Hansa’s - Leeds

Hansa’s Dabhi brought her Indian Vegetarian Cuisine to Leeds and Yorkshire in 1986 and is proud that the restaurant has not changed hands since. The menu is a delicate selection of Gujarati Vegetarian home-cooking, with touches of her East African upbringing. The state of Gujarat, an area about the size of England, is predominantly a Hindu state, so vegetarianism is a way of life. While she has modified her style of cooking to suit most palates, it really has a distinct and authentic Gujarati taste.

I visited Hansa’s for the second time this weekend. The first time I went in a party of 12, and we shared a large selection of the menu. It was delicious. The emphasis at Hansa's is on sharing and experimenting, but in a group of two I didn’t have that luxury and had to choose just one.

I cracked under the pressure and decided to go with a Thali. This was a good choice as it was a mini feast consisting of 2 shaks (curries), puri, pilau rice, daal, farsan, shrikhand, papad and a glass of sweet lassi. The star of the dish was surprisingly the sweet lassi. It wasn’t as thick as lassi’s I’ve had before and it was flavored beautifully, I could have had it ten times over. The aubergine curry that came with it was delicious too. It was a really thick vegetable sauce with hearty chucks of aubergine and peas, lovely.

We also decided to be a bit adventurous and get a main, a Bhinda ni Kadhi. ‘Bhinda’ is translated as Okra and ‘Kadhi’ is a savory yoghurt sauce. It sounded like my dream curry as it featured my new found favorite vegetable, Okra. However, It was a little disappointing. It was really tasty, and had great flavors but it was just ‘okra in yoghurt sauce’. I know this is exactly how it was described in the menu but wish there was just something else going on, like a few peas or bits of aubergine.

The real show stopper was the starter. We tried the Khasta Kachori. It was a such a unique Gujarati dish. I loved how the crispy texture of the puri complimented the spicy chickpeas and potato mixture inside. The variety of flavors was amazing; it was served with a tangy tamarind and onion chutney garnish and topped with fresh coriander and pomegranate seeds. It was really special. It really has a distinct and authentic Gujarati taste.

“There are no set rules on how to eat but I eat with my fingers” Hansas

Look at their menu or find out more:
www.hansasrestaurant.com

Mumtaz, Leeds

Mumtaz Khan Akbar, is well-known in Yorkshire, as one of the counties richest men, with a personal wealth of £25 million. The Mumtaz chain is huge, owning two restaurants, an array of supermarket products and the take-away chain, Jaldi Jaldi. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the new Clarence dock restaurant, as I’ve never visited such a renowned Indian restaurant before. Even the Queen and Mr Cameron have eaten here! 

Compared to most other Indian restaurants, this is like going to Jamie's over Bella Italia. You get less food with more flavour, better ingredients but at a higher price. So, if you're after a stodgy curry after a night on tiles, this isn't for you. After 30 years of having a beer with his curry, my dad was shocked to discover they didn’t serve alcohol. There was even talk of paying for the popadoms and leaving, but we stuck it out.

We had the Karahi Gosht and Chilli Paneer and they were excellent. Now, I'm a fan of spicy food, but I asked for medium strength and it was more than enough heat. If you're not used to a spicy dish, I'd advice you ask for mild. A cheesy chilli curry is not something that I would go for but the large chunks of flavoured paneer in a thick chilli sauce was delicious. 

After our meal the head waitress, who was very accommodating, offered me a box of Indian desserts to take away. I had the pleasure of picking four different semolina treats from the counter and they were presented in a gorgeous box. Again, I never usually go for Indian desserts, as I'm usually so full, but I kept these for the next day. I thought they were delicious and the carrot and date one was great. However, two of my flatmates tried them and said they tasted like sandy rice-pudding so the semolina treats are something for you to decide yourself!

Bill for two curries with Poppadoms, Mango Lassi, Nann bread, Rice and Semolina treats = Around £38

Students get 15% off, so don't forget to show your NUS.

www.mumtaz.co.uk