It is a typical chicken curry cooked in almost all Malaysian homes. This basic recipe uses a Made in Malaysia. It has just the right blend of spices for an authentic 'Malaysian-tasting' curry! Some ingredients vary - Indian homes might cook with ghee [clarified butter], add whole spices like star anise, cinnamon stick, cloves, mustard seeds or fresh curry leaves.
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INGREDIENTS :
- 2½-3 lb whole chicken, cut into serving size pieces
- 5 tbsp Malaysian meat curry powder
- 1-2 tbsp or to taste, chili powder
- ½ cup cooking oil
- 1 can coconut milk, combined with 2 cups water
- 2 potatoes, cut into 1½ inch pieces
- salt
- 2 large onions, sliced
- 8 cloves of garlic
- 1½ inch fresh ginger, sliced
Cook's Note : This is a typical Malaysian chicken curry cooked at home. The meat curry powder used in the recipe has just the right blend of spices for an authentic 'Malaysian-tasting' Chicken Curry.
Each ethnic kitchen, however, has it's own variation. Additional ingredients may be added - whole spices of star anise, cloves or cinnamon stick, serai [lemongrass], fresh red or green chili peppers, buah keras [candlenut], tomatoes, lengkuas [galangal], kunyit [turmeric root], assam jawa [tamarind paste], fresh curry leaves, yoghurt or dried shrimp paste: belacan
To Prepare :
1. Using a mortar & pestle or blender, grind onion, garlic and ginger into a paste
2. In a small bowl, combine meat curry powder and chili powder, add a few tbsp of water and mix into a thick paste
3. In a wok or pot, heat oil on high, add ground paste, stir-fry until quite translucent
4. Add curry paste, reduce heat to low, stir-fry until quite toasted and oil starts to ooze from paste - do not burn!
5. Add chicken, bring heat up to med-high, stir to coat chicken well with curry paste
6. Add coconut milk, season with salt, stir well
7. Gradually bring to a boil, then reduce heat to med, simmer covered 20-25 mins, stir occasionally
8. Add potatoes, simmer uncovered, 10-15 mins until potatoes are cooked and chicken is tender
9. Turn off heat, skim off excess oil on surface
10. Serve with bread, Roti Canai, Roti Jala or steamed rice
Variation : Substitute with beef, pork, lamb, mutton, turkey or goat. Venison shanks are excellent for curry!
