Kenyan Ground Round Curry Recipes

KUKU PAKA (KENYAN CHICKEN CURRY)

Steps:

• Add the onion, chiles, ginger and garlic to a food processor or blender and process until smooth. Add a little water if necessary.
• Heat the oil or ghee in a large pot or wok over medium flame. Add the onion puree, curry powder and cumin and sauté, stirring frequently, for 5 to 8 minutes, or until cooked down. Stir in the tomatoes and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes. Then add the chicken, coconut milk, salt and pepper. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, until the chicken is cooked through and tender, anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. Add more water as needed. Adjust salt and pepper, to taste.
• Stir in the cilantro. Serve with with rice or chapatti.
• Variations: For authentic flavor, grill the chicken pieces before stirring them into the simmering sauce. If you like, you can also use boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs.
• Some recipes add potatoes or hard-boiled eggs to the curry. The potatoes can be cooked ahead, cut into chunks and stirred into the curry toward the end.
• Eliminate the hot chiles for a milder dish. Or substitute a chopped sweet bell pepper.
• Reserve some of the coconut cream that gathers at the top of the can and stir it into the sauce at the very end for extra silky results.

A TASTE OF AFRICA - KENYAN CHICKEN CURRY

Steps:

• Combine half the ginger, half the garlic, half the turmeric, half the lemon juice and half the oil in a large bowl with ALL the cumin, garam masala, ground coriander, paprika, chilli flakes and yoghurt.
• Add the chicken, turn to coat in marinade.
• Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to very hot (220C/425F).
• Cook chicken in lightly oiled shallow flameproof baking dish, uncovered, 10 minutes.(With the marinade).
• Heat remaining oil in large saucepan, cook onion, chilli powder, fenugreek, remaining ginger, garlic and turmeric, stirring, until onion softens.
• Add tomatoes (with their juice), cinnamon, green chillies and remaining lemon juice.
• Simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.
• Stir in cream and honey, simmer, uncovered, for one minute.
• Add chicken to curry, simmer about 5 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
• Remove from heat, stir in fresh coriander, serve over basmati rice, garnish with fresh coriander.

KUKU PAKU (AFRICAN COCONUT CHICKEN CURRY)

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large, skillet (cast iron works well). Add onions and green peppers and sauté for 5 minutes, until soft.
• Add the chicken and brown over medium high heat, until golden, 5-7 min.
• Add the potatoes, tomatoes, garlic, ginger, chilies, lemon juice (if using), turmeric, curry powder, and salt. Whisk the water into the flour until smooth. Add to the mixture the skillet. Simmer, uncovered over medium heat until the potatoes are tender and the mixture has begun to thicken.
• Mix in the coconut milk (and boiled eggs, if using) and simmer for an additional 15 minutes,
• Serve immediately with steamed white rice.

KENYAN GROUND ROUND CURRY

Steps:

• In a deep medium-sized frying pan, saute onions and ground beef in oil until meat is browned. Skim fat.
• Add curry powder, garlic, ginger and tomatoes. Fry briefly, then add tomato paste, cinnamon and cilantro.
• Stir and add water and salt to taste.
• Simmer 20 minutes over medium heat to blend flavors. Serve over rice, spaghetti or with chapatis.

KENYAN VEGETABLE CURRY

Steps:

• Preliminaries: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Have available one 8-quart, heavy, ovenproof skillet or Dutch oven with a lid (or have aluminum foil available). If you cut recipe in half, a 6-quart pot will do.
• For the initial saute: In the skillet or Dutch oven, brown the onions in moderately hot oil along with the cumin and mustard seeds. Add the potato pieces (peeling is optional), and stir to coat each piece with the spices. Add the remaining spices and garlic and continue to stir for several minutes.
• Add the liquids: Thin the tomato paste with about ⅔ cup of water, then stir into the pot. Lower heat to medium. Add vegetables, one at a time, cooking for a minute or so between each addition, and put in the cooked chickpeas last.
• Bake the mixture: Cover with a lid or seal with foil and bake in preheated oven for about 45 minutes, checking after the first 20 minutes. The consistency should be rather thick, but add water if necessary to prevent burning. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
• Presentation: Serve over steamed rice or with Indian bread (such as naan).

VEGETARIAN KENYAN CURRY

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large, heavy skillet or pot, brown the onions in moderately hot oil along with the cumin seeds and mustard seeds. Watch out for popping mustard seeds!
• Add the potato pieces, and stir to coat each piece with the spices. Now add the remaining spices and continue to stir for several minutes.
• Thin the tomato paste with about 2/3 cup of water. Stir into the pot.
• Add vegetables, one at a time, cooking for a minute or so between each addition, and put in the chickpeas last. You may opt to put the leafy greens in now or just before serving.
• If your pot is not oven proof, transfer mixture to one that is. Cover with a lid or seal with foil and bake for about 45 minutes, checking after the first 20 minutes.
• The consistency should be rather thick, but add liquid if necessary to prevent burning. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
• You'll want to fish out the cloves and the cinnamon sticks before serving over rice or with flat bread like roti or naan.