Simple Meals for One - for AZJim

Tonight Hubby asked for curry so I took the opportunity to engage him in the preparation of a simple sweet curry that he enjoys very much.

I photographed his progress.

First the ingredients.

You need some curry powder. This very much a beginner's recipe. More advanced cooked tune out now.
You need some vegetables. I use onion and carrot because I always have these in the fridge.
You need some meat. A sweet curry goes well with white meat. I always use chicken breast but these is no reason why you couldn't use rabbit or pork.

Since it is a sweet curry you will need some fruit. I usually combine some dried fruit with some fresh. In this case I used sultanas and fresh apple. If I have any dried apricots I use 50:50 sultanas and chopped dried apricots.

I serve the sweet curry in a bowl over boiled rice and top it with chutney (I like mango chutney but any chutney will suffice), sliced banana, shredded coconut, and if I have any, some chopped peanuts.

This is what the finished dish looks like

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Method

In a pot or pan add about 1/4 cup of oil and 1 teaspoon of curry powder. More if you like it spicey.
Start heating over low heat and mix the oil and curry powder with a wooden spoon.

Add one chopped brown onion and keep stirring until the onion starts to caramelise, then add chopped chicken (I use one half chicken breast) and two sliced carrots. Keep turning everything over with the spoon until the chicken is coated with curry mixture and begins to cook.

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Add enough water to just cover the ingredients and add the fruit. I used one cup of sultanas and a peeled and chopped fresh apple. Simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to make sure it cooks evenly.

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While it is simmering you should be boiling the rice in plenty of salted water. When cooked, drain the rice and spoon into a bowl. Spoon the curry mixture over the rice, add toppings to suit your taste and enjoy your meal.

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Using the ingredients I have listed we had enough to serve two with left over curry for the next day. This method is not ideal. The chicken comes out a bit boiled but it is quick and easy for a beginner to try,
 
I don't think I like curry, but I've bookmarked your recipe to try and find out. I'm a vegetarian so meat is out, I might try it with tofu (probably won't taste as good). Thanks!
 

Although Ive eaten Curry, I just don’t think it’s as popular of a dish here in the US as it is in the UK or Australia...at least not in California.

Am I right or wrong?

Its something I’ve wondered about before ....

Im not saying we don’t eat it but at least here I think Mexican is more popular, Chinese also.
 
I'm willing to try curry and hope I like it because it's supposed to be healthy, especially one of its ingredients, Turmeric.


  • Prevents Alzheimer’s Disease. Turmeric is probably the most valuable spice component...
  • Prevents Cancer. Recent research has suggested that increasing the amount of turmeric...
  • Relieves Pain & Inflammation. Once again, turmeric is an agent of positive health in terms...
  • Protects Heart Health. Heart disease is one...


 
I'm willing to try curry and hope I like it because it's supposed to be healthy, especially one of its ingredients, Turmeric.


  • Prevents Alzheimer’s Disease. Turmeric is probably the most valuable spice component...
  • Prevents Cancer. Recent research has suggested that increasing the amount of turmeric...
  • Relieves Pain & Inflammation. Once again, turmeric is an agent of positive health in terms...
  • Protects Heart Health. Heart disease is one...


Curry is good, I’m just wondering why it’s not as popular here....I’m not saying people don’t eat it, I just hear it more often from posters from the UK or Australia.
 
Thank you all for the ideas. I'll save this and give it a try.

Jim, one of my favorite and very simple meals is to fry mushrooms, onions, and anything else you like (sliced or cubed) and sometimes a dash of soy sauce and then spread on top of rice and sprinkled with grated cheese. Sometimes I omit the rice if I don't have it and lay down a couple of bread slices in place of it.

For perfect brown rice (the healthiest):

Boil 2 cups of water
Add 1 cup of brown rice
Stir and bring to a boil again
Cover and bring heat down to low
Cook for half hour, never lift the lid
Shut off the heat and leave on hot burner for another half hour, don't lift the lid, the steam will keep cooking
Stir the rice with a fork to fluff and put into one cup containers, eat one portion and freeze the rest. It makes 4 one cup portions or you can make smaller portions.
 
Although Ive eaten Curry, I just don’t think it’s as popular of a dish here in the US as it is in the UK or Australia...at least not in California.

Am I right or wrong?

Its something I’ve wondered about before ....

Im not saying we don’t eat it but at least here I think Mexican is more popular, Chinese also.

I agree, CeeCee.
 
Being closer to Asia, Australians have become accustomed to authentic curries from India, Thailand and Malaysia.
The recipe I outlined above is nothing like any of these. I really enjoy the robust taste of a vindaloo or a Madras beef curry.
It is an (old) English housewives idea of a curry and is really just a differently flavoured stew.
It's easy and the ingredients can be substituted with anything else you might fancy.
 


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