Durban Chicken Curry is a South African dish that can be cooked in various ways. You can cook the curry in a pot or prepare the chicken on skewers.
This recipe is made with onion, bay leaf, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and coriander seeds. It also includes garlic puree and natural yogurt to add flavor to the meat and make it more tender.
The curry is served with rice, chapattis, and a flatbread made using all-purpose flour. Chapattis are similar to tortillas in Mexican cooking and are very common in India.
Both chicken and vegetables can be used in Durban Chicken Curry. The vegetables used should be prepared as finely as possible so that they can easily fit through a meat grinder, allowing the chicken marinade to penetrate into the vegetables.
How To Make Durban Chicken Curry?
Preparation Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 45 mins
Total Time: 65 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons ghee or butter
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon curry powder or garam masala
- 1 tablespoon ground coriander
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon whole cumin
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 to 2 whole cinnamon sticks
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1-inch fresh ginger, grated
- 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 8 pieces of chicken, preferably thighs and drumsticks or wings (2.2 pounds/1 kilogram)
- 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
- 1 tablespoon tomato puree
- 2 medium potatoes, diced into half-inch cubes
- 1 small rutabaga (swede), optional
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 sprig of curry leaves
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Fresh coriander leaves for garnish (optional).
Instructions
1. Place the ghee, butter, and oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat.
2. Add the curry powder, ground coriander, and ground cumin to the pot. Stir in the ghee until it is aromatic and starts to smoke.
3. Add the whole cumin seeds and cinnamon sticks to the pot next, followed by onions, ginger, garlic, chicken pieces, and cayenne pepper. Cook for 8 minutes until brown on all sides of the chicken pieces.
4. Add the diced tomatoes, tomato puree, and whole cumin seeds to the pot.
5. Stir in the potatoes, rutabaga (swede), chopped tomato, chicken stock, and coriander leaves. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat while leaving enough room at the bottom of the pot to allow the chicken pieces to move around without touching the bottom of the pot.
6. Reduce the heat to a medium-low and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
7. Season with salt, stir in the fresh coriander leaves and serve hot with rice and chapattis.
Notes:
You can add cauliflower florets to the curry instead of rutabaga (swede). Yellow split peas can be used instead of chicken stock as well. The yellow split peas should be soaked before using them to substitute for chicken stock.
Nutrition Fact Of Durban Chicken Curry
| Nutrition | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 360 |
| Total Fat | 18 g |
| Saturated Fats | 8 g |
| Cholesterol | 140 mg |
| Sodium | 380 mg |
| Potassium | 590 mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 29 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 7 g |
| Protein | 31 g |
Health Benefits Of Durban Chicken Curry
1. Helps In Weight Loss
A diet rich in curry may help keep your belly fat at bay. This is because the spices and herbs in curry are beneficial for metabolism.
They help the body to utilize fat calories, making your body use less of that particular nutrient. An appropriate weight loss helps you maintain a healthy body weight, which is necessary for optimum health.
2. Relieves Constipation
Pumpkin is full of soluble fiber, which helps ease Constipation and boost digestive health.
3. Prevents Heart Disease
Reduces the risk of heart disease due to its omega-6 fatty acids and antioxidants like lycopene and vitamin E.
4. Cures Digestive Issues
Durban Chicken Curry is a wonderful dish that all can enjoy. It is packed with protein, carbohydrates, and fiber, which will provide your body with essential nutrients for better overall health.
5. Helps in Improving Digestion
Rich in fiber and protein, this dish helps eliminate toxins from the body and flush out the system.
6. Prevents Kidney Stones
Rich in potassium protects your kidneys from damage and reduces the risk of kidney stones, which are very common in people who have high blood pressure or diabetes.
7. Promotes Healthy Skin
It is rich in vitamin A and vitamin C that helps promote healthy skin and keep your skin smooth and glowing.
Can I Freeze It?
Instead of making this dish in one large pot, you can also make it in smaller portions and freeze them. Add a tablespoon of oil and spices to a freezer bag, close it to prevent the steam from escaping, and freeze. To thaw the curry, place it in the refrigerator overnight or set it on the counter for 20 minutes.
Is It Good For Everybody?
The curry powder used in the recipe is an all-purpose spice blend, which can be spicy for some people. If you do not enjoy a spicy dish, then reduce the amount of curry powder or omit it entirely.
Final Thoughts
Durban Chicken Curry recipe is an excellent dish for the family. It is very easy to prepare and will satisfy everyone. Curry recipes are quite common in homes worldwide, and they are very easy to make. Chicken dishes are somewhat similar across various cultures and nations, so this recipe will also be familiar to many people.