Chicken curry is a well-known and popular dish in Guyana. Almost everyone knows how to cook this food; it is simple and delicious. Chicken curry is also a favourite food of many and all have discovered their own way of flavouring it. Some people, especially the older folks, have mastered this dish so well that you just have to take a second plate after you have finished eating. The smell of this dish is very high. For example, if you’re walking down a street and someone is cooking “bunjal curry”, you are bound to get a whiff of that mouth-watering smell that makes you want to hurry home and get your own.
Chicken curry is a well-known and popular dish in Guyana. Almost everyone knows how to cook this food; it is simple and delicious. Chicken curry is also a favourite food of many and all have discovered their own way of flavouring it. Some people, especially the older folks, have mastered this dish so well that you just have to take a second plate after you have finished eating. The smell of this dish is very high. For example, if you’re walking down a street and someone is cooking “bunjhal curry”, you are bound to get a whiff of that mouth-watering smell that makes you want to hurry home and get your own.
Tip: Curry is typically prepared with gravy, however, there is a dry curry called bunjhal, in which water does not remain after the meat is cooked; it is allowed to “dry down” or evaporate.
Chicken Curry
About Chicken Curry
Curry was introduced to Guyana by the East Indians from the Indian subcontinent who came to work as Indentured Labourers. This art of cooking was passed onto the many generations which followed. The word “curry” refers to dishes, typically made with a sauce and flavoured with a diverse and often complex mix of spices. The most common of these are chillies (peppers), coriander, turmeric, ginger and cumin.
Spices – The spices added to a curry creates its unique taste and aroma. Spices are used whole (raw) or ground into a fine powderlike state. Adding these spices at different points in making the curry will produce different, yet tantalizing results.
Curry Powder – While many persons use curry powder in making curries, it is believed to be created by Indian Merchants sometime in the 18th century. Curry powder is a mixture of spices, used to make curries as the name suggests.
Did You Know?
- There is an ongoing debate about the name of the dish: if it should be called “Curry Chicken” as in Curried Chicken or “Chicken Curry”. This debate comes alive during the cricket season, especially when matches are played between Trinidad (where it is called “Curry Chicken”) and Guyana, where we know it as “Chicken Curry”.
- In the southern states of India, curries are spiced with the leaves of the curry tree.
Cooking Chicken Curry Guyanese Style
Ingredients
- 2 lb chicken
- green seasoning
- curry powder
- masala
- 1/2 tbsp ground geera (cumin)
- water
- 1 pepper
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 small onion
- salt (to taste)
- oil
Optional: potatoes (peeled and cut)
Method:
- Wash and clean chicken
- Cut chicken into pieces.
- Mix green seasoning, curry powder, geera, masala in a small bowl. Add water and stir until it forms a paste.
- Heat oil and sautee paste for about 2 minutes until brown.
- Add onion, garlic and pepper.
- Add the chicken and evenly coat with the mixture of curry paste.
- Let the chicken cook for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add salt and potatoes (if you are using them).
- Cover the chicken with water and allow to boil.
- Allow the curry to cook until the gravy thickens as desired.
- Serve warm with rice, dhal puri or roti!
Watch This: Chicken Curry, step by step Video Recipe II Real Nice Guyana. (HD)
Chicken Curry In Guyana
To prepare a delicious chicken curry, the meat needs to be properly bunjhaled to absorb the flavour. Avoid adding water too soon as it may make the curry watery and bland. Roasting the chicken before cooking may add additional flavour to the curry. Chicken Curry is one of the most popular and favourite dishes in Guyana, and we can understand why. It a simple yet tantalizing dish suitable for all events and is a comfort great food. Follow our recipe above and you will be ready to make some delicious, irresistible chicken curry – Guyanese style!
Article References:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curry
- https://www.realniceguyana.com/recipes/chicken-curry/
- https://www.stabroeknews.com/2011/09/17/the-scene/tastes-like-home/let%E2%80%99s-discuss-bunjal-versus-curry/
- Image: https://images.pexels.com/photos/437397/pexels-photo-437397.jpeg?cs=srgb&dl=chicken-curry-437397.jpg&fm=jpg
Last Updated: 2020-07-03
