Chicken

Chicken and Spinach Curry

If you are looking for an alternative to an Indian treat, look no further. This curry is packed with flavour as well as protein and many other nutrients making it a total guilt free eat.

3 Garlic Cloves Chopped Roughly

1 Onion, Chopped

1 inch piece of Ginger, peeled and chopped

2 tsp Ground Coriander

1 Red Chilli, deseeded and chopped

1/2 tbsp Mild Curry Powder

1/2 tbsp Medium Curry Powder

1 kg Boneless, skinless Chicken Thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces

Small Bag of Baby Leaf Spinach

Organic Virgin Coconut Oil

Water

1 tbsp Lemon Juice

3 tbsp 0% Fat Greek Yoghurt

Maldon Sea Salt and Black Pepper

Start by making a paste by whizzing up the onion, garlic, ginger, chilli and spinach. Set aside.

Add a tsp of the coconut oil to a pot and heat until fairly hot, add the chicken and brown all over. Pour off any excess fat.

Now add the rest of the spices (Coriander and mixed Curry powders) cook on a medium heat for two minutes.

Now tip in the paste, cook gently for around ten minutes. Add the lemon juice, check the seasoning and add some salt and pepper if necessary. Cook for another ten minutes. You may need to add a dash or two of water depending on whether it is too thick.

Now add the Greek yoghurt. Combine well and cook for five minutes.

Serve with wholegrain rice, basmati rice or any variety of bread you fancy!

Lebanese Chicken

This lush Lebanese Chicken is wonderfully easy to make! Bursting full of flavour, it can be cooked on a Griddle pan or on the barbecue.

It goes wonderfully with other Lebanese accompaniments such as Tabbouleh and Baba Ganoush. I will add the recipes at a later date!

LEBANESE CHICKEN

1kg Skinless, boneless Chicken Thighs

2 tsp Ground Allspice

1 tsp Maldon Sea Salt

2 tsp Fresh Cracked Black Pepper

6 Cloves Garlic, Crushed

1 tsp Finely Grated Lemon Rind

1 tbsp Finely Chopped Mint Leaves

125 ml Olive Oil

125ml Lemon Juice

Trim any fatty bits off the chicken.

Combine all of the remaining ingredients. Add the chicken and mix really well.

Cover and leave in the fridge overnight.

Barbecue, brushing with remaining marinade until nicely browned and cooked through.

Total taste sensation.

Serve with a nice Lebanese salad such as Tabbouleh!

Thai Green Curry

Thailand I by far, my favourite place in the world. A few years ago, i was fortunate enough to do a cooking course in Chiang Mai.

I order the Thai ingredients online and have them delivered as I feel there is no substitute for authenticity! More often than not, I do not grind my own paste. However, if using a pre prepared curry paste, ensure it is from Thailand!

Serves 4-6

Thai Jasmine Rice

3-4 Chicken Breasts, size dependant cut in very thin slices along the grain of the chicken. Buy really top quality chicken that is not injected full of water as it will ruin the curry.

2 Tins of Thai Coconut Milk e.g. Chaokoh

1 tbsp Thai Green Curry paste such as Mae Ploy

6 Thai Baby Aubergines, cut into quarters

A handful of Thai Pea Aubergines (before adding to the curry parboil these for around three mins)

6 Fresh Lime Leaves, ripped up and stem removed

1 tbsp Thai Oyster Sauce

1 tbsp Thai Fish Sauce

1 tsp Thai Palm Sugar (can be like a brick, warm for a few seconds in the microwave)

Fresh Red Chillies, sliced finely on the diagonal

Thai Sweet Basil (Basil is not a substitute, sweet basil has an aniseed type taste) a couple of Handfuls, leaves removed and slightly shredded.

Begin by opening the tins of coconut milk very carefully. Separate the very think creamy part of the coconut milk from the very watery part.

In a saucepan, heat the watery part until you can see the oils of the coconut milk coming to the surface.

Add the Thai paste and combine well. Cook on a medium heat for five minutes and check that it has your desired degree of flavour and heat. Add more if you want!

Add the sliced chicken and stir well to ensure it does not stick together. Keep stirring periodically until it is almost cooked.

Add the Thai vegetables and lime leaves at this point.

Also, add the oyster sauce, fish sauce and, the palm sugar.

Now, add the creamy part of the coconut milk.

Cook over a medium heat until the vegetables are nice and soft.

At the end, stir through the Thai basil.

Serve with steamed Thai Jasmine Rice and top with the fresh red chillies.

This is the most amazing thing on earth! Thank you Thailand for teaching me this! ❤️❤️

Chicken Singapore Noodles

SINGAPORE CHICKEN NOODLES

I love Singapore Noodles from the Chinese but hate the way I feel after and the amount of fat! This is a super quick meal, especially if all the chopping and prep is done in advance! This passed the taste test with all three of my children!! RESULT!!

