Uncle Rick's Caribbean Chicken Curry (Revised)

This curry is a spice-lover's dream...and a real crowd-pleaser. It's wonderful comfort food on a cold fall or winter's day.

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• 2  lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs (fat and skin off)
• 3  tablespoons canola oil (or less) or 3  tablespoons olive oil (or less)
• 3  tablespoons  chopped fresh garlic
• 2  large potatoes (Yukon Golds if possible)
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  ginger puree (bottled)
• 4  tablespoons  good hot indian curry powder (more to taste)
• 1⁄2 teaspoon cayenne powder (optional)
• 1⁄2 tablespoon salt (or to taste)
• 1  tablespoon garam masala powder
• 2  medium onions, finely diced
• 1⁄2  whole cinnamon stick
• 1  quart  chicken stock (homemade or canned)
•  paprika (to garnish)
•  toasted shaved  almonds (to garnish)

Directions

1. Cut chicken thighs into large bite-sized pieces and set aside.
2. Peel (or, wash and leave un-peeled) and dice potatoes into 1/2 inch chunks and set aside.
3. Peel and finely chop onion and set aside.
4. Add oil, onions, and ginger puree to a"cold", large, non-stick Dutch oven pan or large pot and set heat to medium.
5. Stir-fry for about 8-10 minutes or until the onion is golden and even slightly browned.
6. Add garlic and stir-fry for another 3 minutes being careful not to burn the garlic.
7. Add 3 heaping Tbs. of the curry powder to the pot and stir in with the garlic, ginger, salt, and onions for 1 minute more.
8. Add 3/4 cup of the chicken stock and bring to a low boil.
9. Add the chicken and stir an additional few minutes to 'sear' the chicken.
10. Place the diced potatoes on top of the chicken pieces and then add the remaining chicken stock to the pan 1 cup at a time as necessary until the potatoes are"covered" by the liquid.
11. Add more curry powder if desired ( -- and I always desire) along with the garam masala and the cinnamon stick.
12. Mix in gently.
13. Make sure that the potatoes are still "covered" by the liquid.
14. Bring heat down to medium low.
15. Cook uncovered until the potatoes are fork tender (about 20 minutes).
16. Do not overcook the chicken or potatoes!
17. After 15 minutes (approx.), turn heat down to low and add the rest of any additional curry powder that you desire, the cayenne, more salt (you'll find that the potatoes have taken a lot of the salt away and the sauce may now be a bit bland).
18. Remove cinnamon stick, mix well, and continue to cook on low for an additional 5-10 minutes.
19. Turn off heat and taste.
20. Adjust seasonings if needed.
21. If the curry sauce is too thin at this point, simply remove some of the potatoes from the pot and mash them with a fork in a small bowl then return the mashed potatoes to the pot and stir in gently.
22. The mashed potato will now act as a sauce thickener.
23. Serve on a white plate atop basmati or long grain rice.
24. Garnish the white plate with a dusting of paprika around its edge.
25. Sprinkle toasted shaved almonds on top of the curry.
26. Let ‘Uncle Rick’ know how it turns out!
27. NOTE: Homemade chicken stock honestly DOES make a difference!
28. And… by the way --.
29. This dish is even better the next day -- and the day after that.