EASY lentil curry

July 13, 2020February 29, 2024 Belinda

Recipe from food blog, “Contentedness Cooking”

This lentil curry is so very tasty, packed with aromatic spices, creamy, satisfying and protein rich.
Using steamed, vacuum packed lentils makes it a great time- saver.
It is lovely over rice, roasted sweet potato, quinoa or pasta, and even pickiest people will eat this.

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1 x 1 lb pack vacuum-pack green lentils. (Trader Joes sells these))
5 large cloves garlic, minced
1.5 cup onions, diced
4 tbsp butter
3/4 cup full fat coconut milk or coconut cream for extra creaminess
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup crushed tomatoes
2 heaped cups chopped fresh spinach
1 tbsp Madras curry powder
1/2 tsp mustard powder
1 1/2 tsp ground roasted cumin
1/2 tsp ground ginger or 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
A good handful of chopped cilantro, but you only have parsley, that works too
Salt and pepper to taste

In a large pan, melt the butter, add onions and garlic and fry for around 7 minutes. Add the ginger, curry powder, cumin and mustard powder and blend well together, allowing the spices oils to come out

Add the lentils, crushed tomatoes and tomato halves to the onions and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 8 minutes more on medium heat.

Add the coconut milk/cream, spinach and chopped cilantro/parsley and let simmer for a few more minutes until well blended. Make sure the onions are tender and the cherry tomato halves are soft before serving. You might have to let it simmer gently for another 15-20 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste before serving.

Asian flavors · Curry · Dairy-free · Gluten Free · Poultry

One pot Thai green curry roast chicken

March 3, 2019February 8, 2023 Belinda

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This recipe is from the food blog, “HonestlyYum”
The dish is a Thai twist on the recipe: milk chicken.
Instead of roasting a chicken in milk and aromatics, like cinnamon, lemon and sage, your use a basting sauce that is composed of traditional Thai curry ingredients– coconut milk, fish sauce, green curry paste, chiles and kaffir lime leaves.
(If you can’t find kaffir lime leaves, you can still make the curry without it.) You can also switch up the curry paste, it doesn’t have to be green, it could be yellow or red.
“This recipe makes insanely flavorful chicken and the best part for me is a bowl of jasmine rice covered in that delicious curry sauce in the bottom of the pot!”

Serves 4

1 whole organic chicken, or you could use 4x whole chicken legs which would cook beautifully.
2 cans coconut milk
1 1/2 cups water
4 tbsp green curry paste (or less if you don’t want it too spicy)
3 tsp sugar (palm sugar ideally)
1 tsp fish sauce
2 sprigs Thai basil (plus more for garnish)
4 kaffir lime leaves
3-5 Thai chiles
Vegetable oil
Kosher or sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 375 F.
Season your chicken liberally with salt and pepper. Heat a glug of oil over medium heat in a large cast iron pot. Sear the chicken on all 4 sides, until the chicken is well browned, about 5-7 minutes on each side. Transfer the chicken onto a plate and drain off most of the oil, leaving about 1 tablespoon behind
Sauté the curry paste in the oil and scoop the solid part of the coconut milk out.
Sauté until the curry is fragrant. Add the liquid part of the coconut milk and cup of water and bring to a simmer. If your coconut milk didn’t separate, you can just add it all in– this isn’t an essential step.

Add the sugar and fish sauce. Season with salt to taste.
Add two large sprigs of basil, lime leaves and 2-3 sliced Thai chiles. Place the chicken back in the pot.

Roast at 375F with the lid uncovered for about 1 hour or until the thickest part of the thigh is cooked through, basting the chicken with the curry a couple times during the roasting. Cooking time will vary depending on the size of your chicken.

Asian flavors · Curry · Dairy-free · Fish · Gluten Free

Coconut-miso salmon curry

February 25, 2019February 27, 2019 Belinda

Recipe from Ken Chun

This light, delicate weeknight curry comes together in less than 30 minutes and is defined by its deep miso flavor. Miso is typically whisked into soups toward the end of the recipe, but sweating it directly in the pot with ginger, garlic and a little oil early on helps the paste caramelize, intensifying its earthy sweetness. Adding coconut milk creates a rich broth that works with a wide range of seafood. Salmon is used here, but flaky white fish, shrimp or scallops would all benefit from this quick poaching method. A squeeze of lime and a flurry of fresh herbs keep this curry bright and citrusy. For a hit of heat, garnish with sliced fresh jalapeño or serrano chile peppers.

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3 tbsp safflower or canola oil
1 medium red onion, halved and sliced 1/2-inch thick (about 2 cups)
1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, minced (about 2 tablespoons)
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
Kosher salt and black pepper
¼ cup white miso
½ cup unsweetened, full-fat canned coconut milk
1 (1 1/2-pound) salmon fillet, cut into 2-inch pieces
5 ounces baby spinach (about 5 packed cups)
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, plus lime wedges for serving
Steamed rice, such as jasmine or basmati, for serving
¼cup chopped fresh basil
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro

In a large pot, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium. Add onion, ginger and garlic and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add miso and cook, stirring frequently, until miso is lightly caramelized, about 2 minutes.