100g Dried Vermicelli Rice Noodles

1 Red Chilli (optional)

1 tsp Ginger Paste

1 tsp Garlic Paste

2 Spring Onions, finely sliced

3 Free Range Eggs

500g Chicken Thigh Fillets, trimmed and cut into small pieces

100g Green Beans, topped and cut in half

150g Peas, fresh or frozen

2 Carrots, juliennned

1 Small Red Pepper, finely Chopped

Sauce:

1/2 tsp Mild Curry Powder

1/2 tsp Medium Curry Powder

1 Large tsp Turmeric

2 tbsp Soy Sauce

1 tbsp Shaoxing Wine

1/2 tbsp Fish Sauce

Start by soaking the noodles in boiling water for three minutes, drain and refresh under cold running water.

Put all the sauce ingredients into a bowl and using a small whisk or fork, combine well.

Add the smallest dash of oil to a pan, as the thighs will release a bit of fat. Heat the oil and then fry the chicken in two batches until nicely browned. I tend to drain all the fat away to keep it as healthy as possible. This is done by periodically tipping into a sieve.

Remove from the pan, add a dash more oil, heat, then add the chilli, fry for a minute before adding the Ginger and garlic pastes. Continue to cook for another thirty seconds,

At this point, add the eggs and fry in a kind of omelette/scrambled egg format until it is in small pieces.

Add the red pepper, green beans, carrots and the sauce ingredients . Cook for around three to five mins until the beans are just cooked.

At this point, add the noodles and toss everything well to ensure noodles are well heated and everything is coated in sauce.

Feel free to leave the chicken out for a vegetarian version or use pork or prawns.

Lusharama!!

Protein Rich Healthy Curry

Protein Rich Healthy Chicken Curry
Are you just loving the catchy wee name of this curry!?😂

I created this last night as I wanted a curry to fill me up without the need for too much rice! I guess a kind of curry/stew!

Full of chicken and kidney beans and super low in fat it is an all round wonderful tasty curry. I also love a curry as you never feel cheated on taste and flavour when eating healthily. Steamed chicken and veg is simply 🤢
4 Large Chicken Breasts

1 pack of Fine Green Beans cut into pieces

1 or 2 Large Onions, finely Chopped

2 Cloves Garlic Crushed

4cm Ginger Grated

1 Can Chopped Tomatoes

1 Can Kidney Beans

2 tsp Mild Curry Powder

2 tsp Medium Curry Powder

1 1/2’tsp Turmeric

2 tsp Garam Masala

2 Large Handfuls Baby Spinach

1 Can Light Coconut Milk

Juice of one Lime

Rape seed oil

Maldon Salt and Black Pepper
Add oil to a large pan and add the onions, cook gently for around 8 mins until nice and soft and golden.

Add the garlic and ginger and cook for another few mins.
Chuck in the chicken and cook it until it is beginning to brown.
Add all of the spices and cook for two minutes.
Add the tomatoes, beans and coconut milk. Bring to the boil, turn down and cook for twenty minutes.
Add the drained kidney beans, cook for a further ten mins.
At the end throw in the spinach and the lime juice.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
❤❤❤

Healthy Takeaway Alternative

Healthy Chicken Korma

Just because you have decided to make a healthy start does not mean you have to miss out on your favourite dishes. A bit of creativity and boom, a healthy alternative with no cream is created! The fact that my husband did not even notice it was the healthy option speaks volumes!!
Serves 5
5 Chicken Breasts, chopped into big cubes

2 Onions, roughly chopped

1 Green Pepper roughly chopped

1in Piece Ginger, chopped

3 Garlic Cloves, chopped

2 tsp Turmeric

1/2 tsp Paprika

1/2 Cinnamon Stick

1 tsp Coriander Powder

1/2 tsp Chilli Powder

1 tsp Cumin Powder

1 tsp Ground Ginger

2 tsp Garam Masala

2 tbsp Ground Almonds

1 Tin Low Fat Coconut Milk

2-3 tbsp 0% Fat Greek Yoghurt (the nice thick Fage one!)

1 tbsp Mango Chutney

Rapeseed Oil or Coconut Oil

Fresh Coriander to Serve
Add the onions, green pepper, ginger and garlic to a food processor and whizz until it is a nice fine paste.
In a large casserole (preferably non stick as you can get away with less oil!) heat a splash of oil. Add the paste and cook gently for around 5 mins.
Add the chicken and cook for a few mins.
Add the rest of the spices and cook for 2 mins.
Add the coconut milk and cook for 20 mins with the lid on. Stir periodically.
Stir through the Greek yogurt and the mango chutney add a little more yoghurt if it is too thick.
Serve with brown basmati rice and some fresh coriander. Delish!

CHICKEN KATSU CURRY

Serves 4

Anyone familiar with Wagamama, will have encountered Chicken Katsu Curry! I thought I would give the sauce a blast at home. You could do your own chicken with panko breadcrumbs or, if you are short of time, cheat with some shop bought top quality chicken breasts in breadcrumbs.

1 Onion, peeled and chopped
5 Garlic Cloves, sliced
2 Carrots, peeled and chopped
2 tbsp Plain Flour
Groundnut Oil
1 tbsp Medium Curry Powder
600ml Chicken Stock
2 tsp Honey
1 tbsp Soy Sauce
1/2 tsp Garamond Masala

Heat some oil in a pan (not too big), add the onion and garlic, sauté for a few mins, then add the carrots.

