In Chinese medicine we love warm slow cooked food. This is because warm food is easy to digest. We see the digestive system like a big cooking pot with a fire (called digestive fire). In Chinese medicine cold foods are not advised for weak, sick or tired people with compromised digestions because the cold food will harm the digestive fire (especially if it is already weak).
This is the perfect warming tender slow cooked chicken dish, with lots of vegetables, ginger, turmeric, coriander and garlic that is so nourishing and easy to digest.
Ingredients – Slow cooked chicken
2-4 Chicken breasts (organic and locally sourced is ideal)
a handful of tomatoes
5 carrots
3 red peppers
a whole garlic
a knob of ginger (50 c piece size)
handful of fresh coriander
2 zucchini
2 red onions
1 tsp paprika
a juice of 1/2 lemon
1tsp curry powder
1tsp turmeric
1 cup water
1 cup chicken stock / or 2 tsp bullion powder
Ingredients – Turmeric / coconut rice
enough rice for the family
1 can organic coconut cream
1 table spoon turmeric
water
1 tsp bullion powder
Directions
Cut veggies and place on baking tray with olive oil (leave the tomatoes out as we are going to add them later)
cut the garlic in half and place on the tray with its skin still on
Roast vegetables for 20 mins at 400 F / 200 C . add the tomatoes and roast for another ten minutes – you want the skin of the red peppers to be slightly blackened
take out the vegetables and blend in a blender with lemon juice spices and stock and a fresh piece of peeled ginger the size of a 50 c piece add fresh coriander and blend until its a smooth consistency. squeeze out the garlic from its skin into the blender … if you like garlic add it all..if you want to be cautious you can add half. You may need to add water if it’s a thick consistency , think a good curry sauce – I normally add a cup of water or stock to the mixture.
Meanwhile salt and pepper the chicken breasts after removing the skin. fry the chicken breasts in olive oil on a medium heat for 3 minutes each side (or until slightly golden).
add the vegetable mix into the pan to cover the chicken and put the lid on – let simmer on a very low heat (I use the lowest setting on the hob) and slow cook for 4 hours – stir the mix occasionally. Once its ready the chicken should fall apart – break it up with a wooden spoon.
for the rice wash the rice well (I like to pre soak my rice over night – which is also helpful for digestion) , and then add the coconut cream, turmeric, bullion powder or stock cube and enough water to cover the rice by 1 inch of water and mix everything in well. cook on a medium heat with lid on (normally takes about 15-20 minutes) once cooked take off the heat keep the lid on and let it sit for 10-15 minutes.
combine rice and chicken with corridor and enjoy .
Leave a comment