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Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Crock-pot Chicken Curry Stew - Karen's favorite

The history: The first go-to cook book I bought when I was transitioning off Medifast to Paleo was Sarah Fragoso's Everyday Paleo Family Cookbook. If you are cooking for a family or friends- get this cookbook!
Sarah made her Slow Chicken Curry recipe at Anerobic Crossfit Laguna Nigel workshop on 2/6/2012, during the workshop itself. Sarah demonstrated how easy it was to put together a Paleo meal and be in a busy full time work and family environment. It doesn't take much extra time to make these meals.(bonus to you if you can spot me in the group photo at Laguna Crossfit)

I adapted Sarah's recipe a lot, so here's my version below. Get that cookbook! Go to an Everyday Paleo workshop when/if there is one near you.

My adaptations were  removing the pepper,  the carrots, adding sea salt at the end instead of during cooking, using light coconut milk (all I can find at Trader Joe's) and using organic chicken stock from Costco. I also pour the finished stew over sauteed cabbage, broccoli slaw, or other vegetable "noodle" vegetables. Freezes well.

The gateway meal:
I've gotten more people talking about Paleo at lunch break by microwaving this meal and walking around the cube farm. A great curry smell and warm and filling. "Sure, you can borrow my cookbook, you can get one at the bookstore.. One day soon, we'll have a Paleo Pot luck....."

Special Note: Karen's 2 cents
No, I don't have the calorie count, points value or anything else...  I've gotten past the calories in, calories out. Calories matter a little bit, but I don't sweat it much. Yes, I understand that you are tracking your macros... Eyeball it if you are tracking or use your ingredients in My Fitness Pal. I totally understand... I'm a WW and Medifast Alumni. It's an evolution...



Crock-pot Chicken Curry Stew- Karen's Favorite

6-7  hours before you are ready to eat:
2 or 2.5 pounds of organic chicken thighs (2 sections of a 3 section package- Costco)
1 TBS paprika
2 TBS curry powder
3-4 garlic cloves, pressed
1 large or 2 small white onions
5-6 celery stalks diced.
1 cup Light Coconut Milk (Trader Joe's), or 1 cup full fat coconut milk if you can find it without additives.
1 cup Organic Chicken Stock from Costco, make your own if you have the time.
1/2 cup water
Sea Salt to season ( I use pink Himalayan) 

 1 hour or less, Before you are ready to eat:
Saute shredded cabbage, broccoli slaw (both at Trader Joe's) or Sweet Kale Salad- 7 shredded super foods.. green stuff only (throw the chemical dressing in the trash, set the cranberries (added sugar, ugh!) and pumpkin seeds aside.) with coconut oil in a frying pan. This will be your "noodle" base.

  1. Rinse the chicken thighs and place in the crock-pot
  2. Mix the spices together and sprinkle on the chicken
  3. Start tossing in all the veggies (except the noodle base) into the crock-pot.
  4. Add some salt, to your liking.  I often cook without it and salt the dish later.
  5. Mix the chicken stock, water and light coconut milk together, then pour into the crock pot.
  6. Put the lid on, place on low, and cook for 6 hours.
  7. Before the chicken is done, saute the "noodle" substitute and place into glass bowls.
  8. Pull the veggies and chicken out and portion onto glass bowls, on top of the "noodles"
  9. De-fat the broth, then pour the liquid  equally over the portions.
  10. Season with salt now, to taste. Also, cilantro and/or lime works well in this dish, if you have it.
  11. Place lids on the bowls and freeze the other portions. Makes 4-5 or even 6, depending.
This meal is one I often make on a Sunday afternoon. By the time mid-week is here, I'm so glad I put the time in the weekend before. I pre-make spice ziplocks with the curry mixture,  so I can put this meal together fast for several weekends over a month.

What works now:
1. Batch cooking
2. Crock pot cooking
3. Taking my lunch to work
4. Eating real food, no sugar, no grains

What did not work before:
1. Buying low fat, low calorie 5/$10 meals and expecting to loose weight
2.  Microwaving a processed meal "product". I wouldn't call it food so much.
3. Eating the processed food "products" from steps 1 & 2.
4. Eating lots of added sugar, and grains.

Let me know if you try this recipe or go to an Everyday Paleo workshop. Both have changed my life!


15 comments:

  1. Standing on your knees in front (first row is seated on their hinny)...you are fourth person from the right side facing the camera.

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  2. Marc, you win a virtual high five for being correct, and another one for answering so quickly. Good work. :)

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  3. I'm just going straight to the recipe ........ looks a good one

    All the best Jan

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  4. What Marc said... I'd never have spotted you ;) Funny you going into crockpot cooking and winter meals and us firing up the BBQ for summer. I love a curry and am actually having a beef curry tonight... yum.

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  5. I am so making this one, Karen. Sounds amazing! I will have to figure the calories up, but then will have it for future use. Thanks!

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    1. Lyn, this dish may need some "spice" adjustment without the pepper. Let me know how yours turns out. It does not have the heat of regular curry, but good flavors at the same time.

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  6. Sounds yummy! I love chicken curry with coconut milk. I've been using the most awesome spice mixes, but they are high in calories. I probably need to make more of my own recipes to keep them lighter.

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    1. There's a good recipe site (Wellness Momma) http://wellnessmama.com/4430/ and I started making my own spice blends, Marion. Good way to get flavor without additives. I realized that "spices" often meant hidden MSG or MSG like substances in the packaged kind. Good luck!

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  7. My oldest (son, 23, grad student, east coast) was just asking for cookbook ideas. I sent him name of cookbook and link to this post. He eats much as you and I do, whole foods, really watches the carbs.

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    1. Excellent, Vickie. Another website is George the Civilized Caveman. He does baked goods (Paleo) and I don't do baked goods but his meat and side dishes are delish! He may be around the age of your son.
      http://civilizedcavemancooking.com/

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  8. This looks great! Can't wait to try it.

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  9. I love curry and I love my crockpot and I cannot wait to make this!

    I am glad you posted about the Everyday Paleo Family Cookbook. I have been debating getting it for some time now. I'm always searching for family friendly recipes, but I find that many Paleo recipes tend to be spice heavy which my kids are not fans of. So then I end up cooking for me, my hubby and the kids which is no fun.

    Jenn (from Day#1 again...back with a new/different blog) :)

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    1. Hi Jenn M. I find that my daughter will eat some of Sarah Fragoso's and George the Civilized cave man's recipes. She doesn't do curry or fish, so we focus on beef & chicken and for her I do pork.

      I just added your blog to my reader... yay, glad you are back.

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