Sweat slowly for ten mins with a lid on. Stir from time to time.

At this stage it should be nicely softened and caramelised.

Stirring in the flour and curry powder and cook for a minute.

Pour in the stock slowly, a bit at a time to avoid lumps.

Add the honey and soy and bring to the boil, reduce heat and cook for 20 mins.

Add the garam masala and whizz until nice and smooth with a hand held blender.

If too thick add a dash of water.

Slice the cooked chicken and pour over the sauce, serve with steamed rice and Pak Choi…Boom!

A Really Lush Chicken Pie

Serves 4-5

I really got into my comfort food this week with the colder weather and the kids back to school! I have a slight obsession with ‘The Perfect Chicken Pie’ leading me to constantly change and experiment to improve my chicken pie. This one proved to be really lush!

4 Chicken Breasts, cut into small cubes
1 Leek, green bits removed and the White bit finely chopped
50g Butter
2 Large Carrots, peeled and finely chopped
1/2 Head Broccoli, stalks removed and cut into nice small florets
250ml Double Cream
A Large Splash of White Wine
200ml Chicken Stock
Ready Rolled Puff Pastry bring this to room temperature to prevent cracks
Maldon Sea Salt and Black Pepper

2 rounded tbsp Plain Flour

Heat oven to 180c

Start by prepping your carrots and broccoli. Either steam or boil them until they are both slightly soft. Drain and set to one side.

In a large heavy pot, heat the butter and when melted add the leeks and cook for around 5 mins until nice and soft.

Add the chicken and cook for another 5 mins until just beginning to brown.

Add the wine and bubble for a couple of mins.

Add the flour, stir well and on a medium heat cook for a couple of minutes.

Add the chicken stock stirring continuously, on a medium heat let it cook for another 5 mins.

At this point, add the double cream and the prepared carrots and broccoli.

Bring to the boil and then turn down to a gentle simmer for about 7 mins.

At this point, it should be of a nice suitable consistency.

Pour into an oven proof dish that is a suitable size for both the sauce and pastry. Leave to cool.

Put on your pastry top and brush with the egg yolk.

Put into the oven for around 35 mins until the pastry is golden.

RK Paella

Having spent a month in Spain, I ate a few lush paella. The key to paella is the crust or ‘Socarrat’ from the Spanish word ‘Socarrar’, meaning to toast lightly. Anyone familiar with cooking a risotto will be tempted to stir…resist!! I admit that I do give the veggies a quick mix in, after that I leave it to Socarrar!

If like me, you don’t have a proper paella pan, just use a pan with a nice heavy base.

Serves 5

1 Onion finely chopped
500g Paella Rice
A Large Handful Green Beans, chopped into small pieces
2 Big Handfuls of Petit Pois
1.2l Chicken Stock
4 Chicken Breasts cut into small slices
Olive Oil
Sazonador paraPaella or
A Large Pinch of Saffron
2 tsp Paprika
1/2 tsp Garlic Salt
Salt and Pepper to taste
Flat Leaf Parsley chopped
1 Lemon Cut into Segments

Heat the oil (3-4 tbsp) and then add the onion for 5-8 mins to soften.

Add the Chicken and cook until it has a golden colour.

Add the rice and stir until well covered in the oil.

Add all of the seasoning and the stock and stir.

Turn the heat down and. Cover with tinfoil for 15 mins.

Add the veggies, give them a cheeky stir.

Cover with the foil again and leave on the low heat for around another 15 mins until all the stock is absorbed.

Turn off the heat and leave covered for another 10 mins.

Sprinkle with parsley and arrange lemon pieces.

Serve with a nice glass of Rosé!
I have stuck to chicken as my kids don’t like prawns, feel free so add some huge big raw prawns around 10 mins before the end.

Yoghurt Spiced Chicken Kebabs

I live in Belfast, so you kinda have to forget about the weather when planning a barbecue! Pick a day and go for it!!😂 These wee babies are tastalicious and super healthy….result!

Serves 6

6-7 Chicken Breasts

For the Marinade

900ml natural yoghurt
4 tsp Ground Cumin
4 tsp Ground Coriander
Large Pinch Maldon Sea Salt
2 tsp Turmeric
3 tsp Fenugreek Seeds
4 tsp Ground Ginger
3 tsp Onion Powder
2 tsp Ground Cloves
1 tsp Chilli Powder
Wooden Skewers*
For the marinade, mix all the ingredients together.

Slice each chicken breast into five strips, and add them to the marinade.

Stir to combine, and leave to marinate overnight.

Remove from the fridge and thread the chicken strips onto wooden skewers.

Heat a large griddle pan until hot or a barbecue, then add the chicken skewers.

Cook for three minutes on each side until browned and cooked through.

*A handy hint for wooden skewers is to soak for at least an hour in water, then freeze them in order to have them prepped ahead ready to use!

#chicken #healthyeating #barbecue

A Restaurant in my Kitchen

Create restaurant food easily at home!