Funky Fruit Curry

Time to create funky curry with a dash of fruit!

Well they always said banana was a herb and pineapple makes you feel happy; so I decided to dose myself with this combination in my favourite meal. The smell alone will have you wanting curry this way until the end of time.

Serves 2

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 35 minutes

Now let's start cooking

Instructions

Frying pan 1

(veggie option- fry chickpeas (3/4 of a can))

Frying pan 2

1. Fry an onion with some olive oil in a pan lightly for 4 minutes.
2. Add two red chilli peppers deseeded and fry with the onions for two minutes.
3. Add one clove of garlic and fry lightly in the oil with the chillis and onions.
4. Lightly cook one half of a green pepper and a slice of ginger and add to the mix and fry for a further 5 minutes.
5. Chop up three tomatoes and add to the mix and stir for two minutes.
6. Now add half a can of tinned tomatoes and mix together on a low heat.
7. Mix it all together and add the cooked chicken in while letting the mix simmer.
8. Sprinkle salt and pepper.
9. Add a tea spoon of cumin, turmeric and Garam Masala.
10. Mix in coriander leaves.
11. Now add three slices of fresh chopped pineapple to the curry mix and simmer again for 5 minutes.
12. (If you are alcohol friendly you can add in a splash of white wine)
13. Boil some brown rice and add to a bowl.

Serving

• Pour a serving of curry on top.
• Garnish with a pineapple ring.
• Chop up a banana and slice on the outer edges of your plate to eat with the curry; it will cool the spiciness.

Turn off the heat, taste to check the seasoning and serve!

My story

During isolation with limited trips to the supermarket there was no time for fancy rigid recipes. Creativity was the only option. I worked alongside a colleague in Abu Dhabi who used to tell me about the benefits of Garam Masala in tomato based dishes. Her family came from India and so I decided to use this along with turmeric. Turmeric is known for decreasing inflammation so this motivated me during the Covid crisis. It also makes the dish look more sophisticated in colour, so you feel somewhat professional in your head.

I had a desire to spice it up a bit with some pineapples and chillis, so I added them together. The ingredients seemed to blend so well. To make up for the lack of cheese in this meal (due to being health conscious) I decided to play Pikotaro (Pen pineapple pen) in the background to get the right vibe while cooking. Who doesn't love a bit of cheesy music from time to time. It will helped with the stirring motions- go on You Tube and have a listen.

The yellow foods such as the banana and pineapple really add to your day while stuck at home. They just brightened up my afternoon and increased the serotonin on a physical level personally. They say actually eating bananas and pineapples can boost our moods positively so this was another benefit. If anyone struggles to get their five a day look no further this curry dish should give you 80%! If you opt for a white wine a blend of sweet, unique and earthy flavours from Jam Jar Sweet White will perfectly complement the curry cuisine.

With regards to finances this is a relatively cheap and filling meal. If you opt for the chickpea version it is even cheaper. We could all do with less take-aways and less spending nowadays.

Health benefits

Onions are said to be packed with antioxidants and high in minerals and vitamins. Coriander smells nice, it looks like a mini jungle on your dish and simply has the ability to fight infections. The pineapple pieces are low in fat and anti - inflammatory. Chilli peppers can clear congestion and promote cardiovascular health. This meal is mostly healthy we could conclude.

Summary

Would I make it again? Of course!

This is a delightful dish. It’s spicy and sweet! It made the neighbours want to visit more!

All in all, it is a really basic dish, whether you follow the instructions above or play with the recipe yourself, it is fun to cook and eat.

I hope you enjoy my 'secret magic ingredient' that will lead to a truly original curry.

Enjoy!

Orla Carlin