Cooking with Food Storage – Chicken Curry MIJ

Traditional Yellow Curry Chicken

using mostly dried ingredients, this is an easy dish to prepare straight from the pantry

Servings: 6
Time: 20 mins
Ingredients:

1 + 1/2 cups freeze dried chopped or diced Chicken hydrated in water to cover (I use the bouillon here)
1-2 Tbsp Olive Oil
1-2 cloves minced or 1 Tbsp freeze dried garlic
1/4 cup freeze dried Sliced Onions
1/4 cup freeze dried Diced Green Chilies
1/2 cup freeze dried Green Peas
1/2 cup freeze dried Green Bell Peppers
1/2 cup freeze dried Red Bell Peppers
1 tsp Garam Masala
1Tbsp Yellow Curry Powder
1 Tbsp Chicken Bouillon
1 tsp Black Pepper
1 Tbsp Turmeric
1 Tbsp Cumin
1 Tbsp Paprika
pinch of Cayenne
2 Tbsp Brown Sugar
3 Tbsp Tomato Powder
2 cans Coconut Milk
1/2 – 1 cup freeze dried Zucchini, Green Beans, or your choice of other vegetable

Directions

1. Pre-cook your favourite type of rice.
2. While your rice is cooking, place freeze dried chicken in a bowl covered with water and 1 Tbsp bouillon. Set aside to refresh 10-20 minutes.
3. Heat a large skillet with sides, to medium-high heat. Add the olive oil heat. Saute garlic, onions and chili peppers in the oil. Add the chicken (with water used to refresh), and saute until the chicken is tender and warm.
4. Add all of the seasonings and stir to mix well, continuing to simmer.
5. Add the coconut milk, tomato powder and brown sugar and stir well to completely dissolve tomato powder and brown sugar.
6. Add the peas and zucchini and any other freeze vegetable you want to use. Don’t be afraid to add a little more water if needed.
7. Simmer till warmed through, then remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes Serve over hot rice.

for Meal in a Jar:
1. layer in dry seasoning – one at a time; I like to put the smaller amounts against the glass so that they show better. Top seasoning with the tomato powder, unless you’re using tomato paste later.
2. 1/4 cup each of freeze dried Sliced Onions, and freeze dried Diced Green Chilies,
1/2 cup each of freeze dried Green Peas, freeze dried Green Bell Peppers, freeze dried Red Bell Peppers
3. 1+1/2 cup freeze dried chopped or diced chicken
4. Top the jar up with 1/2 cup of your choice of Zucchini or Green Beans, or your choice of another vegetable. Add as much as you can till jar is full.
5. Put the lid on, label and date, put it away in your pantry to use within a year. Store away from light. For best results, don’t push the shelf life passed a year.
6. To prepare – cook your rice ahead; pour jar ingredients into a fairly large skillet and add 2 cups water. Stir to combine well, while bringing to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, add coconut milk, stir well to combine. Lightly simmer till chicken is tender, then remove from heat. Let sit covered for 5 minutes and serve over top rice.

Pro Tips:
– if you don’t have tomato powder, use tomato paste (not in the jar – at the time of cooking)
– if you don’t have all those spices (other than curry), not to worry; just use what you’ve got. CURRY however is important. If you don’t have curry – don’t make the dish.
– to simplify the preparation I spoon the spices into a small (1/4 pint) jar, arranged beautifully. I save this seasoning mixture in my spice cupboard to add all together when preparing similar dishes later.

Enjoy!

Cindy Suelzle