EDWARD ENTERTAINS
THIS WEEK: FRUITY CHICKEN CURRY
Serves 6 - 8
I simply love a curry but it is so difficult to get a good one. This recipe is delicious and creamy and is ideal for those cool days. I like to serve this with freshly boiled basmati rice. As with all curries this is perhaps even better on the second day.
RECIPE
* 6-8 chicken breasts * 3 cloves of garlic-diced * 1 red chilli-finely diced
* 1 medium sized onion-sliced very thinly
* 1 teaspoon of tomato puree
* 2 tablespoons of mild curry powder
* 2 tablespoons flour * teaspoon of turmeric * teaspoon of ground cumin * Pinch crushed chilli flakes
* 7floz/200ml pouring cream/ coconut milk
* 18floz/500ml boiling hot chicken stock
Seasoning: * 2 tablespoons mango chutney * 2oz/50g sultanas
* 12oz/350g Vegetables – cut into chunks (peppers, mushrooms, onions, carrots, courgettes)
Garnish: *2oz/50g flaked almonds-toasted * 2 tablespoons natural yoghurt
* Freshly chopped parsley/ coriander
METHOD
* Preheat a wide based sauté pan and add to it a little oil. Fry the chicken breasts on both sides for 2-3 minutes each side and then remove for a few moments whilst making up the sauce.
* Next add in the sliced onions, diced garlic and chilli (and your chosen vegetables) and allow them to cook quite gently until they are softened and glazed with the meat juices. This stage should take about 4-5 minutes.
* Now add in the tomato puree and allow this to coat the ingredients in the sauté pan-this will give the curry a developed taste and flavour as well as helping with the formation of colour.
* Next add in the curry powder together with the flour, turmeric, cumin & ginger and allow them to coat all of the contents of the pot and to dry up any juices. You will get a wonderfully fragrant aroma in the kitchen at this stage. The chicken stock can go in now and allow this mixture to come to the boil at which stage you can add in the pouring cream or coconut milk and again allow it to re-boil.
Taste and season as is required, adding the mango chutney and sultanas at this stage.
Carefully return the chicken breasts into the sauce. I normally reduce the heat at this stage and allow the curry to cook gently for 30-40 minutes.
It is important to let it cook for a while to cook out the “gritty” taste of the curry powder
· Serve the curry steaming hot with some freshly boiled basmati rice and some naan bread if required.
· Garnish with the flaked almonds, chopped coriander/ parsley and natural yoghurt.