Friday 28 June 2013

Mummy's Chicken Curry


It is true what they say. Mum's cooking is always the best. One of my favourite curries is my mother's chicken curry. I tried replicating this recipe in the past but was not successful.  It did not taste the same. So I asked my mum for her recipe and she delightfully obliged. Mum says to be generous with the onions or else the curry won't taste good. I have no problems with that because I love onions.




If your family loves potatoes, I would advise you to put more into this curry. It is always the star of the show and somehow everyone zeroes in on the spuds. My mother always serves this curry with either coleslaw or potato salad. Oh yes, we love our potatoes. And be sure to have loads of rice too.










Mummy's Chicken Curry
Recipe source : Phong Hong's Mum with some adaptations

- 3 big chicken legs, cut into 4 pieces each (about 900 grams)
- 4 potatoes, cut into quarters
- 1 big ripe tomato cut into quarters
- 3 big onions, thinly sliced
- 3 large cloves garlic
- 1 inch ginger
- 3 cardamoms
- 1 star anise
- 3 cloves
- 1" cinnamon stick
- 2 sprigs curry leaves
- 1 packet curry powder (25 grams)
- Yogurt or evaporated milk (amount depends on your preference)
- Salt to taste
- 400ml water (adjust to your preference for more or less gravy. I tend to put less because the chicken will release water during cooking)

Method :
1. Pound garlic and ginger. Set aside.
2. Mix curry powder with some water to make a paste and set aside.
3. Heat oil and saute sliced onions until wilted and slightly brown.
4. Add pounded ginger and garlic and continue to fry for a minute or two.
5. Add cardamoms, star anise, cloves, cinnamon stick and curry leaves and saute until fragrant.
6. Add curry paste and fry until well blended.
7. Add chicken and stir to coat with sauteed ingredients.
8. Add water, tomatoes, potatoes and bring to a boil. The simmer until chicken is cooked and potatoes are tender.
9. Season with salt to taste and add yogurt or evaporated milk according to the consistency that you like.




I am linking this post to the event, Little Thumbs Up organised by Zoe of Bake for Happy Kids and Doreen of My Little Favourite DIY and hosted by Ms B of Everybody Eats Well in Flanders.

44 comments:

  1. Nice! But these days I don't bother - too much hassle. I just use the A1 Mountain Globe curry paste - very nice also...good enough for me.

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    1. I guess using the ready made paste does save a lot of time. But my mum's curry I think is quiet simple. No need to grind anything, just slicing of onions.

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  2. ivy sew http://simplybeautifulhealthyliving.blogspot.com28 June 2013 at 17:54

    Phong Hong, this curry sure tastes yummy! The colour itself already drives me crazy. I promise I must make sure to try your recipe one day. I know my family will love the gravy and the potatoes! Thanks so much for sharing, Phong Hong!

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    1. Hi Ivy, you must try my mum's curry because it is very simple but tastes very good.

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  3. Mom's dish are always a hit ! Looks spicy !

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    1. Hi Sapana, the curry is mildly spicy. I guess if I added a bit more curry powder, it would be spicier.

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  4. PhongHong this simple version of curry chicken is nice... I realize it doesn't need chilli paste... I like it

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    1. Thanks, Li Shuan! This recipe don't need to blend any spices, hassle free but taste very good.

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  5. ya, i like this type of curry also. this is so good with steam hot rice. yummy.

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    1. xing hui, if I eat this curry I will eat a lot of rice hah! hah!

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  6. maybe i can try out auntie's recipe..got ginger! can cook for next month's LTU! haha..

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    1. Ya lah, there is a lot of things to cook because most of our Asian dishes got ginger inside.

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  7. wawawa..ini macam punya kari baru la akak boleh makan! sendiri masak punya pedas takleh tahan...tapi anak2 suka...so emak mengalah jer la...kan?

    pssst your mom cooking style ada serupa macam akak la, mungkin PH patut panggil akak ni aunty kot? ehehhehe

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    1. Hee..hee...Aunty Queenie..takde lah...PH suka mak punya resipi sebab mudah. Lebih kurang macam Kak Q punya gaya kan? Somehow masakan mak kita sedap dan kita selalu akan rindu masakan mak kita. Anak-anak Kak Q pun peminat setia masakan Kak Q, betul tak? Hee.hee..

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  8. That would be perfect for our Indian flatbreads

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    1. Thanks, Vimitha! I also like this curry with warm toast.

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  9. Oo-La-La! I always love to eat your mum's curry it's yummy but it's been such a long time since I ate her curry and I still can't cook like her's her beef curry is the best .I always add a bit of chilli paste to make it a bit more spicy.Later I am going to cook chicken curry using your recipe just can't wait

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    1. EE, I also love your chicken curry. Yum! Yum!

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  10. Mum's cooking is always the best!

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  11. betul tu Ph.Kari yang sedap mesti bawangnya lebih.Biarkan satu malam dan keesokkannya panaskan terlebih dahulu sebelum makan.Yum yum sungguh sedap :)

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    1. Betul! Betul! Sebab tu lah PH suka masak hari ni, makan esok.

