Fiji Curry Recipes

FIJI CURRY

Steps:

• Mash the garlic and salt in a bowl. Add just a bit of water to make a paste.
• Add the cumin seed, fenugreek seed, coriander seed, black mustard seed, curry powder and turmeric powder plus red chili to taste and pound to a smooth paste.
• Use a blender to make the garlic and spice mix. Add just enough water to blend. I use a bouillon cube instead of salt.
• Add a handful of chopped fresh coriander leaves and cook in a heavy pot over medium heat until thick.
• Add the meat to the sauce. Stir to coat the meat and partially cover, stirring occasionally. You may add 2 teaspoons sugar (8 g) and 1 teaspoon salt (4 g) about half-way through to "make it tender".
• When the vegetables are added depends on how long they will take to cook. Add the diced potatoes, diced carrots, 1/2 chopped large onion, some fresh coriander and finish cooking.
• The meat shrinks a lot cooked this way, but the flavor is intensified and the sauce stays thick. It should coat the meat almost like a glaze. Cook on lower heat if you like, but the result will be more of a broth.
• At the end, add some more chopped onion and stir in the yogurt plus more fresh coriander to garnish.
• Serve with chutney, rice and tortillas or chapatis if available. The proper way to eat this is to tear off a piece of tortilla or chapti and scoop some curry up with it. It's finger lickin' good!

FIJI-INDIAN CHICKEN CURRY

Steps:

• Chop chicken into bit size stewing pieces.
• Finely chop 1 onion and slice the other onion and set aside.
• Combine garlic, serrano chillies, ginger in mortar and pestle and pound until it becomes a paste. Add 1 teaspoon salt to help make paste and so garlic doesn't fly away on you. You can also use a blender, but i find the mortar and pestle makes it more pasty without wasting any flavour from garlic.
• Add garam masala, turmeric and some water to the garlic paste and mix to make a curry paste and set aside.Should be a runny consistency.
• Heat canola oil in stewing pot.
• Add cinnamon stick, mustard seed, cloves, cardamon seeds with shells removed and cummin to pot. Stir until seeds pop.
• Add curry leaves. Watch out for oil splatter.
• Add finely chopped onions and cook until well browned but do not burn. (The more brown, the more flavor).
• Add curry paste and stir for a few minutes until garlic is well browned. Should be a nice yellowish color.
• Add chicken and half of sliced onion and a punch of salt. If you are adding chicken stock later on, add less salt.
• Stir and let cook until water comes out of chicken.
• Cook until water evaporates and fry the chicken until slightly browned approximately 20 minutes for fryer chicken, longer for stewing or freerange.
• Stir in remaining sliced onion.
• If adding chicken stock add it now and bring to boil. This is great for when you have a cold. This is Indo-fijian chicken soup for the soul.
• If you are health conscious, at this point i usually remove the excess fat that floats on top of the curry. Up to you if you want to leave it in, more flavor.
• Add chopped coriander leaves and lemon juice. Remove from heat.
• Serve over rice. Enjoy! ;-).

FISH SURUWA - FIJIAN FISH CURRY

Steps:

• Heat oil in a shallow pan add the onions and chillies and saute about 5 mins until the onions a soft.
• Add the tomatoes to the pan along with the cumin and tumeric.
• Add the fish fillets and lightly fry on each side.
• Add the coconut milk, season with salt and pepper and gently bring to a simmer and cook for about 5 minutes
• Do not cover the pan with a lid or the coconut milk will curdle.
• Serve with rice.