Monday, June 6, 2011

Thai Curry Chicken and Cauliflower

This is a great alternative to salad for my low-carb lunches – I make it one day and eat it for several. The cauliflower is a great stand-in for rice or potatoes, and I just happen to love cauliflower.

2 cups fresh cauliflower florets
1 cup fresh green beans
1/2 onion
4 whole boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 T. olive oil
1 T. red curry paste
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 T. fresh chopped or grated ginger
1 can(14 Oz. Size) coconut milk
2 T. butter
1 pinch salt (add more to taste)
2 T. fish sauce
1 T. yellow curry powder (add more for a spicier dish)
2 T. sugar or Splenda (Splenda for carb watchers)

Please note that this recipe comes together a lot easier if the veggies and meat are chopped/crushed/grated ahead of time.

Begin by preparing the fresh vegetables. Put two medium-sized pots of water on the stovetop to boil, each with about an inch of water.

While the water coming to a boil, rinse the cauliflower in cold water. Trim the florets off the stem. Place them into one of the pots of boiling water, reduce the heat to low, and simmer the cauliflower with the lid slightly ajar for 12 minutes.

To prepare the green beans, rinse well, trim the ends off and cut the beans into 1-inch pieces.

Place the green beans in the second pot of boiling water and reduce the heat to low. Keep the cover of this pot ajar as well. (Placing the lid ajar while cooking them helps preserve the green color.) Simmer until slightly undercooked, about 10 minutes. They will finish cooking with the rest of the dish.

While the veggies are cooking, dice the onion and set aside.

Chop the boneless, skinless chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces.

Heat the oil on medium-high heat for a minute or two and add the onion. Add the red curry paste, crushed or chopped garlic, as well as the chopped or grated ginger (optional).

Open up the coconut milk and spoon 3 or 4 scoops into the mixture, to help blend the curry paste.

Continue to cook this mixture, keeping a close eye on it so it doesn’t burn, until the onions turn translucent. When the onions have softened, add the chopped chicken.

Meanwhile, keep an eye on the timers for the steaming vegetables. When they finish, pull them off of the heat and drain them. Reserve the green beans to be added to the chicken and curry.

To prepare the cauliflower, add the butter and salt to taste. If desired, stir with a fork to break down the cauliflower into smaller pieces. Set aside.

Cook the chicken mixture until the chicken is mostly done; about 8 or 9 minutes, while stirring frequently. Then add the remainder of the coconut milk, the fish sauce, green beans, the yellow curry powder, sugar, and a dash of salt. Simmer for 5 to 7 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked. Thin with water if needed.

Serve by placing a large scoop of curry chicken over a bed of cauliflower.