Sri Lankan Curry Recipes

SRI LANKAN CHICKEN CURRY

Steps:

• Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Combine the vinegar, tamarind juice, 1/4 cup curry powder, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Add chicken and toss to coat.
• Heat the coconut oil in a wok or frying pan over medium heat. Cook the sliced onion, green chiles, cardamom pods, cloves, curry leaves, ginger, and cinnamon stick until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, and continue cooking and stirring until the onion is very tender and dark brown, 15 to 20 minutes more. Stir in the garlic and cook for an additional minute.
• Add the chicken mixture, water, and tomato paste. Stir and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 10 minutes. Add the roasted curry powder and stir until evenly dispersed.
• Gradually stir in the coconut milk and simmer for 2-3 more minutes. (Do not overheat or the coconut milk may curdle.)

SRI LANKAN CURRY POWDER

Steps:

• In a dry frying pan, over low heat, roast each ingredient separately till light-medium brown.
• Stir constantly[coriander, cumin, ani seeds, rice must be fairly brown, but do not let them burn].
• Mix all the roasted ingredients, put into a grinder and grind to a fine powder.
• Store in an air tight jar.
• I use this curry powder for fish curry, meat curry.
• [1Tbsp for 1 lb of meat or fish] For vegitable curry, use only about 1/2 Tsp of curry powder.

SRI LANKA BEEF CURRY

Steps:

• Rinse the beef and pat dry. Crush the garlic cloves into a paste and combine it with the crushed ginger. Add the vinegar, salt, pepper, roasted curry powder, and cayenne. Mix in the beef cubes and toss to coat. Set aside for 30 minutes.
• Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the curry leaves and pandan strips. Stir in the onions. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Mix in the beef cubes and cook until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Stir in the cinnamon stick, cardamom pods, and cloves. Add the tomato paste and water and mix well.
• Simmer, covered, on low heat for 1 1/2 hours or until the meat is tender. Check the curry every half hour; you may need to add more water (up to 1 cup) if the curry is too dry and is sticking to the pan.
• Add the coconut milk and heat through. Taste and adjust the seasonings before serving.

SRI LANKAN CURRY

Steps:

• Fry the chicken just until the outside is golden. Then remove.
• Fry onion, garlic and giner until softened. Then add curry powder (add chilli powder/cayenne pepper if want spicier curry), paprika, paprika, bay leaves. Mix and cook for a few min until fragrant. Add tomatoes and 1 tsp sugar. Mix to coat. NB you could also add other vegetables here e.g carrot, pepper e.t.c.
• Add coconut milk, equal amount of water and vinegar. Bring to a boil and put in to a slow cooker on high for 3 hours.
• If you don't have a slow cooker follow the same steps but add the chicken (potentially cut up in to smaller pieces) with the onions, garlic e.t.c. chicken. Cook for 10 min before adding the coconut milk and then cook for 20 min with the lid on.

SRI LANKAN POTATO CURRY II

Steps:

• Combine the potatoes, salt, coconut cream, green chiles, curry leaves, cayenne pepper, saffron powder, garlic, and water in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the coconut cream thickens, about 15 to 20 minutes.
• Test the potatoes for doneness by piercing them with the tip of a paring knife. When the potatoes are tender, remove the pan from the heat. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Serve with plain rice.

SRI LANKAN CASHEW CURRY

Steps:

• Drain and rinse cashews; set aside. Heat coconut oil in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium. Add onion, garlic, and ginger and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened and translucent, 5-7 minutes.
• Add curry powder, turmeric, paprika, and 1¼ tsp. salt to pot and cook, stirring to coat aromatics, until toasted and fragrant, about 2 minutes.
• Add 1½ cups water to pot, scraping up any browned bits stuck to bottom with a wooden spoon. Stir in coconut milk and reserved cashews and bring just to a boil. Reduce heat so mixture is at a rapid simmer and cook, stirring occasionally and adjusting heat as needed, until cashews soften slightly and liquid is reduced by two thirds, 25-35 minutes. Remove from heat and let cashew curry sit 10 minutes (sauce will continue to thicken as it cools). Squeeze in lime juice; taste and season with more salt if needed.
• Cook's Note: Don't stress over the texture of the cashews. After their overnight soak and simmer, they'll be plenty soft-and you can't really overcook them.