Japanese Kare - Chicken raisukaree
The rasiukaree is a aromatic citrus curry that has sweet overtones from the paprika and coconut milk. Kare means curry in Japan, and raisu means on rice, and this curry is definitely best served on some Jasmin or sticky rice to mop up the rich sauce. As the chicken is mostly poached it is reasonably soft and juicy for little one; if you cut it in large pieces against the gradient of the chicken meat it's an ideal starter food for 6 month olds to suck and gum. Older babies would prefer small pieces they can pick up using their pincer grip and eat whole. It's not vegetable rich meal but I often just do a side veg dish and we always have fruit platter for afters.
Makes enough for 2 grown-ups and a little one
Ingredients
For the curry paste
Thumb sized ginger finely grated
1 lemon grass stick finely chopped
1 mild red chilli finely chopped and deseeded
1 garlic clove crushed
Juice of half a lime
1 tsp coriander seeds
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp sweet dulce paprika (i.e. Standard paprika)
Other ingredients
2 chicken breasts chopped into small pieces
1 tin coconut milk
1 tsp soy sauce
¼ red onion
4 spring onion – left long but cut in half length ways
3 kaffir lime leaves
1 red pepper cut into 2cm squares
1 tbsp vegetable oil
To serve optional
Sprinkle of black sesame seeds
A few coriander leaves
2 x ¼ lime
Method
1. Place all ingredients for paste in a mortar and pestle and grind/pound the ingredients to form a paste.
2. Put oil in wok at a medium heat and cook vegetables and chicken for around 5 mins until the chicken is cooked and sealed on the outside.
3. Put paste in wok and cook and stir through for around a minute, then put in the coconut milk, soy sauce and kaffir lime leaves. Bring the curry to a boil then turn down to a gentle simmer. Cook for around 20 mins until the chicken is cooked through.
4. Best serve around a pile of rice sprinkled with black sesame seeds, a quarter of lime to squeeze and a few coriander leaves scattered on top.
Tip
As the chicken is mostly poached it is reasonably soft and juicy for little one; if you cut it in large pieces against the gradient of the chicken meat it's an ideal starter food for 6 month olds to suck and gum. Older babies would prefer small pieces they can pick up using their pincer grip and eat whole. It's not vegetable rich meal, but I often just add a side veg dish and we always have fruit platter for afters. The paste can be made in bulk and frozen, defrosted in fridge to use, or made the night before and stored in the fridge.
Facts
Kare means curry in Japan and raisu means on rice, and this curry is definitely best served on some Jasmin or sticky rice to mop up the rich sauce.