Pumpkin Butter Chicken Food

PUMPKIN BUTTER CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a medium sized bowl: add the marinade ingredients (yoghurt, ginger, garlic, garam masala, turmeric, chili powder and salt).
• Mix together until fully combined and then stir in the chicken pieces until coated in the yoghurt blend.
• Cover the chicken and let marinate at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.
• Heat the coconut oil to a large skillet over a medium heat. When hot, add the chicken pieces to the skillet and fry until all sides are browned (about 3 minutes). You may need to fry the chicken in batches of 2-3 to prevent the pan from crowding. Once browned, remove from the pan and set aside on a plate. The chicken will cook fully in the sauce later.
• Add the butter or ghee (or coconut oil) to the same skillet you used for the chicken. When hot, add the onions and fry until soft, about 5-7 minutes.
• Add the ginger, garlic, tomato paste and spices (garam masala, curry powder, coriander, cumin and salt) and sauté another 2-3 minutes.
• Add the coconut milk and pumpkin to the skillet. Stir until a thick, mostly smooth sauce forms and let simmer for 10 to let the sauce thicken slightly.
• Add the chicken back to the skillet, stir and let the curry simmer another 8-10 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is bubbly.
• Taste and season with more salt if needed. Top with fresh cilantro and serve over rice (or cauliflower rice) and with gluten free naan.

PUMPKIN BUTTER

Steps:

• In small sauce pan, combine pumpkin, applesauce, sugar, cinnamon and ginger.
• Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, stirring often to prevent scorching, 45 min.
• or until mixture becomes very thick.
• Stir in lemon juice.
• Let cool, then spoon into tight-sealing container and refrigerate.
• Will keep in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks.

CHICKEN WITH PUMPKIN & CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Peel the pumpkin, remove any seeds and fibrous bits and cut the flesh into bitesized pieces. Heat the oil in a large pan and fry the onion for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden. Stir in the ginger, cinnamon and the chicken pieces and cook for 3-5 minutes, turning to brown them slightly all over.
• Add the tomatoes, sugar and harissa, season and stir well. Add the chickpeas, pumpkin pieces and 4-5 tbsp water. Cover and cook for 20- 30 minutes or until the chicken and pumpkin are tender (the pumpkin releases its own water, but if it becomes too dry, add a drop more during the cooking to give you a juicy sauce). Stir in the chopped coriander before serving.

CREAMY CHICKEN & PUMPKIN

Steps:

• Soak porcini in 300ml/1⁄2 pt hot water for 30 mins. Skin chicken and rub the cut side of the lemon over them. Heat oil in a pan large enough to hold chicken in one layer. Add chicken and brown on both sides. Transfer to a casserole.
• Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Melt the butter in a medium pan. When it stops foaming, add onion and 1 tsp salt, then sauté until pale gold.
• Meanwhile, remove the porcini from the water and rinse well. Pat dry and chop small. Strain the water through a sieve, stopping before the last spoonful.
• Add porcini and pumpkin pieces to onion and sauté for 5 mins. Add fresh mushrooms and cook for 5 mins more, stirring frequently. Stir in the cream, 4-5 tbsp of the porcini water and seasoning if you wish. Simmer uncovered for 10-12 mins until reduced slightly, then pour over the chicken.
• Cover and cook in the oven for 30-40 mins, turning the chicken once or twice and adding a few spoonfuls of water if the sauce becomes a little dry.