Add coconut milk and 3 cups water and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook until liquid is slightly reduced, about 5 minutes. Stir in salmon, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer gently until just cooked through, about 5 minutes. Turn off heat and stir in spinach and lime juice.

Divide rice among bowls. Top with salmon curry, basil and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges for squeezing on top.

Asian flavors · Curry · Dairy-free · Gluten Free · Poultry · Whole30 compliant

Thai Coconut Curry

January 8, 2019 Belinda

This Paleo, Whole30 + Keto Thai coconut curry is dairy-free, made with gut healthy bone broth, curry paste, veggies and chicken. It’s easy comfort food!

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Serves 6

1 onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated on a microplane
2 bell peppers, sliced into thin strips
3 cups tuscan kale, roughly chopped
3 chicken breasts or thighs, if you prefer darker meat.
2 tbsp avocado oil (or coconut oil)
2.5 tbsp green or red curry paste
2 tbsp coconut vinegar (or sub white vinegar)
1/4 cup chicken broth
1.5 cups full fat coconut milk
Salt and pepper
For serving:
6 cups cauliflower rice (or white rice – cauli only for Whole30 – omit for Keto)
1 tbsp avocado oil
Salt and pepper

Prep onion, garlic, ginger, bell peppers and kale as noted above.
Place the chicken breasts/thighs between two pieces of parchment paper and pound them down to make them even in thickness. Sprinkle each side of the chicken with salt and pepper.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add avocado oil.
Once hot, add the chicken to the pan (you may have to cook the chicken in 2 batches depending on the size of your pan). Cook, without disturbing for 3-4 minutes, until a nice brown crust has formed. Flip and cook another 3-4 minutes on the other side, until the chicken is mostly cooked through.
Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside. Lower the heat to medium.
Add more oil if needed and add the onion and bell peppers to the pan. Cook, stirring frequently, for 3-4 minutes, until they begin to soften.
While the onions and peppers cook, break the chicken into smaller chunks using forks or tongs.

Add the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly.
Add the curry paste and stir for 1 minute to mix well.
Add vinegar, chicken broth, coconut milk and ginger to the pan. Stir to mix, scraping up any browned bits remaining in the pan.
Add the chicken chunks back to the skillet with the sauce. Cover and turn heat down to low. Simmer for 3-5 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked.

While the chicken is simmering, prepare the cauliflower rice.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add avocado oil. Once hot, add cauliflower rice and simmer, stirring frequently, for 4-5 minutes or until tender. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Add in the kale with the chicken just before serving and cook for another 1-2 minutes, until wilted.
Serve chicken over cauliflower rice and spoon some sauce over everything for serving.

Asian flavors · Curry · Pasta

Red curry noodles

August 26, 2018October 24, 2021 Belinda

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I love anything from SouthEast Asia and this recipe from the food blog, Spoonforkbacon, is well worth trying.

Serves 3 to 4

8 oz flat rice noodles (medium width, same as used for Pad Thai)
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil
3 tbsp minced shallots
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp minced ginger
2 Thai chiles, split in half lengthwise
1/4 cup red curry paste. (Start with less, taste and add more if you like it really spicy)
1 (15 oz) can coconut milk
1 small can sliced bamboo shoots, drained
1 (15 oz) can baby corn, drained and cut to 1 inch pieces
2 kaffir lime leaves or juice 1 lime
Garnish:
cilantro leaves
lime zest
sliced chives
lime wedges, on the side

Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil.
Add the noodles, cover and remove from the heat. Allow the noodles to soak/soften for about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Pour the oil into a large saucepan and place over medium-high heat.
Add the shallots, garlic, ginger, chiles, bamboo shoots and baby corn. Saute for 3 to 4 minutes.
Stir in the curry paste and sauté until fragrant, an additional 3 to 4 minutes.
Reduce the heat to medium heat and stir in the coconut milk. Season with salt and pepper.
Gently crush the kaffir leaves in your hand and stir into the mixture (or stir in lime juice).
Once the mixture begins to simmer add the noodles and continue to simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. At this time you can discard the chili halves if you wish.
Adjust the seasonings and top with chives and lime zest.
Serve with lime wedges.

Asian flavors · Curry · Gluten Free · Meat · Whole30 compliant

Thai meatball coconut curry

July 28, 2015September 13, 2018 Belinda

What could be better than the comfort of meat balls surrounded by Thai flavors and swimming in coconut broth? Very little, if you ask me. I am sharing this recipe from “Delicious” magazine as there is nothing I would do to tweak it.You can freeze half of this for another time, which is perfect!

