MEDICINAL GREEN CURRY

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Green Curry with Rice

This time of year (January) it is very cold, wet, windy and snowy, so your immune system can take a bit of a battering. We tend to reach for medications such a cold & flu capsules, ibuprofen etc, which can help, however, I am a great believer that you can repair your body and fight infections from within and eating right does play a big part on that.

This recipe contains the following, so it is the ultimate winter fighter food.

Chillies contain Capsaicin which helps clear mucus. Ginger contains natural antibodies & anti-inflammatory agents & the ability to clear congestion. Garlic has antiviral & antibacterial properties. Butternut squash & wholemeal rice is good for boosting Vitamin C for your immune system. Cashew nuts are good source of fibre & magnesium both good for bone health & energy boosting.

This is also a great dish for batch cooking. It really is a win win all round.

Serves 4

2 Large Chicken Breasts – cut into chunks

2 Tbsp Thai Green Curry Paste (1 used the Blue Dragon Paste, but feel free to make your own)

1 Tbsp Coconut Oil or Olive Oil for cooking

1 400g Tin Coconut Milk

1 Vegetable Stock Cube

1 Tsp Turmeric

300g Butternut Squash, cut into chunks

200g Cauliflower, cut into small pieces

150g Baby Spinach

1 Tbsp Soy Sauce

Salt & Pepper

Juice of 1 Lime

30g Chopped Cashews (to garnish)

Handful chopped Spring Onion (to garnish)

50g Wholemeal Rice per person, cooked as per pack instructions.

  1. Heat the oil in a pan on medium to high heat, brown the chicken and remove with slotted spoon.
  2. If needed, put a little more oil in. Stir fry the curry paste for about 2 minutes to heat through and release the flavours.
  3. Crumble the vegetable stock cube into the coconut milk and stir, pour into the pan with the curry paste and mix through. Add 1 Tsp of Turmeric.
  4. Add back to the pan the chicken, butternut squash and cauliflower, mix and reduce to a simmer for 30 minutes, covered.
  5. 5 minutes before curry is ready, add in 1 Tbsp Soy Sauce, Juice of Lime and Spinach, mix through continue to cook for 5 minutes.
  6. Serve with some wholemeal rice, spring onion and cashew nuts.
Thai Green Curry & Wholemeal Rice

Moroccan spiced Mince with Bulgur Wheat & Spinach

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I’m enjoying my Moroccan spices at the moment, the flavour is fragrant, fiery, sweet, savory, and citrusy, it really gets your senses moving.  Normally a traditional Moroccan meal would contain couscous but as I had some Bulgur Wheat to use up I decided on this. Bulgur is also a healthier and lower calorie choice too.

 

Makes 2 Servings

Spray oil

1 medium red onion, finely chopped

200g Scottish Beef Mince

1 tbsp cumin

1 tsp ground cinnamon

2 tsp turmeric

1 tbsp smoked paprika

1 tsp white pepper

1 tsp ground ginger

250ml vegetable stock

100g Spinach

30g Cashew nuts (slighty toasted and chopped)

80g Bulgur Wheat

Zest of 1 lemon

2 tbsp chopped fresh mint

Salt & pepper to taste

 

  1. Heat oil in a large fry pan and fry the onions until browned and softened
  2. Add in the beef mince and brown all over. Add in the spice mix and mix thoroughly.
  3. Add in the stock and bring to the boil, then simmer for about 15 minutes or until the stock thickens/evaporates slightly.
  4. Meanwhile, make the Bulgur Wheat as per packet instructions. Once cooked add in the spinach and cover with a lid, allow the residual heat to wilt the spinach down, mix through. Add in the lemon zest and mint and mix.
  5. Season, serve and sprinkle the toasted cashews on top. Yummy!

Goes well with a little glass of Rioja.

 

 

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Coconut & Turmeric Rice with Kale

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This was inspired from a fellow blogger Ella. I loved the idea of the Turmeric and coconut together, and it really does go, this is a delicious mix of flavours. It is also full of protein and the superfood Kale!

Serves 2

For the rice:-
2 tsp olive oil for cooking
4 Shallots – chopped
2 tsp ginger
150g wholegrain brown rice
1 tsp turmeric
500ml vegetable stock
For the Kale:-
2 large Handfuls of Kale – red and green type
1 tbsp olive oil for cooking
1 tsp garlic
50ml vegetable stock
50ml coconut milk
30g toasted cashew nuts for topping
30g toasted coconut flakes for topping

 

  1. Heat a pot over medium-low heat. Add the onion and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stir in the ginger, cooking for one minute. Next, add in the rice and turmeric, toasting for one minute.
  2.  Measure in the vegetable stock and bring mixture to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover, and let cook for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the majority of liquid has been absorbed. Remove from heat and allow to sit for 10 minutes.

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3. Towards the end of the rice being ready, heat the tablespoon of olive in a large, wide pot. Add in the garlic, cooking for roughly a minute. Add the chopped kale and stir to coat with the garlic. Add in the vegetable stock, cover, and let kale cook for a few minutes, stirring occasionally.

4. Add in the coconut milk and continue to cook kale, roughly 1 more minute more.

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5. Add the kale mixture to the rice mixture and stir through.

6. Top with the cashews and coconut and serve.

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Nutrition Facts
Coconut Turmeric Rice with Kale

Servings Per Recipe: 2

Amount Per Serving

Calories: 519

  • Total Fat: 20.6 g
  •     Saturated Fat: 3.3 g
  •     Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg
  • Sodium: 1098.3 mg
  • Total Carbs: 75.1 g
  •     Dietary Fiber: 4.5 g
  •     Sugars: 6.4 g
  • Protein: 11.1 g