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Antony Johnston

@antonyjohnston / antonyjohnston.tumblr.com

Creator of ATOMIC BLONDE. Writes all the things.
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Tomato and Beluga Lentil Curry

Serves 2

After posting the accompanying photo last night, I was asked to post the recipe, so here goes.

This is my standard tomato-based curry, with the ‘main’ ingredient (here beluga lentils) changing according to taste. The same dish can be made with beans, soy, Quorn, etc. Sometimes the main ingredient needs extra cooking time, and so will go in with the ‘remaining veg’; tinned lentils are pre-cooked and only require heating.

(If you eat meat, that can of course be your main ingredient; but you’re on your own for how to cook it.)

You can further vary most of these amounts, and even the ‘remaining veg’ ingredients, according to taste and appetite. I do all the time. This just happens to be what I used for the dish shown.

The rice measurements, however, are precise to ensure perfect basmati.

This recipe is #accidentallyvegan, but if you don’t have Earth Balance/Vitalite/etc and aren’t bothered, use ghee or regular butter.

NOTE: This is obviously tailored to the western palate, and I apologise in advance to any south Asians reading this in horror. But it tastes good… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

INGREDIENTS

  • 150ml basmati rice (yes, ml. Measure it in a jug)
  • 225ml boiling water
  • 2 x chapati or roti
  • 400g tinned beluga lentils, drained
  • 350g tomato passata
  • 1 x medium potato, 1” diced
  • 1 x sweet pepper, sliced
  • 1 x large onion, finely diced
  • 4 x small mushrooms, sliced
  • 2 x good-sized garlic cloves, finely diced
  • 1/2 x carrot, small diced
  • 2 x tbsp non-dairy butter (Earth Balance, Vitalite, etc)

Herbs & Spices:

  • Ground fenugreek
  • Garam masala
  • Curry powder
  • Ground coriander
  • Turmeric
  • Bay leaves
  • Salt & Pepper

METHOD

  • In a fine sieve, rinse basmati under cold water for 2 minutes
  • Add potatoes to a large pan of water, bring to boil then simmer for 10 mins
  • While potatoes parboil, chop & prep remaining veg
  • Heat chef’s pan to medium-high; add non-dairy butter, onions, garlic, and 1 tbsp fenugreek; stir well and gently fry for 5 mins
  • When potatoes are done, drain and leave in pan
  • Add remaining veg (sweet peppers, carrot, mushrooms) to chef’s pan, season well, gently fry for 3-5 mins
  • Add 1 tsp each of garam masala, curry powder, turmeric, and coriander to chef’s pan; continue to gently fry for 5 mins, stirring occasionally
  • (If chef’s pan starts to dry, stir in an extra teaspoon of butter)
  • Heat water for basmati and begin cooking (see below)
  • Add beluga lentils, tomato passata, and potatoes to chef’s pan and stir well
  • Add 1/2 tsp each garam masala, curry powder, turmeric, and coriander to chef’s pan, to taste, and stir well
  • Press one or more bay leaves (according to size) into surface of curry mixture
  • Cover chef’s pan and lower heat to low-medium, let simmer while basmati cooks
  • When basmati is cooked, remove rice pan from heat and leave covered; then remove lid from chef’s pan but keep on low-medium heat for 5 mins
  • Meanwhile, heat chapati/roti according to instructions (30 secs in a microwave is perfectly acceptable)
  • Plate basmati into bowls, making a ring of rice
  • Turn off chef’s pan heat, remove bay leaves, and plate into centre of bowls
  • Serve warm chapati/roti on the side
  • Enjoy!

Basmati

  • After rinsing, place in small pan and season with a pinch of salt
  • When ready to cook, add 225ml of boiling water and return to boil
  • Upon boiling, cover with lid, reduce heat to low-medium, and simmer for 15 mins
  • Remove from heat but keep covered for a further 5 mins
  • Remove lid and plate immediately
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‘THE EXPHORIA CODE’ COMING DECEMBER 2017

Some of you may recall that, towards the end of last year, I was knee-deep in writing a new novel. It was my first for a very long time — more than a decade! — but, while the going was tough, I was very pleased with the result. Turns out, so was my agent 😉 And so…

I’m delighted to announce THE EXPHORIA CODE, a modern cyber-espionage thriller starring a new character, MI6 hacker Brigitte Sharp. Coming this December, from Lightning Books — and hopefully it’s just the first of many adventures for Bridge.

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ME AT THOUGHT BUBBLE 2017

Once again, I’ll be at Thought Bubble in Leeds this year. Come find me at table #30 in the Town Hall Marquee — cut out and keep this handy graphic, or just look for the mahoosive ATOMIC BLONDE banner 😂

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Was making Sherlock Holmes cool really a good idea? Is Robert Downey Jr simply playing himself? And shouldn't Watson be a bumbling lapdog, rather than a two-fisted pugilist?

Not according to devoted Sherlockian Eddy Webb, who joins Antony to discuss all this and more in Guy Ritchie's 2009 "Sherlock Holmes" movie. The game's afoot!

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Fast cars, impossibly skilled drivers, champagne groupies, loud explosions — and a complete disregard for the laws of physics.

Sounds like mindless bro-hell? Jessica Sliwinski once thought so, but after mainlining the entire "Fast & Furious" movie franchise over a weekend, she joins Antony to shift her appreciation up a gear... and become part of the family.

LISTEN HERE: ump.fm/84

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This is a really good piece for Screen Rant by Rachel Bellwoar, looking at the differences between ATOMIC BLONDE and the graphic novel it was based on, THE COLDEST CITY (by me and Sam Hart). 

Lots of stuff in here that I think some readers of the GN may have missed.

****MASSIVE SPOILERS**** (obv)

...But if you’ve already experienced both it’s worth a read.

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