pre-cooked) on the rice, so a whole can of evap milk, couple of T of curry, bag of tuna – although if you want it super-super meaty, can add more (like a family sized bag), but not necessary… it’s for flavour… Handful or two of raisins – they should plump for best results… (I didn’t like that texture growing up, but now I do)…

You could easily do a chicken kedgeree, but tuna is cheaper and goes very well…