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Meat, Africa and overseas

Chicken cari with rice

Chicken cari with rice is a slow simmered turmeric chicken dish from Réunion Island, served with rice and red beans, for 4 people in 1 hour 5 minutes. It's easy to make and costs €2.80 per serving. The key to success is cooking the onion, ginger, and turmeric thoroughly before adding the chicken, which gives the sauce its deep golden color.

Tonight we're flying off to Réunion Island with a turmeric chicken cari, rice, and red beans.

Chicken cari with rice
Total time
1 h 05
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€2.80
Calories per person
650 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Spring, Fall, Summer
The kids
They generally like it

Chicken cari is the kind of simmered dish that fills the whole kitchen with its smell long before it hits the table. Turmeric, ginger, and garlic slowly infuse a tomato based sauce that coats the chicken without ever turning watery. Red beans add a soft bite, and the rice soaks up every drop of sauce, that's the whole spirit of a Réunion Island cari, simple and generous.

It's a great weeknight dinner when you want something comforting without spending hours in the kitchen, and it works just as well for a Sunday when the whole family gathers around the table. Kids tend to love it since turmeric isn't spicy at all, while adults enjoy its warm layers of spice. Mon Chou brings you the traditional version here, with chicken, rice, and red beans.

The ingredients

4 people

Butcher

  • Chicken thighs 8

Fruits and vegetables

  • Onions 3
  • Tomatoes 4
  • Garlic 4 cloves
  • Fresh ginger 25 g
  • Thyme 3 sprigs
  • Scallions 3

Pantry

  • Turmericoften in the pantry 2 tsp
  • Canned red beansoften in the pantry 400 g
  • Riceoften in the pantry 300 g
  • Oiloften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

The step by step recipe

  1. Cut the thighs in half at the joint and season them with salt and pepper.

    Remove the skin if you prefer a lighter dish, the sauce will be just as flavorful.

  2. Brown the chicken in the oil in a Dutch oven, then set it aside. 8 min

    Don't burn the browned bits at the bottom, that's the base of the flavor.

  3. In the same pot, cook the chopped onion, garlic, ginger, and turmeric, then add the tomatoes and thyme. 8 min

    Mash the tomatoes with a spoon so they break down faster.

  4. Put the chicken back in, add half a glass of water, cover, and let it simmer. 35 min

    Keep the heat low, the sauce should coat the chicken without sticking.

  5. Warm up the red beans, cook the rice in salted water, and serve with the chopped scallions. 11 min

    A cari is eaten with little sauce, not like a soup, let it reduce well.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick bone in chicken thighs, they hold up better during the long simmer and give the sauce more flavor than boneless breast would.
  • If the sauce is still too thin at the end, uncover the pot for the last ten minutes so it reduces and thickens naturally.
  • Make the cari a day ahead if you can, the spices have more time to infuse and the dish tastes even better reheated.

The variations

  • Swap the chicken for peeled shrimp, added only 5 minutes before the end, for a cari with seafood flavors instead.
  • For a vegetarian version, replace the chicken with sweet potato chunks and chickpeas, simmered for the same amount of time.
  • For kids in a hurry, serve the cari with just plain white rice and keep the red beans on the side for anyone who'd rather skip them.

What to serve it with

  • A spicy tomato rougail
  • Pickled vegetable achards
  • Cold water with lemon

Storage

Chicken cari keeps for 3 days in the refrigerator in a sealed container. It freezes well for up to 2 months, without the rice. Reheat it gently in a saucepan with a splash of water to bring back a nicely coating sauce.

Questions about this dish

Can you make chicken cari ahead of time?

Yes, it's actually a good idea. Make it the day before and reheat it gently the next day, the spices will have infused more and the sauce will taste even better.

Can you replace the red beans with another legume?

You can use canned lentils or chickpeas the same way. The cooking time stays the same since they're already cooked.

Does the turmeric make this dish spicy for kids?

No, turmeric gives the sauce its golden color and a slightly earthy taste, but it isn't spicy. That's exactly what makes this cari kid friendly.

Can you freeze chicken cari?

Yes, freeze it without the rice for up to 2 months in a suitable container. Thaw it in the refrigerator, then reheat gently in a saucepan, adding a little water if needed.

How long does it take to make a Réunion style chicken cari with rice and red beans?

Count 1 h 05 in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a Réunion style chicken cari with rice and red beans?

About 650 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a Réunion style chicken cari with rice and red beans cost?

About €2.80 per serving, or €11.20 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains none of the major allergens tracked by Mon Chou. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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