This is a fantastic recipe to get your family to enjoy this very versatile curry. Loaded with flavours from spices and herbs, and textures from coconut, chicken and sweet potatoes – it is absolutely packed with the best of nutrients.

Chicken provides a great source of protein for those growing bodies; healthy fats from the coconut milk and olive oil, and, of course, the best of energising carbs from sweet potato. Their orange colour provides an abundance of carotenes, which converts to vitamin A – essential for healthy skin and good eyesight. These orange gems are abundant in vitamin C, manganese and other minerals – providing a huge dose of anti-oxidants.

Sweet potatoes are so delicious in themselves, they also make a great dessert – simply bake, slice, add butter and cinnamon. Another favourite is to purée banana, hot sweet potato and some soaked dates, then top with Greek yoghurt and nuts of choice. As you tuck into one of our favourite curries here, enjoy the natural sweetness, which complements the many other flavours of this great dish.

Recipe

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Ready in: 45 minutes

Ingredients

• 400g chicken (cut into bite-size pieces)
• ½ medium-size onion (chopped)
• 2 garlic cloves (minced)
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 3 tbsp curry powder
• 2 cups bok choy or kale (rinsed, stem removed, and roughly chopped)
• 450g small tomatoes (diced, with juice)
• 1 can coconut milk or coconut cream
• 100g tomato paste
• 2 large sweet potatoes (peeled and cubed)
• 1 cup mushrooms (sliced) – optional
• Salt and pepper
• 1 bunch fresh cilantro (coriander)

Instructions

1. Cut chicken into bite-size pieces, season with salt and pepper, and set aside
2. Peel and cube sweet potato, chop onion and garlic
3. Combine olive oil and curry powder in large pan over medium heat, and stir
4. Add onion and minced garlic, stir for a few minutes
5. Add chicken and mushrooms, and turn heat down to medium low, stirring regularly until chicken is cooked through
6. In separate dish, mix coconut milk, diced tomatoes, tomato paste
7. Stir tomato mixture and sweet potatoes into to the chicken mixture
8. Cover and let it simmer for 30-40 minutes or until the sweet potatoes are soft
9. Add bok choy in the last 5 minutes and season to taste with salt and pepper
10. Garnish with cilantro before serving.

Get The Children To Help

Easy tasks for younger children:

• Wash tomatoes and bok choy
• Mix coconut milk, diced tomatoes and tomato paste
• Stirring (closely supervised)

Moderate tasks for older children:

• Dice tomatoes
• Chop onion and garlic
• Peel and cube sweet potato

Brain Teaser

See how sweet potatoes are harvested in the video below. What does it mean to ‘cure’ them? Hint: they are not sick.