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  12. I LOVE curry. And I love chicken. Nice combination of the two, I love this!

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    1. Cathleen! Glad to know you love curry :)

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  13. Totally agree "mum's cooking is always the best!!!" Sedapnya curry ibu ini!!!!haha....

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    1. Esther, masakan ibu best in the world hah! hah! hah!

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  14. Sounds like something with lesser hassle and less spicy than the usual curries but looking as good. Will give it a try soon :)

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    1. Thanks, this recipe from my mum is very simple and hassle free. But the outcome is so delicious.

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  15. Phong Hong, I'm drooling over your Mum's Chicken Curry that you so well prepared. Love, love, the addition of the potatoes to soak up the flavorful and rich sauce. Like I said before every time I come to your blog I'm craving so much all the yummy foods you prepare.
    Its so realistic looking that makes me want to reach thru the screen and grab that bowl! xo

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    1. Thank you so much Elisabeth! My mum would be beaming with pride when she reads your comment :)

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  16. Hi Phong Hong,
    Mothers recipes are always the best! I would definitely add more potatoes too, everyone loves potatoes, especially in curries. Looks very delicious, another plate of rice please, and there goes the diet! Makan dulu, belakang kira! hahaha!

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    1. Joyce, this belakang kira business has gotten me into a lot of trouble hah! hah!

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  17. Me like...the more potatoes the better!

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    1. Oh ya, I can just eat the potates and gravy!

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  18. Hi Phong Hong, this curry I Iike, can spread lots of the curry gravy over rice since yoghurt is, used. Me too prefers to eat the potatoes rather than the chicken meat.

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    1. Kimmy, me too prefer the potatoes. Somehow, the potatoes and curry gravy is just so fantastic.

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  19. Hi Phong Hong,
    The curry looks so delicious. I seldom put the potatoes, as we dont really like it. But must admit the curry and the potatoes cant be separated. It helps to make the gravy thicken

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    1. Hi Azie, you and family don't really like potatoes? I guess in a way that is good because you can avoid the carbohydrates. I'm not supposed to eat so much potatoes but I cannot tahan :)

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  20. Hi Phong Hong,

    This is so sweet. Your mum must be feeling very happy being so highly appreciated. I love hearing my son telling how much he likes my cooking too... so I can totally understand.

    I see lots of love in your curry. Every spoonful of this curry must be heart-warming too.

    Zoe

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    1. Zoe, I love my mum's cooking and will be sharing more of her dishes!

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  21. PH!!!! I notice and understand now, what you cook always inspired by your mak. For some reason, apa yang mak kita masak, semua sedap. PH, dah dekat 6 tahun yuss tak balik and jumpa emak yuss...sob sob :'( .... yuss rindu sangattttt masakkan dia. Yuss niat dalam hati, jika yuss balik dan jumpa mak satu hari nanti, yuss akan make sure, yuss upload gamba masakkan mak dan akan kongsi resipi di blog yuss. Dah enam tahun tak berhari raya dengan my mom and my dad...sebak di dada sayu di hati....i truly enjoy and love everytime you cook you mention about how your mom is so good with her food, because thats exactly how i feel about my mom and cooking too...... <3 .... Thank you for the love PH...

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    1. Hi Yuss! Sedihnya! Six years is a long time. I am sure mak pun rindu kat Yuss. Yah, if you get a chance to come back, you must document your mum's recipe. My mum is not very adventurous when it comes to cooking. She likes to stick to a few good tried and tested recipes. Whatever it is, we don't mind when she repeat her dishes because we love everything that she cooks.

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  22. PH!!!!! Yesss...you are sooo right!! my mak pun sama...dia suka stick dengan apa yang dia masak, walaupun tak banyak jenis dishesnya, tapi semua yang dia masak, i tak bole cari anywhere else...air tangan dia....macam your mom....cannot compare....My mak pun tak adventurous....Dah 6 tahun tak jumpa, jika ada rezeki and i dapat balik, and sekali I balik and I masak Chinese style, mesti dia pengsan....sebab dia lidah Jawa, Johor...hahaha....

    You know lah Johorian punya style...you are food expert, you sure tahu...she make the best Ayam pecal....she make the best botok(udang dan kelapa muda)...I don't know if you know that dish PH.....

    And yeah, PH...me missing my mom so much...and she miss me till everytime I call she will cry...and I have to be the one who have to be strong enough, and make her laugh, tease her, make jokes, and talk to her about how naughty I am those days....i will only hang up and say good bye when she is laughing and not sad...but everytime, she sure choked up and i choked up too.....PH, wish me and my mum will meet each other again and i promise I will document all her best food and recipe...

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    1. Yuss, when I first read about Ayam pecal (at Queenie's blog) I thought it was strange because I am used to the vegetable pecal. I am like my mum too, I like to stick to a few recipes but now that I have a blog, I have become more adventurous!

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