Easter and Curry
Easter is traditionally one of those food holidays, probably growing out of its roots and connection to Passover. It's also always been one of my favorites, especially because it usually features ham, one of my favorite meats. (There was some paranoia in my household when I was a child about nitrates or nitrites or something like that, which lead to me being unjustly denied my rightful amount of ham. I've been spending the rest of my life trying to make up for that early disappointment. Sniff.)
Under normal circumstances, Otis and I head to Chicopee, MA, where his Gramma lives. However, this year I just felt spent-- starting a new job, a lot of wedding-related activities coming up for my friend Alysia, and and overall case of the 'spring' blahs-- so I played the bad wife and stayed home. At the last minute, my friend Kendall invited me to an Easter dinner hosted by her BFF, the lovely Leslie of Aurora Provisions.
And what a lucky Easter ducky I was! An incredibly diverse and fascinating group of 20+ folks came together to feast, toast, and chat. A lot of the attendees are active in the Slow Food Portland group. Some were farmers, including John and Stacy of Broadturn Farm and their daughters. Some were restauranteurs, including the couple who are opening Bonobo Pizza, a brick oven pizzeria, in the former Supreme location on the corner of Pine and Brackett. (Otis wants to know the connection between sex-crazed monkeys and pizza. If anyone knows, please advise.) Tom and Sarah Flanagan of Flanagan Fine Art were there, along with their charming children. I also met Karl and Margaret Hathaway Schatz, and got to learn about her upcoming book, the Year of the Goat, and meet their sweet baby Charlotte.
All in all it was a lovely afternoon. Not to mention the delicious, delicious food, most of which was kosher for Passover and chametz-free...morroccan spiced lamb roast, savory matzoh brie, fish balls, roasted asparagus, chicken with preserved lemon, potato kugel, and much more. I rolled on home about 5 with a full belly and the glow of having had a day of great conversation. I still feel a little bit guilty about missing the Baron family Easter, though. I hope they'll forgive me.
Unfortunately, since I didn't do any of the cooking, I have no recipes from Easter. But, Kendall came over for chicken curry on Tuesday, and suggested I share that recipe since she enjoyed it so much.
Here it is!
Chicken Curry of Contrite Wives (Serves 4. Serve with Rice)
Ingredients
4 spring onions (the kind with the green tops)
1 small bunch carrots
2 ancho or poblano chiles
1 1/4 lbs boneless chicken breast
2 T vegetable oil
2 T curry powder (Lalah's is
good)
Salt to taste
1 can mini-diced tomatoes
2 T garam
masala
1/2 can light coconut milk
Directions
- Separate the white and green parts of the onions. Slice the white part into 1/4" slices and put in one bowl; chop the green part into small pieces and put in another bowl.
- Slice the chiles into small pieces, approx. 1/8" by 1/2". Place in bowl with white onion parts.
- Slice the carrots into 1/4" disks, place in another bowl.
- Slice the chicken into 1/2" cubes, place in another bowl.
- Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until hot.
- Add the onion and chiles and saute until onions are just turning brown.
- Ad the carrot, curry powder, and salt and saute for 5 more minutes.
- Add the canned tomatoes and saute for 3 more minutes.
- Add the chicken, 1/2 the garam masala, and the green onion tops, and saute until chicken is almost cooked.
- Stir in the coconut milk, and saute until chicken is cooked.
- Add the other 1/2 of garam masala, and any more salt if needed, to taste.
- Serve over rice.
