Curry chicken rice bake 咖哩雞焗飯

Who doesn't like curry chicken with rice? This recipe is slightly different, it's east meets west. It's curried rice topped with a saucy chicken curry and cheese. This fusion (or bastardised if you prefer) curry chicken rice bake can be found in Hong Kong/ Macau cafe style restaurants 茶餐廳. I think Japanese also have similar recipe. Curry and cheese does not sound matching but this combination is really tasty. Once you have tried it you are likely to make this again. The rice can be replaced with macaroni it is equally yummy.

Here is my way of making this oriental curry chicken rice bake. I had something similar in Hong Kong but a bit more greasy I am quite sure the rice was stir fried before baking. My version is still quite rich but not as greasy as restaurant style.

Ingredients:

500 - 550g skinned and boned chicken (thigh, leg or breast), I prefer thigh more flavour and meat texture is nicer
1/2 - 1 tsp salt

2 cups rice, long grain or basmati
2 cups water or diluted chicken stock (if you like a softer rice add a bit more water)
1 tsp chicken bullion powder (omit if using chicken stock)
1/2 to 3/4 tsp salt
1 heap tsp curry powder (any kind)

1 large spanish onion, or two medium small onions
1 large or 2 small carrots
sweet peppers (bell pepper), different colours. I used 1/2 of three different colours.
some frozen pea (I did not have any, so omit)

1 heap tbsp curry paste (any kind like Japanese curry cube, Chinese curry paste, Thai, Malaysian or Indian), I used bought Thai red curry paste
1 cup coconut milk (I used tin/can coconut milk)
some sugar to taste
some salt to taste
few tbsp cooking oil

1 rounded tbsp cornflour mixed with 1/3 cup water

some mozerella cheese (shredded or grated), use more mozerella if you like a stringy cheese topping
some cheddar cheese (grated)


Method

• Cut chicken into bite size. Mix with salt and leave aside for 30 mins to 1 hr.
• Cut onion into small pieces. Dice carrot and sweet pepper. 
• Put rice into a large sieve. Rinse and drain.
• In a pan or wok, add a little oil. Heat then add 1/2 the onion and carrot, stir fried till onion is soften. Add curry powder stir till fragrant. Add water, stir. Heat off. 
• Add rice into a saucepan. Add cooked carrot, onion with the liquid. Add some chicken bullion powder and some salt to taste. 
• Heat and cook rice. When water is boiling turn the heat to lowest and let it simmer with the lid on for about 15 minutes till water is completely absorbed and rice is cooked. Heat off and leave it covered and rest for another 10 - 15 minutes. 

• In a wok or large pan, add few tbsp cooking oil. Heat till hot, add onion and stir till onion is softened. Add chicken, turn heat to high and fry chicken till browned. Add curry paste, stir till fragrant. Add sweet pepper and frozen peas. Add coconut milk and slackened cornflour. Cook till sauce is hot and thickened. Add some sugar and salt to taste.

•  Loosen the rice. Put rice into oven proof dish in individual portions or spread this on a large baking dish. 

• Add curry chicken on top of rice. 

• Finally top with some mixed cheese.
• Bake at 200 deg C till golden for about 15 minutes. If making this rice in advance, can leave in the fridge for few hours up to 2 days. To bake chilled rice, use lower heat and bake much longer till heated through.