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Serves 4
3 tbsp olive oil
2 red bell peppers, sliced
4 to 5 tbsp Penang curry paste (You can use Thai kitchen Penang curry paste, if available)
2 x 14 oz cans coconut milk (Use sugar-free brands)
1 each large red and green chilli pepper, de-seeded and finely shredded
6 scallions, (spring onions) thinly sliced
2 lemongrass stalks, tough outer leaves removed and inner leaves finely diced
Juice of 2 limes, plus lime wedges to serve
5 to 6 oz ground almonds
(Steamed rice, optional)

For the meatballs
2lbs ground pork
5 scallions, finely diced
1 large red chilli, deseeded and finely diced
2 lemongrass stalks, tough outer leaves removed, inner leaves finely diced
good bunch of cilantro, leaves finely chopped
1 1/2 to 2 inch piece of ginger, grated
grated zest and juice of 2 limes
1 medium free range, organic egg

In a large bowl mix the ingredients for the meat balls. Season and with wet hands, form into about 40 walnut-sized balls. Put on a large plate and chill for 15 minutes or until needed.

Heat 2 tbsp of the oil in a large, deep frying pan, add the meatballs in 2 batches and fry for 10 minutes until cooked through and browned. Remove and set aside.

In the same pan, heat the remaining olive oil, add the peppers and fry for 2 minutes until softened, then add the curry paste and cook for 1 minute.
Stir in the coconut milk, chillies,scallions, lemongrass and lime juice. Gently simmer for a few minutes then add the almonds and cook for a few minutes to warm through (add a little water or chicken broth if the curry sauce seems too thick)

Add the meatballs to the curry sauce and heat through. Divide half the curry among 4 serving bowls, sprinkle with cilantro leaves and serve with rice and lime wedges.

** Cool the remaining curry and spoon into a freezerproof container. Seal and freeze for up to 3 months.
Thaw overnight in the fridge, then transfer to a saucepan and heat until the sauce and meatballs are piping hot.

Asian flavors · Curry · Gluten Free · Grains · Vegetable sides

Baked curried rice with apples and coconut

May 31, 2015September 13, 2018 Belinda

Asian flavors · Curry · Pasta · Poultry · Soup

15 minute Coconut curry noodle soup

May 2, 2015September 13, 2018 Belinda

Want a bowl of heaven in 15 minutes? This recipe is from a great blog called Woks of Life and has all my favorite ingredients rolled into one bowl of deliciousness.

Makes 2 generous portions

You’ll need:

2 tablespoons vegetable or peanut oil
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 heaped tbsp fresh ginger, grated
2 tbsp Thai red curry paste (or 3 tbsp if you like it really spicy)
8 oz. boneless chicken breast or thighs, sliced
4 cups chicken broth
1 cup water
2 tbsp fish sauce
2/3 cup coconut milk
6 oz. dried rice vermicelli noodles (or the fine rice noodles)
A bag of beansprouts (about 10 oz)
1 lime, juiced
Sliced red onion, red chilies, cilantro, scallions to garnish

In a large pot over medium heat, add the oil, garlic, ginger, and Thai red curry paste. Fry for 5 minutes, until fragrant.
Add the chicken and cook for a couple minutes, just until the chicken turns opaque.
Add the chicken broth, water, fish sauce, and coconut milk. Bring to a boil. At this point, taste the broth for salt and adjust seasoning accordingly (add salt if needed, or if it’s too salty, add a bit of water).

Put the dried rice vermicelli noodles in each of your large soup bowls, add a large handful of beansprouts, a good amount of roughly chopped cilantro and about 1/4 cup chopped scallions per bowl.
Pour the boiling soup over all this and add a good squeeze of lime juice to each bowl.Let sit for about 4 minutes until the noodles are cooked. Serve

(Alternatively, you can add the noodles to the boiling broth to cook them, and then divide among serving bowls).

Asian flavors · Curry · Gluten Free · Poultry

Asian roast chicken with red curry and coconut gravy

March 4, 2015September 13, 2018 Belinda

Roast chicken is my go-to comfort food if we’ve had a really busy week and have eaten out a lot. The week of the Oscars was like that and I was craving a roast chicken. This is a fabulous alternative to the usual traditional flavors in a roast chicken.

1 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tsp Thai spice blend or Chinese five-spice powder
½ tsp coarse salt
Grated zest and juice of 1 lime, plus extra 1 lime, halved
3 1/2 lb whole free-range chicken
2 lemongrass stalks, bruised
4 thick slices fresh ginger
2 lime leaves (look for Bart Spices dried lime leaves, from major supermarkets)
7 oz carton coconut cream
7 fl oz chicken stock, hot
1 tbsp Thai red curry paste

Preheat the oven to 350 F.
Mix together the oil, spice blend, salt and lime zest and juice to make a paste. Rub the mixture evenly onto the chicken skin.
Pop the lime halves into the body cavity, along with the lemongrass, ginger and lime leaves. Sit in a roasting tin and roast for 1½ hours, until the chicken is cooked through.
Tip any juices inside the body cavity into the tin, then lift the chicken onto a plate and rest for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, pour off the fat, then stir the coconut cream, stock and curry paste into the juices left in the tin, and cook in the oven for a further 5 minutes, until hot.
Carve the chicken and serve with the coconut gravy and some steamed greens, such as pak choi, and rice.