LSG Chicken Curry – the photos

Here's the proof :

Delicious

and again!

Do I have your attention?

The verdict :

Silence is always good – demolished!

It was worth every second of the time it took.

LSG Chicken Curry – the nitty gritty

or hints and tips!

If, like me, you stock pile your slow cooked star anise chicken stock why not use some of your liquid gold to slow cook or poach chicken fillet. Don't forget my mantra – always slow cook or poach at least six when you only need two! If you have a stock of frozen stock then use the anise infused version to poach or slow cook the fillet. Chicken is a great protein and when cooked in a good stock, infused with flavour it gives you a delicious ingredient to use in so many different ways. Freeze, individually, any remainder - ready for another day.

I should remind you – there are two variations for slow cooking a whole chicken, sprinkling with oregano or, in this instance, omitting the oregano and popping two whole star anise into the cavity of the chicken. What you'll get is a delicately infused anise flavour in the stock which is perfect for the curry sauce and your chicken fillet too.

This is how to get the maximum from minimum effort and get the best from your chest. You've got the stock from the slow cooked chicken to use in the curry sauce and to poach the chicken fillet too, the curry sauce and, last but by no means least, you've used your treasure chest to store them all. Job done.

Ideas for other uses for a fast mid week supper and a lunch or two?

How about another wacky pizza idea? Defrost your curry sauce – don't add the coconut cream. Spread the curry sauce over your defrosted pizza dough, if you're a fan of calzone then load half with a shredded chicken breast, add finely sliced sweet peppers and whatever else hits the pizza spot. If you want a veggie version then use vegetable stock in your curry sauce instead of the chicken. Cook Quorn pieces in some of the curry sauce and then load and add toppings you love!

LSG tomato sauce on its way … but photos first!

More about the sauce

The curry sauce takes more time than I'd advocate during your MTM stuff – it'll take an hour and all I can say is you won't regret it. You need to bear in mind that you can't walk away, the sauce needs your stirring attention. I sat at my hob with paperwork long overdue – you could equally do food prep that's on your list – any job that doesn't take you away – use your timer! It's still multitasking just in a different way.

The sauce freezes well and I'd suggest you might want to do so in portions that you know will suit you best. Remember, you can always take out more than one portion, infinitely better than wasting part of a larger box.

Here's what I did with my fridged curry sauce. I tipped it into a medium saucepan and warmed it through. I added 160ml of coconut cream and stirred until thoroughly absorbed. You'll have a curry sauce that is thick and delicious.

The list of uses for this sauce is endless, from leftover meat and poultry to veggies too. You can make the sauce vegetarian by using vegetable stock instead of chicken, if that's your bag.

A chicken curry and the photos are up next but before I go I have not forgotten that I mentioned two LSG sauces – a tomato sauce is another valuable asset, this time perfect for Mediterranean flavours and recipes.

Hold another thought!

Lip Smackingly Good (LSG) Sauces

Before we carry on with the remaining working week suppers I think the time is right for two more LSG sauces.

I do love a useful sauce, especially one that can be used in different ways. The following is a curry sauce – in particular meant to resemble what I'd call a “chip shop curry”. To explain, the chip shop curry is not as strong as traditional curries. For those who eat curries, to give you an idea of “heat” and “spice” I'd say it's not as hot and spicy as a rendang and not as mild as a korma, so middle for diddle, suitable for everyone.

Here's the recipe :

Curry Sauce

50g unsalted butter

2 large onions, finely sliced and chopped

1 tsp of ginger paste

4 roasted garlic cloves

3 tbsp mild curry powder

3 tbsp malt vinegar

½ tsp star anise powder

500ml of the slow cooked star anise chicken stock

2 tbsp slaked cornflour

2 tbsp lemon juice

160ml coconut cream

Using a large saucepan melt the butter and add the onions, garlic and ginger. Fry gently until soft – about 15 minutes, make sure there's no colour. Add the curry powder, star anise powder and vinegar, fry for another minute. Add the chicken stock, bring to the boil and simmer gently for 25 minutes, stir occasionally, you don't want it to stick.

Add two tbsp of water to the cornflour, mix and pour into the sauce. Simmer for another 5 minutes, stir until you've got a silky, thickened sauce. Blitz with a hand blender until smooth, add the lemon juice.

At this point, decant into boxes. You will get approximately 630g of curry sauce and I divided between two. I froze one box and fridged the other.

I was using one for this evenings meal.

Hold that thought ...

There's more …

Serving suggestions and bits and pieces.

You'll need a large bowl for your “lettuce cups” and smaller bowls for your sides.

The sides

50g/2oz bean sprouts

Handful of crushed, salted peanuts

Sweet soy sauce (Kecap Manis) for drizzling

You may want to increase these amounts depending on the size of the appetites!

Place the wok in the centre of your table with the bowl of “lettuce cups” and sides of the bean sprouts, crushed peanuts and sweet soy sauce in small bowls so that everyone can dive in, fill the lettuce cups and sprinkle and drizzle to their hearts content.

If you wanted another extra, serve flat breads too or wraps – perfect too for any lunch box leftovers for the next day.

This is very much “every man/woman for himself/herself” kind of supper.

It's up to you what you do

It's not a long list – the sauce can be made up, boxed and fridged. The veggies can be chopped, sliced, bagged and fridged.

If you'd prefer a vegetarian or vegan version then Quorn mince or pieces are perfect alternatives.

A sort of finger food – fast, filling and fabulous, even though I say so myself!

Now back to reality and more ideas …

… for your multitasking working week suppers.

How about choosing roast pork for your Sunday roast? It would be perfect for my next idea – ideally choose a roast that's big enough to give you 500g of leftover pork.

A stir fry makes the best and quickest use of your leftover roast so you'll need a wok!

San Choy Bow is Chinese and here's my useless bit of information - “sang choi” means lettuce in Cantonese.

Here goes :

San Choy Bow

Little Gem lettuce cups

(if Little Gem not available use Iceberg -

smaller inner leaves) – I would say 3 per person

depending on size of appetites

500g/1lb2oz leftover roast pork, shredded

1 garlic clove or garlic paste

1 red chilli, finely chopped

150g/5oz chestnut mushrooms, finely chopped

6 spring onions, finely chopped

225g/8oz water chestnuts, rinsed and chopped

200g/7oz bean sprouts, chopped

Glug of rapeseed oil

3 tbsp hoisin sauce*

1 tbsp soy sauce*

1 tbsp sweet chilli sauce*

1 tbsp dry sherry or Shaoxing (Chinese rice wine)*

Wash your lettuce, pat dry ready to serve.

Combine the four ingredients marked * to make a sauce – this can be made ahead.

Over a high heat add the oil to your wok and cook the garlic and chilli for a minute. Add the mushrooms, onions, water chestnuts and bean sprouts until mixed through and sizzling followed by the shredded pork – 2/3 minutes.

Add the sauce mixture, stirring and sizzling until completely combined for a final 2/3 minutes.

There's more!

Speed sweet – Cherry Eton Mess …

Assembly :

begin with the rubble, add a trickle of compote

and then place your dollop of truffle in the centre,

add a layer of crushed meringues and begin again

with layers of the Amaretti, compote and meringue

add a final trickle of compote

Here it is :

et voila!

Everyone who has road tested this speed sweet has loved it so now it's up your sleeve, whether as a slob night sweet treat or an emergency store cupboard dessert.