Serves 4
Adapted from The Cancer Fighting Kitchen
My husband’s current obsession, besides our daughter’s belly laugh, is curry. He seems to be leaning more towards the Thai curries but he’s happy with any curry really. Curry is a mystery. And that’s just because it means so many things to so many people in so many places. Even in Japan, a common lunch was curry rice which I always thought surprising since curry isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Japanese cuisine.
There is the curry leaf, which until recently I didn’t even know existed. My mother-in-law planted it one year and the strong aroma quickly took over her herb garden. It is used quite commonly in India and imparts a distinct curry taste, the original I guess! The more well known is curry powder; a blend of varying spices that mimic the flavor of the curry leaf. Curries are unique to each family and region, much like German towns each have their own delicious microbrew. It’s one of the more amazing things about food. A dash of this here and a bit of that there and you’ve got a completely new dish. It’s beautiful and it keeps us and our tastebuds always wanting more.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the role of Ayurveda in this spice. Ayurveda is a traditional medicine practiced in India for over 5,000 years. It recognizes 6 tastes; sweet, salty, sour, astringent, pungent and bitter and they’re all found in curry powder. Under Ayurvedic principles, eating all 6 flavors in one meal is both balancing and satiating. If you feel balanced after a meal, you’re not likely to go searching for dessert (sweet) or any other flavor. You’ll feel completely satisfied. If you haven’t enjoyed an Ayurvedic meal, I highly recommend it, if only for the experience and then you can decide for yourself.
The superstar in curry is turmeric and I’m glad to finally get to write about this spice. Turmeric is pretty ridiculous when it comes to its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial powers. Turmeric is used to heal many conditions, one of which is cancer. According to Rebecca Katz in The Cancer Fighting Kitchen, when eaten with a cruciferous veg (cauliflower, broccoli, kale, etc.) the curcumin present in turmeric has been shown to reduce the growth of prostate tumors as well as to keep tumors from spreading to other parts of the body. It is used to heal wounds and is good for conditions such as arthritis. It’s also a wonderful digestive aid. And, it’s one of the highest known sources of beta-carotene. Move over carrots! Or better yet, sprinkle some of this spice on some roasted carrots! Hmmm, sounds like another dish in the making.
You’ll need:
1 lb roasted chicken (I used legs and thighs), shredded
1 C seedless red grapes, halved
1 stalk celery, sliced
2 scallions, thinly sliced
1/2 C cilantro, chopped
2 t fresh ginger, grated
1/2 t sea salt (or more to taste)
1 T curry powder
1 t lemon zest + 1 t fresh squeezed lemon juice
6 oz. Greek yogurt
To make:
1. Combine the chicken and the grapes and set aside.
2. Combine remaining ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Add chicken and grapes and mix well until chicken is thoroughly dressed. Let it sit for 15 minutes in the fridge to let the flavors mingle and blend:)
3. Serve over a crisp bed of greens such as romaine lettuce or stuffed into pita bread:)
4. Enjoy!
*Vegetarian option: Substituting extra-firm tofu for the chicken is a great vegetarian option. I would cook the tofu as in this recipe, for a bit more added flavor, crunch and aesthetic, but it’s definitely not necessary. Enjoy!