Sweet, Spicy Curried Chicken Legs
Yield: About 6-8 servings INGREDIENTS
1tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon canola or vegetable oil 6-8chicken drumsticks, skin removed, see cook’s notes 2large yellow onions, diced, about 21⁄2 cups 11⁄2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons curry powder 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1⁄4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 5 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped 1 large Granny Smith apple, unpeeled, cored, cut into 1-inch chunks 1banana, peeled, cut into 1⁄2-inch slices 1large tomato, cut into 1-inch cubes 2 tablespoons shredded fresh mint or 1 teaspoon dried mint For serving: cooked rice or pilaf Cook’s notes: I like to use a wide pan, 14 inches across and 4inches deep, so that I can saute 8 chicken legs at a time. If using a smaller pan, use 6 chicken legs. Or cook chicken in two batches. My local supermarket often has bone-in chicken thighs on sale in large packages. You can substitute bone-in, skin-off chicken thighs if you wish.
DIRECTIONS
1: Heat butter and oil in large skillet. When hot, add chicken and cook over medium-high heat, turning as needed to brown on all sides, about 8minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate. Discard all but 2-3 tablespoons of accumulated fat in the skillet (usually I don’t need to discard any because that is about the amount that I have in the pan.)
2: Add onions to the pan and cook on medium-high heat for about 3minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in flour, curry powder, cumin, cayenne, pepper, salt and garlic. Add 1 cup water and stir; bring to boil. Return chicken to pan, spooning some of the onion mixture on top.
3: Add apple, banana and tomato; bring to boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and gently simmer for 30 minutes; check to confirm that chicken is cooked through and tender. Sprinkle with mint. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. I like to add some hot sauce to taste. If you plan to prepare this ahead and reheat it at serving time, cook only 25minutes initially instead of 30. By the time the dish is reheated, it will be cooked through.