Authentic Durban Chicken Curry Recipes

Steps:

• Add half teaspoon oil to a heated heavy based pan. Brown the chicken pieces on both sides for a minute or two.
• Lower the heat. Remove the chicken from the pan. Add finely chopped onions. Fry for 2-3 minutes until soft. Add remaining oil. Add ginger and garlic.
• Add powdered spices. Mix. Braise for 2-3 minutes.
• Add half cup water. Mix. Add chopped tomatoes. Mix. Add chicken pieces. Add another cup water. Mix.
• Add potatoes and peas. Add salt. Add remaining water. Cover and allow to cook on medium heat for 25-30 minutes.
• Serve warm with rice and carrot salad.

Steps:

• Make the tomato and mint sambal first: mix all the ingredients together, cover and leave to chill for an hour before serving.
• For the chicken curry: heat the oil in a frying pan and cook the onion and curry leaves until the onion is soft and golden brown. Stir in the garlic, ginger and spices and cook for a couple of minutes over a low heat.
• Increase the temperature and add the chicken and chillies, stirring well for a few minutes.
• Add the tomatoes, half the stock and cook for about 10 minutes before adding the tomato purée.
• Add the potatoes and the remaining stock; cover and simmer for a further 20 minutes. Remove the chillies and curry leaves, adjust the seasoning if necessary and sprinkle with the coriander before serving.
• Serve on a bed of rice with the tomato and mint sambal.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F.
• Heat 1 teaspoon ghee in a non stick fry pan.
• Trim chicken thighs of visible fat and season with the salt, pepper and paprika.
• Brown on both sides in the heated ghee and transfer to a casserole dish that has a tight fitting lid. My favourite is a Le Creuset oval casserole.
• In the same fry pan add the additional 1/2 tablespoon ghee and saute the onions and garlic until soft.
• Add the curry powder and cook further 2 minutes.
• Add lime juice, fresh ginger, crushed tomatoes, coconut milk, sugar, chopped cilantro, cinnamon sticks and bay leaves.
• Pour over chicken - mix so all is coated - cover with lid and bake up to 1 1/2 hours or until chicken is tender.
• SAMBALS are condiments that are served in small dishes as compliments to the curry: 1) Mix together chopped tomatoes and finely chopped onion sprinkled with salt, place in a serving dish and set aside. 2) Sliced bananas. 3) Peach Chutney 4) Lime Pickle 5) Toasted coconut to sprinkle. 6) Papadoms 7) Naan bread.
• LEFT OVERS FOR BREAKFAST: If you have left over gravy - add a couple of halved hard boiled eggs and serve on toast for breakfast the next day!

Steps:

• Cut two deep diagonal slits, down to the bone, in each chicken breast and one in each leg and thigh. Place chicken, breast side up, on a sheet of heavy-duty foil large enough to enclose it. Place in a roasting pan.
• Place lemon juice, ginger, garlic, chilies, salt, oil, cumin and coriander in a blender and process to a thick purée. Rub purée over chicken, inside and out, and into slits. Set chicken aside 30 minutes.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Dust chicken with chili powder and black pepper, enclose in foil and crimp to seal. Roast 1 hour.
• Open foil and baste chicken. Return, uncovered, to oven for 15 minutes, basting twice more. Transfer chicken to serving platter. Pour juices from foil into a small dish and serve alongside chicken.