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Ceylonese Sweet and Sour Chicken Curry















Ingredients

Quantity
Frying chicken – cut into 1’ pieces
2 small
Olive oil
2 tbsp
Butter
2 tbsp
Madras-style curry powder
2 tbsp
Cayenne
1 tsp
Grated fresh ginger
1 tbsp
Garlic clove – minced
4
Ground cinnamon
1 tsp
Fennel seeds
¼ tsp
Ground cumin
½ tsp
Coarsely ground black pepper
½ tsp
Onion – chopped
1 large
Pineapple chunks juice drain but reserve juice
40 ounces
Pineapple juice
½ cup
Chicken broth
1 cup
Sugar
½ cup
Distilled vinegar
½ cup
Salt

Onions – cut into 1” chunks
1 medium
Celery stalks – cut into 1” chunks
2
Red bell pepper - seeded  and cut into ½ “ strips
1 medium
Green bell pepper – seeded and cut into ½ “ strips
1 medium
Seedless oranges – cut into thin rings with skin on
2 small
Lemon – cut into thin rings with skin on
1
Canned litchis – drained
1 cup
Preserved kumquats – drained
1 cup
Minced fresh cilantro
1 tsp
Cornstarch mixed with ¼ cup water
2 tbsp


Put the chicken backs, necks, and giblets into a saucepan, cover with water, and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer until the meat is falling off the bones. Strain and reserve the broth. If it is not very flavorful give it a little help with powdered bouillon.

Melt the oil and butter together in a large, heavy skillet or casserole. Add the curry powder and stir about until slightly singed. Add the next 8 ingredients and sauté until the onions are soft but not yet browned. Add the chicken and brown well on all side. Pour in the pineapple juice and reserved broth and simmer covered until the chicken is tender. Add the sugar and vinegar and simmer for about 2 minutes.

Taste. If you want a more distinct sweet and sour flavor add more sugar and vinegar at this time. Also add more cayenne if you want it hotter. Add salt to taste. Add the pineapple chunks and all the remaining ingredients except cornstarch mixture, stir gently, and simmer for 5 minutes. Add cornstarch mixture; stir and simmer until sauce is glossy and slightly thickened.

NOTES: Serve hot with steamed rice and steamed chapatis or flour tortillas.