On the Menu :: Sweet and Easy Curry

I've been meaning to write this recipe up for a while, you may remember I mentioned it in a post a month or so ago? I have this recipe written down on a piece of paper in my precious Recipe File, it was given to me some time ago by J's Mum and is known in our house as "Mothers Curry". I love it because it is so quick and simple to pull together, and the list of ingredients is refreshingly small for a homemade curry. It really is a super recipe and is very family friendly, ie it has a gentle heat with an underlying sweetness so children of all ages seem to love it.

You begin by making up a very simple curry paste. All you do is mix up the above six ingredients in a bowl. Clockwise from the centre we have ::

2 tbs Greek yoghurt

3 tbs tomato purée

2 tbs mango chutney

1.5 tsp garam masala spice (see note below)

1 tsp chilli powder

2 crushed cloves garlic

Now about the garam masala spice....I'm not sure if this is a world wide, universal spice or not? Here in the UK it is readily available to buy in supermarkets etc, and you can see what it contains in the list of ingredients above. If you can't find this spice mix where you live, it is possible to make your own by combining individual spices. I found this easy recipe on the internet, and although I've not tried it, it gets good reviews.

When all six ingredients are mixed, you should end up with a rather unappealing looking orangey brown paste, as above. Don't be alarmed by the way it looks as I promise you it's going to be wonderful.

Aside from whatever your main curry ingredient is going to be (chicken, prawns, chickpeas, lentils, vegetables), you will also need corn oil and fresh coriander leaves (think this herb is know as "cilantro" in some countries?)

Once you've made the paste, it's super-simple and super-speedy to bring it all together.

Heat 2tbs corn oil in a pan, sloop in the paste, bring to the boil and cook for 2 mins, stirring frequently.

Now add in whatever your main ingredient is. I most often used left over roast chicken which is already cooked, but you can use raw diced chicken breast so long as you make sure it cooks through thoroughly. I've also very successfully made this curry with prawns, green lentils, chickpeas and veggies (but not all at once!)...and I notice from the above picture that I also added in chopped red pepper and onion with my cooked chicken. It's all very flexible. If you're using lentils or chickpeas, they should be already cooked. And if you use cooked prawns, wait and add them into the sauce right at the very end so that they just have time to heat through and don't over cook.

Right, so you add in your chicken or cooked pulses or veggies, stir well to coat in the sauce then add 150ml water. Simmer gently for 20mins or so until the sauce thickens and everything is cooked through.

Lastly, stir in 2tbs of greek yoghurt and a good handful of chopped fresh coriander leaves and cook for 2 more mins. Serve as you like.....we have ours with basmati rice and mini naan breads or homemade flatbreads to dip in the lovely sauce.

What I like most about this meal is watching the Little Ones devour it. Little B makes a heart melting "mmmmMMMMMMmmmmm" noise when he is really enjoying the taste of something. It makes my day when he does that.

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Edit to add :: I just remembered that when my mother in law makes her curry she adds in a couple of chopped fresh green chillies along with the coriander/yoghurt towards the end of the cooking. This gives the curry a more adult-appropriate heat. Actually it usually makes my eyes water and my nose run.

 

 

 

Comments

[sue]

This sounds truly scrumptious and I will most definitely follow your instructions. I love Indian food and am familiar with the stage that looks unpromising. It then regularly turns out to be the best thing you've eaten in ages.

[Mamalion]

Lovely! Garam Masala is readily available in the US, usually in the Ethnic Foods section. I've also found a Chicken Masala simmer sauce we like from Tiger Tiger. Toss it and raw, frozen chicken tenders in the crockpot on high, and 4 hours later serve over basmati rice. Yum!

[Barbina]

I love to try new recipes, thank you so much for sharing!
It sounds very delicious! Love your owl spoon, sooo cute!
Have a wonderful evening! xxBarbina

[maypole]

I will be trying that, thank you, I will be adding the chillies of course, as we have no little ones here!

