Easy recipes for life - part one: the best curry recipe
The best easy to remember basic curry recipe that will have you cooking curry without a cookbook or recipe to hand! Plus brilliant curry tips and how to adapt the basic curry to make chicken, beef, fish, prawn and tofu curry.

The principle
Make a quick paste, fry it in a little oil, add coconut milk and water or stock then add meat, fish or tofu and vegetables of your choice.
Basic curry recipe
Whiz 1 large handful of coriander (leaves and roots) in a hand blender or food processor with the juice and zest of 1 lime, 2 roughly chopped onions, 1-2 chopped green chillies, 1 chopped garlic clove, 1 roughly chopped lemongrass stalk, a thumb size piece of peeled and chopped ginger and ½ tsp ground coriander to make your basic curry paste. Season well. Fry in a splash of oil for 1-2 minutes until the sauce cooks down. Pour in your coconut milk and bring to a simmer, along with 200ml water or stock. Add chopped meat, fish, or tofu. About 10 minutes before the end, stir in chopped veg (pak choi, carrot, sugarsnaps or baby corn around a handful per person) and simmer until tender, but still with a bite.
Curry cooking times
- Chicken (breast or thigh) 15-20 mins
- Fish curry around 10 mins
- Prawn curry around 10 mins until the prawns turn from grey to pink
- Beef curry (use strips of minute steak) 5 mins
- Tofu curry around 10 mins
Finishing touches
Top with a handful of coriander leaves or toasted coconut flakes for a cheffy flourish. Serve with white rice or go to town with a Thai rice that's full of even more wonderful flavours!
Curry technique tip
Make your own coconut milk by dissolving 100g creamed coconut in a jug with 300ml hot water or stock. Cheaper than a tin of coconut milk and the block keeps for up to a month in the fridge. Also, make double the paste and freeze in a sealable container for up to 3 months; then simply defrost and bring to the boil ready to simmer the rest of your curry ingredients in.
EASY RECIPES FOR LIFE SERIES
The 10 basic recipes you need for a lifetime of inspired cooking: master the basics, then learn how to adapt them to create your own variations. Another great food idea from allaboutyou.com
Easy recipes for life - part one: the best curry recipe
Easy recipes for life - part two: the best biscuit recipe
Easy recipes for life - part three: the best stir fry recipe
Easy recipes for life - part four: the best basic cake recipe
Easy recipes for life - part five: cooking salmon
Easy recipes for life - part six: succulent chicken breast
Easy recipes for life - part seven: stew
Easy recipes for life - part eight: roast chicken
Easy recipes for life - part nine: pasta sauce
Easy recipes for life - part ten: basic soup recipe
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