Azalinas Mint Chicken Curry Food

AZALINA'S MINT CHICKEN CURRY

Steps:

• Soak dried chilies in a bowl with 1/2 cup boiling water for 30 minutes. Drain well and set aside.
• Toast coconut in a heavy pan on low heat until dark golden brown, about 5 minutes. Stir frequently to prevent burning. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
• Toast coriander, cumin and fennel seeds in the pan until aromatic, about 1 minute. Set aside.
• Puree 2 tablespoons peanut oil, toasted coconut, coriander, cumin, and fennel seeds in a blender or food processor. Mix in chilies, almonds, lemon grass, garlic, shallots, ginger, and turmeric; blend to form a smooth curry paste. Add 2 tablespoons water if needed to create a smoother paste.
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons peanut oil in the skillet and stir in star anise, cinnamon sticks, cloves, cardamom pods, and mint stems; stir and toast on medium-low heat until aromatic, about 3 minutes. Discard spices and retain oil in the pan.
• Heat curry paste in the same skillet with the flavored oil over medium heat until hot, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in 1/2 cup water, chicken, and 2 teaspoons kosher salt; cook and stir until chicken is cooked through and no longer pink inside, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in coconut milk. Bring mixture to a boil, turn heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until chicken is tender and the sauce is thick, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Stir in reserved chopped mint leaves and lime juice. Season with kosher salt to taste. Cook until the mint begins to wilt, 1 to 2 more minutes. Remove from heat and let the curry rest for 15 minutes before serving.

AZALINA'S MINT CHICKEN CURRY

Steps:

• Soak dried chilies in a bowl with 1/2 cup boiling water for 30 minutes. Drain well and set aside.
• Toast coconut in a heavy pan on low heat until dark golden brown, about 5 minutes. Stir frequently to prevent burning. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
• Toast coriander, cumin and fennel seeds in the pan until aromatic, about 1 minute. Set aside.
• Puree 2 tablespoons peanut oil, toasted coconut, coriander, cumin, and fennel seeds in a blender or food processor. Mix in chilies, almonds, lemon grass, garlic, shallots, ginger, and turmeric; blend to form a smooth curry paste. Add 2 tablespoons water if needed to create a smoother paste.
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons peanut oil in the skillet and stir in star anise, cinnamon sticks, cloves, cardamom pods, and mint stems; stir and toast on medium-low heat until aromatic, about 3 minutes. Discard spices and retain oil in the pan.
• Heat curry paste in the same skillet with the flavored oil over medium heat until hot, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in 1/2 cup water, chicken, and 2 teaspoons kosher salt; cook and stir until chicken is cooked through and no longer pink inside, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in coconut milk. Bring mixture to a boil, turn heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until chicken is tender and the sauce is thick, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Stir in reserved chopped mint leaves and lime juice. Season with kosher salt to taste. Cook until the mint begins to wilt, 1 to 2 more minutes. Remove from heat and let the curry rest for 15 minutes before serving.

REZIKA'S CHICKEN & VEGETABLE CURRY

Steps:

• Put the olive oil in a large, heavy bottomed pan, add the onions & cook on a medium heat until they are golden & translucent.
• Add the turmeric & curry powder to the pan, followed by the chicken pieces - cook until the chicken is sealed on all sides.
• In a food processor, make a paste from the ginger & garlic. Once you have made a smooth paste, add it to the pan & mix well. Cook for 2 minutes.
• Liquidize the tinned tomatoes & add them to the pan along with the water. Cover & simmer on a medium heat for 90 minutes - check & stir from time to time - add any extra water if you think it needs it. Add the salt & black pepper.
• After 90 minutes, rinse & drain the chickpeas & add them to the pan. Chop the potatoes into cubes approximately 1cm x1cm & add them to the pan.
• Cover & simmer again for 20 minutes.
• Take your bunch of coriander. Remove 6 large leaves & set aside for your garnish. Roughly chop the remainder.
• After 20 minutes cooking, add the frozen peas & 2 tbsp chopped coriander. Cook for 5 minutes.
• At this point, the veggies & the chickpeas should be tender. If you would like a thicker sauce, turn up the heat & reduce the sauce - stirring to avoid the curry catching on the bottom of the pan. If you would like more sauce, just add a little stock & a touch more seasoning & curry powder.
• If you've used bone-in chicken pieces, you may wish to remove the bones now.
• Check the seasoning, adjust if necessary, just before serving add the remainder of the coriander & mix well.
• You can also add a teaspoon of freshly ground garam masala at this point if you wish - I generally don't bother though --
• My family loves to eat this curry with either basmati rice or freshly made naan & pitta breads, pakoras & poppadoms. I also serve a light cucumber raita & a mixed green salad.