Kenyan Chicken Curry
A household favorite in Kenya, this recipe carries all the classic Kenyan flavors like tomato, curry powder and coriander. Served with polenta cakes that are called ugali in the local lingo.
Servings
Produce
Garlic (Organic)
4 2 Clove
Yellow Onion (Organic)
1 0.5 Whole
Roma Tomato
8 4 oz
Red Potato
6 3 oz
Jalapeno Pepper (Organic)
1 0.5 Whole
Cilantro (Organic)
1/2 0.25 oz
Protein & more
Polenta
1 0.5 cup
Tomato paste
3 1.5 tablespoon
Chicken thighs
1 0.5 lb
Pantry items
Olive oil
2 1 tablespoon
Sea salt
1 0.5 teaspoon
Spice mix
Curry Powder
2 1 teaspoon
Sweet paprika
2 1 teaspoon
Coriander powder
2 1 teaspoon
Black pepper
1/2 0.25 teaspoon
Prep ahead (optional)
a. Finely dice yellow onion and roma tomatoes, preserve tomato juices. b. Chop potatoes into ½" cubes. c. Slice jalapeno lengthwise, deseed as desired and thinly slice. d. Mince garlic. e. Rough chop cilantro.
Instructions
1
Cook polenta (preferably a few hours, or even a day earlier):
a. Line a tray with baking paper and spray with oil.
b. In large saucepan over high heat, add 5 cups water (2½ cups for 2-person portion) and ½ tsp salt. Cover and bring to a boil. Go ahead and get started on step 2 while waiting for water to boil.
c. Slowly stream in polenta while whisking constantly. Reduce heat; keep at a medium-high simmer and cook until tender, stirring frequently, about 20 minutes.
d. When polenta is tender, stir in 1 tbsp butter and salt to taste. Remove into the tray and set aside to cool. Once cooled, refrigerate.
2
Cook the chicken:
a. Chop chicken thighs into bite-sized chunks. Season with ½ tsp salt.
b. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a pot. Add the chicken. Saute, stirring regularly, for about 5-7 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and keep aside.
3
Cook the curry:
a. Add 1 tbsp olive oil to the same pot. Add the yellow onion (finely dice), garlic (mince) and ½ tsp salt. Saute for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions soften.
b. Add the roma tomatoes (finely dice) with juices. Continue cooking till the tomatoes disintegrate into the onions, about 5 more minutes.
c. Add the red potatoes (chop into ½" cubes), tomato paste and the Kenyan curry spice mix. Stir well to combine. Add 1 cup water (½ cup for 2 person portions). Cover and cook for 10 minutes.
d. Add the chicken pieces and 1 cup water (½ cup for 2 person portions). Continue cooking uncovered till the sauce comes to a boil. Reduce heat and cook for 2 more minutes. Turn off heat and keep covered until ready to serve.
4
Cook the ugali (polenta cakes):
a. Remove the polenta from the refrigerator. Use a cookie cutter to cut out disks or any other shape of your choice. You may also cut it into squares or rectangles, if you please.
b. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a saute pan. Add the polenta cakes to the pan. Cook for 2 minutes, or until a golden crust has formed on the bottom. Flip them over and cook for 2 more minutes on the other side.
5
Serve:
a. Divide Kenyan chicken curry amongst bowls. Garnish with cilantro (rough chop) and jalapeno (slice lengthwise, deseed as desired, thinly slice). Serve ugali (polenta cakes) alongside. Enjoy!
Chef's notes
You may substitute the polenta cakes for brown rice if you wish to.
This recipe has been adapted from Taste of the Place
All spice mixes and dressings made by Inner Chef from scratch with organic ingredients, local when possible.
This week’s local ingredients across all Inner Chef meal-kits come from:
Gundermann Acres,
Wharton County, TX
Wharton County, TX
Fagan Family Farm
Lone Star Herbs,
League City, TX
League City, TX
G&S Groves,
Mission, TX
Mission, TX
The Farm Patch,
Pleasanton, TX
Pleasanton, TX
Kitchen Pride,
Gonzales, TX
Gonzales, TX
Fruitful Hill Farm,
Bastrop, TX
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J&B Farms,
Hondo, TX
Hondo, TX
Martinez Farms,
Pleasanton, TX
Pleasanton, TX
Village Farms,
Marfa, TX
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Animal Farm,
Cat Spring, TX
Cat Spring, TX
Bouldin Food Forest,
Rogers, TX
Rogers, TX
Buena Tierra Farms,
Fredonia, TX
Fredonia, TX
Dilorio Farms,
Hempstead, TX
Hempstead, TX
Engel Farms,
Fredericksburg, TX
Fredericksburg, TX
Good Flow Honey,
Austin, TX
Austin, TX
Hairston Creek Farms,
Burnet, TX
Burnet, TX
Hifi Mycology,
Austin, TX
Austin, TX
Homestead Gristmill,
Waco, TX
Waco, TX
K. H. Farms,
Poteet, TX
Poteet, TX
Pedernales Valley Farms,
Federicksburg, TX
Federicksburg, TX
Lightsey Farms,
Mexia, TX
Mexia, TX
Texas Olive Ranch,
Carrizo Springs, TX
Carrizo Springs, TX
Thomas Kindle,
Grand Saline, TX
Grand Saline, TX
Top of Texas,
Farwell, TX
Farwell, TX
US Citrus,
Hargill, TX
Hargill, TX
Bella Verdi,
Dripping Springs, TX
Dripping Springs, TX
Country Boy Farms,
Kennard, TX
Kennard, TX
Francis and Thatcher,
Manor, TX
Manor, TX
James Farm,
Prairie Ronde, LA
Prairie Ronde, LA