[NADINE]

Ooooh, you make me salivating, Lucy! I just LOVE curry and I will certainly try this receipe very soon ;>)
One question, please : when you mention "chili" powder, do you mean the HOT one, like "Cayenne"? (I doubt it, as you serve it to the kids), or then "paprika" ??
THANKS a bunch, dear !
XOXOXO
NADINE in Belgium

[happy little cottage]

I agree with Little B MMMMmmmmmMMMMMMMmm!!!

[Stocki]

Yummy.. I make my own Garam Masala...it really does perk a curry up.. Madhur Jaffrey's book taught me! :)x

[Catriona]

Looks wonderful-i could almost smell it!! Hope I can make it soon as we have some cooked chicken left.

[diana]

Yum .. going to try this. TFS ;-)

[Issy Gardiner]

Hmmmm......Those pics look lovely as do the colours!!!!
I'd love the green and red match for a blankie;)))
Best wishes
Issyx

http://hookytime.blogspot.com/

[Aurora]

Lovely blog, sorry my english is very bad. xxxx

[Rachael Iddon]

Mmmmm, looking forward to trying that out. I love yoghurty curries and anything with coriander is a winner as far as I'm concerned. If my children eat it I'll be truly impressed.

[Izzy]

Looks wonderful. We buy Bombay Curry here in the US and add to it a can of coconut milk . Sweet and creamy ..I make a curry paste then add tunafish in a can and make rice , stir in tuna into curry with chopped apples , raisins and onions ..done !!!

[Louise]

This is remarkably similar to a sweet and sour balti recipe I have in an indian cookbook. yum yum yum - haven't had it for ages. I might just have to alter my shopping list!

[Suzann]

It is called cilantro here in the states. For some people it tastes like soap. I have to sub flat leaf parsley. Not the same but better then licking a bar of soap.
Garam Masala is also located in the regular spice section in our stores. (Virginia Beach, Virginia) I think there is a big interest in Indian food around here. We tend to be a little behind the curve. It looks yummy.
Your blog is beautiful

[verónica]

Hello Lucy: look delicious! I like spices and I think I have them almost all in my pantry!

Verónica

[Colleen]

DH and I love curry!! Last week I made curried chicken thighs with big chinks of celery, potatoes, carrots and onion. I browned the thighs first in olive oil and a little butter and then added the rest of my ingredients and slow cooked it for about 45 minutes. Serve with crusty bread. YUM!!

[Angela]

Thanks for this very doable-looking recipe! I need some inspiration, and I need it to be fairly easy:) Cilantro is used a lot where I live in Tex-Mex recipes. It seems to be one of those things you either love or you hate. In my house it is definitely love!

[ali.b.]

Thank you for sharing - always on the look out for family friendly meals xx

[Stacey]

Oh, I love Garam Masala! In the US, you can get it in the international section of a supermarket, or order it online from a spice shop (I get mine from Penzey's). Yummy!

[Rubyted]

Oooooh!! I'll definitely be trying this tomorrow! Was just wondering what on earth we were going to eat. It looks scrumptious!

[Anne (I should be sleeping)]

It certainly looks divine :)
Here in Australia, we can readily buy all the ingredients you've used.
I'll be giving this one a go!

[Jayne]

Thanks for another good recipe. I did the Hugh FW banana bread today, I didn't have a lemon, and I added some chopped apples, and some ginger and cinnamon, because I had it in the cupboard, but apart from that I stuck to the recipe and it was divine!

[Taylor]

I will have to try your curry recipe! I have always wanted to make my own (there are very few curry oriented resturants in the U.S). Thank you for all your year in reviews and lovely posts! It's been awhile since I've sat down to enjoy it. Thanks again!

[Deco Cat]

That sounds delicious, a good recipe to try this weekend I think. Please can you tell me where you got your gorgeous spoon?