Surprisingly successful butter chicken curry

We had chicken and the general opinion was that it should be eaten with rice rather than pasta or jacket potatoes, and in fact having it in a curry would be even better. Neither husband nor daughter like really hot curries, daughter doesn’t like onions or mushrooms but husband does, and both fancied a creamy as opposed to veggie or tomatoey chicken curry. So this is what I did:

Butter chicken curry

• 2 chicken breasts, about 14 oz, cut into pieces
• 2 slices of bacon, cut into pieces
• ½ a red pepper, chopped in small pieces, or large if you prefer
• butter
• fresh ground mixed spice of your choice but mine had cumin, coriander seeds, fennel, fenugreek, black pepper, star anise, nigella and various others! Use as much as you like
• turmeric
• curry powder – I used mild for my family, but for me I’d have had HOT!
• Bisto (yes, I know it’s not authentic but it is what i had) made up with a small amount of boiling water and then milk
• sweetcorn
• tomato ketchup – not purée
• double cream
• serve with rice which has been washed and soaked in cold water then boiled in salted water (you can add turmeric if you like)

1. fry the bacon and the red pepper in some butter with the fresh ground spices, very gently; put a lid on the pan and let it sweat down a little – unless you like chunky not soft veg!
2. add the chicken and brown gently, and more butter if needed
3. add the curry powder – whether it’s mild or hot, add it a little at a time – it’s easy to put in but impossible to take out! Add extra turmeric for colour and flavour
4. add more butter if it’s getting dry, and when the chicken is all coloured, add the Bisto
5. as it cooks (gently) keep checking the spiciness, and add more milk as needed to get the right consistency of the sauce; add the tomato ketchup – two squirts was right, but taste and check so you don’t add too much; it should add a slight sweet and sourness not an overwhelmy tomatoey or vinegary taste
6. meanwhile cook the rice – it shouldn’t take long as it has bee washed and soaked, add salt but not too much
7. when everything is cooked add the sweetcorn at the last minute so it heats through, and add as much cream as you like to taste, stir in very gently

I hope you enjoy it!!