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Can I do this in the slow cooker? Please help!

32 replies

soon2befamilyof4 · 26/02/2009 11:31

It is a beef curry receipe. I think it might be nice in the slow cooker but i am new to cooking from scratch so I need some help from you guys!

This is the receipe:

400g red lentils, rinsed
2 carrots
½ a small swede, peeled and diced
1 medium potato, peeled and diced
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tsp ground turmeric
Salt to taste
400g can chopped tomatoes
500g of lean beef cut into 2½ cm/1 in cubes
Fry Light
2½ cm/1 in ginger, grated
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tsp of turmeric
2 tbsp of madras curry powder
½ a tsp of chilli powder
2 tbsp of lemon juice
2 tsp of sweetener

Method.

  1. Place the lentils, carrots, swede, potato, onion, turmeric and salt in a large saucepan, and add enough water to cover it by an inch or so. Bring to the boil and simmer until tender.
  1. Add the canned tomatoes and cook for a further 10 minutes. Pass the lentil and vegetable mix through a sieve or use a blender and set aside.
  1. Boil the meat in a little water for about 45 minutes until tender (you can do this while the lentils and vegetables are simmering), and set aside.
  1. Spray a large saucepan with Fry Light and place over a medium heat, add the spices, and cook for 30 seconds, then add the ginger, garlic, lemon juice and sweetener and stir together. Add the blended lentil and vegetable mixture, and the cooked beef and simmer on a low heat for about 30 minutes. Serve with piles of boiled rice

If I want to do it in the slow cooker for about 7.30pm tonight, am I too late? How long do I need to cook it for?

Is there any chance somebody could tell me exactly what to do? As in, do I still need to do all of the above things? I am confused! But would love to prepare while DD is napping so it is done when she goes to bed tonight?

PLEASE help me!

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mishymoo · 26/02/2009 11:37

I would throw everything in apart from the lentils, potatoes, swede and carrots.

Put it on the lowest setting on your slow cooker for about 7 hours and then for the last 1 -1.5hours I would add the vegetables. Stir occasionally.

It's very important NOT to add any water (even though the recipes says so). You don't need it in the slow cooker.

Hope this helps

soon2befamilyof4 · 26/02/2009 11:42

Thank you, that has definatly helped. Thank you so much! So the Beef is ok to go in raw? I am not a beef fan and have never cooked it before!!

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mishymoo · 26/02/2009 11:46

Yip - just throw it all in! The "proper" way to do it is to brown your beef first in a frying pan but I never do and it is still very tasty! Good luck! Let us know how you get on!

soon2befamilyof4 · 26/02/2009 12:03

Thanks, just chopping it all up now! . Will let you know how it is.

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soon2befamilyof4 · 26/02/2009 12:26

Have just noticed that tumeric is on there twice - do you think it is meant to be? How much shall I put in?

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RosemaryBingle · 26/02/2009 12:29

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soon2befamilyof4 · 26/02/2009 12:47

Argh! Tesco didn't give me the chilli powder either! And the sweetener - they gave me tablets instead of powder! What shall I do? Bloody online shopping! The rest is in the slow cooker though, I just have to do the veg ready to add later on!

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christywhisty · 26/02/2009 12:47

I haven't used a slow cooker for a few years, but I thought one thing that was pointed out in my instruction manual was that root vegetables took longer to cook in the slow cooker than the meat and should be fine going in together.

soon2befamilyof4 · 26/02/2009 12:50

Oh, don't know what to do now?

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soon2befamilyof4 · 26/02/2009 12:54

Rosemary - miss your message! Have already put beef in now, un fried. Oh well!

Do you think I should reduce the amount of lentils then?

I will keep an eye on water - lentils not it yet so won't worry for now.

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RosemaryBingle · 26/02/2009 13:12

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soon2befamilyof4 · 26/02/2009 13:22

So should I add everything now? Getting a bit confused as to what I should add and what not to add?

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Furball · 26/02/2009 13:31

I would just put sugar in instead of sweetner.

I never brown my meat either - I prefer it that way and another plus is less washing up!

I would also put the swede and carrots in. I do with a normal stew and they're fine. Potatoes I put in in cubes for about 2 hours.

christywhisty · 26/02/2009 13:31

I looked it up and vegetables should be added at the same time as the meat, ideally at the bottom of the slow cooker.

soon2befamilyof4 · 26/02/2009 13:38

is that all vegetables christy? So shall I put in everything except the lentils?

Thank you all soo much! I am useless at stuff like this - thank god for mumsnet! And if it was done on the hob there would be no time for asking loads of questions!

Will it be ok without chilli powder?

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soon2befamilyof4 · 26/02/2009 13:43

There is no reason why I can't give a bit to my 1 year old is there? Probably would be tomorrow, heated up as she goes to bed at 7pm. Not sure if she would eat it but she generally likes anything so thought it might be nice for her to try it? Would be mixed with rice anyway?

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RosemaryBingle · 26/02/2009 13:53

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soon2befamilyof4 · 26/02/2009 14:06

Yes I used sugar instead. It is because it is a slimming world receipe but I think I would rather the sugar anyway if DD is having some - less crap in it. Used 2 teaspoons and for a 6 portion curry I don't think that is a lot anyway is it?

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soon2befamilyof4 · 26/02/2009 14:08

Have just put vege in. Looks an awful lot of vege for the amount of beef there is - plus the lentils. Think my slow cooker is going to be very full!

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RosemaryBingle · 26/02/2009 16:08

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soon2befamilyof4 · 26/02/2009 17:27

I am a bit worried as the veg is still very hard! Has a couple of hours left though and I have just switched from Auto to High.

When should I add then Lentils?

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RosemaryBingle · 26/02/2009 18:14

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soon2befamilyof4 · 26/02/2009 18:57

I am a bit worried - it looks nothing like the photo and TBH doesn't look that great! Don't think DH will like it because it is quite "vegetably" and has lots of onions etc in - he is very fussy. Hope it is ok. I cooked a chicken stirfry type thing the other day and it was a complete disaster, neither of us even ate it and i am not fussy!

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alibobble · 26/02/2009 19:18

Slow cookering is a dark art at the start. Have a nice recipe for lentil curry to slow cook for another night:

onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 carrot diced
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp mustard
1" peice of ginger, grated
2 tsp tumeric
1 tsp chilli powder (I leave this out when serving to DD)
1 tsp garam masala (don't always put in)
8oz red lentils
14 floz boiling veg stock
400ml tin coconut milk
tin chopped toms
lime juice (optional)

Heat oil in a pan, cook onion 5mins till soft, add garlic, carrot, cumin, mustard and ginger. Cook 3-4 mins

Add tumeric, chilli, garam masala, cook 1 min. Tip in ceraminc pot.

Add to pot lentils, stock, coconut milk and toms.

cook on high 2 1/2hrs or until lentils soft. Stir half way through so don't stick.

Is delicious and really easy x

soon2befamilyof4 · 26/02/2009 19:27

There is just LOADS of veg and lentils and hardly any beef? Not sure where I went wrong there? The picture shows beef and vegetables (can't see any lentils) in a smooth sauce that looks like sweet and soury type colour.

Mine looks more like a cassorole.

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