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

[Ankita Vj (India)]

:-) this sounds so indian...here we cook such curries very frequently...

[maypole]

I have done this a few times now. It is so easy and tasty. Thank you.

[Lauren]

Ooooh I made this curry Lucy last night and it was lovely. Not suitable for our 8 year old though, as 1tsp of chilli powder made it quite firey!!! Perfect for us grown ups though. What sort of chilli powder do you use Lucy? Perhaps the UK chilli powder is different to the one we have here in Australia...

[Renee]

That looks amazing! I must try this recipe... we are always on the look out for good curry recipes because here where we live in the states, has NOTHING! I may have to look online for the product you used and buy it! We crave and miss good curry!

[Selena]

Agree with spoon request! :)

[rachel]

Thank you so much for sharing this recipe - i have just made it for dinner using chick peas and veges and it was absolutely delicious!

[Helen]

Hi Lucy, this looks great. I have three little fusspots who I think will enjoy this one.
Greetings from murky Somerset by the way - I'm in the same stage as you child-wise, let's here it for crochet, fairy cakes and big pots of tea!
I've made some hideous creations by the way. Seriously. Always lovely to read from someone with a bit o talent. x

[Su2y F.]

Finally tried your recipe and loved it! I had to use coconut milk though instead of the yoghurt because of a milk allergy but it was still wonderful. Its a keeper thanks!

[Jacqie]

Strips schould be shrimps sorry THE autocorrectie on the iPad makes strange words wen i'm writing english instead of dutch.

[Jacqie]

We did eat thuis tonight with strips it was deliscious!!! Thanks for this recipe, i tik we Will make this often!

[Rachael Iddon]

Hi Lucy, I finally got around to trying this at the weekend. I used pumpkin so it was extra sweet. I'm looking forward to experimenting with other 'fillings' too. The pumpkin I used for it is proving to be a challenge to use up. If you have any suggestions, hop over to my blog and leave a comment.
Hope you're feeling a bit more perky today.
Thanks for the inspiration.
Rachael

[Mandy]

I made this last night for my family and it was a HUGE hit! It is being added to our fave recipes that we make on a regular basis...Thanks so much for sharing!

[kathryn oster]

Thank you for that very easy and yummy recipe. I didn't have chicken but I did have salmon. Plated the seared salmon over the rice and spooned the sauce on top! :) Kathryn

[Jayne Muir]

I have just tried your recipe and it was clean plates all round!!!!!!!!!!!! I've just past recipe onto my sister to try tomorrow? Have you any chilli or other recipes??

[Bonnie]

Thanks for sharing your recipe. We tried it this evening and it's a keeper!

[Anne Marie]

I made it tonight (Monday) and it was just right, a bit difficult dashing from the table around to the kitchen bit, after trying to remember what it said on my laptop. The balance of spices was good and leaves room also for experimenting.

Husband liked it and he is usually of the opinion that bought spices are a bit lack lustre.

[Jess Sellars]

Well we ate this rather yummy curry this evening. DELISH!!!!!! Hubby exclaimed that if he had been presented this in a curry house he would have been delighted. Thank you so much for sharing. x

[Katie]

We just tried this recipe tonight and it was delicious! So glad that we did a double portion so there's enough left for a lunch or another dinner. Thanks for sharing :-)

[Fleur Cotton]

Another success too Lucy, your curry was a hit! In our house it will always be referred to now as 'Lucy's curry', my other half was so impressed!

XX Fleur

[Spinningfishwife]

Tried your recipe tonight and the family loved it. Thanks!

[Sandy]

Just made your curry this evening using chick peas and turkey. All thought it was yummy! Thank you so much for sharing the recipe! Definitely will be making it again! x

[Allie Cat]

One word....Yummy! thanks for the recipe x

[Leah]

Thank you Lucy! I made your curry for dinner and it was AMAZING! This will now be a regular on our dining table - I can't wait to make it again. Have a fab weekend. I'm bursting to see what your new project is!!!

[bloepper]

looks like it's chicken tonight!

[Sassi Bird]

I was just thinking about having a curry on saturday night! Can't have anything too spicey as I'm breastfeeding so that sounds perfect, thank you.