My time spent at Dublin Cookery School learning both Indian and Thai curry flavors opened the world of great spicing to me and there are some of my favourite cuisines to experiment with. This is one of my favourite home style curries, so named because it is easy to prepare and can be reheated the next day and tastes even better. You just can’t go wrong with this curry. Best cooked with free range chicken and I prefer on the bone, though not everyone likes the skin left on during cooking. The final step of adding the chopped ginger at the end is courtesy of my time spent with Sunil of Ananda, just about my favourite Indian restaurant in Dublin.

North Indian Style Chicken Curry
Serves 4
1.25lbs chicken in 1” cubes or
the same weight in chicken on the bone cut into pieces
100ml veg oil
1 bay leaf
Spice mix made from 5 green cardamoms, 1” cinnamon stock, 1 tsp black peppercorns, 1 star anise, 2 tsp cuimin seeds and 4 cloves – pounded together in your Mortar & Pestle
½ lb onions finely sliced
1 tbsp Ginger Garlic Paste
1 ½ tsp each of ground coriander, turmeric, red chilli powder
4oz canned tomatoes, juice drained
1 tbsp tomato puree
1 ½ tsp salt
Enough water to cover

To Finish
1 tsp Garam Masala
2 tbsp chopped coriander
1 tbsp finely chopped finely

Heat the oil in a pot and add the pounded spices and the bay leaf. Stir till the spices release their aromas and start to crackle. Be careful not to burn as they will be bitter if they do. Tip in the onions and cook will golden brown then add the garlic ginger paste and stir continuously. Add a little water if it starts to catch on the bottom of the pan. Add the powdered spices and stir quickly, add the tomatoes, the tomato paste, salt and stir to combine. Tip in the chicken and enough water to cover everything.
Cook on a slow heat stirring slowly occasionally.
As the tomatoes melt to form a sauce, add water if you need it to keep everything covered. Cook for about 20 – 25 minutes until the chicken is almost fully cooked.
Sprinkle in the Garam Masala and finish cooking the chicken. Just before serving sprinkle in the chopped coriander and ginger which add a delicious dimension of taste. Serve with some basmati rice or my delicious sweet potato rotis.