Big chickens don’t peck at small seeds.
~ Chinese Proverb
It’s been a long time since I made chicken curry. Curries are popular throughout Asia and comes in many different version. I think I know where the curry is generally from the color and look of it. The curry I made is the Malaysian style curry which is rich in coconut milk. The curry powder used is what gives the distinctive taste. I used the very popular Malaysian brand called Baba, which is available in the Richmond Public Market.

The origin of the word curry is the Tamil word kari which means a sauce. Curries may be prepared from dried curry powder or from fresh roots and spices. Since curries are very rich in flavour, they are always served with a staple food such as steam rice. In Malaysia, curries are also eaten with bread or roti canai.
Ingredients
1 chicken, cut into pieces. I used mostly chicken drumsticks as the dark meat is more tastier and tender. |
This is the most important ingredient in making curry chicken. The BABAs meat curry powder is a blend of assorted spices including coriander, chilli, cumin, fennel, tumeric, dhal, pepper, cinnamon, cardamon, star anise, cloves and other spices. |
The rest of the ingredients include:
- 8 to 10 tablespoons curry powder
- 8 tablespoons water
- 4 shallots
- 4 cloves garlic
- 4 slices ginger
- 1 onion sliced
- 1 tsp salt
- 6 tablespoons oil
- 1 can coconut milk
- some curry leaves
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Instructions
First, I blended the shallots, garlic and ginger with 2 tablespoons of water in a blender. If you don’t have a blender, you may also pound these ingredients manually with a pestle and mortar — that is what my mum used back in the days when I was young. |
The blended mixture is placed in a large mixing bowl.I then added the curry powder and 6 tablespoons of water into the blended mixture and give it a good mix. |
Next, I added the chicken pieces into the curry mixture and stirred until all the chicken pieces are coated. |
To start the cooking process, I heat a frying pan until it’s hot and added in the oil. I fry the sliced onion and curry leaves until the onion is ligth brown. |
Then I added in 5 tablespoon of the coconut milk, follow by the chicken pieces, I stir-fried it for 2 minutes. |
After 2 minutes, I added in another 5 tablespoons of coconut milk and let it simmer for 3 more minutes. |
Next, I added the remaining of the coconut milk and potatoes (peeled and cut into large chunks). This has to be brought to a boil and simmer in medium low heat until the chicken and the potatoes are cooked. This takes about 20 minutes. Lastly, I seasoned it with salt to taste. |
A plate of steam rice with spicy hot curry chicken never goes wrong with my family. The curry can be kept overnight refrigerated. As a matter of fact, the ingredients above was good for two dinners.
Hello, I live in Los Angeles California USA.I am having trouble to find Baba kari. Were can I find this produc in LA.
thank you
sham
Hi Sham, I have no idea where you can find Baba Curry Powder in LA. However, you can order it online from this website: http://www.malaysianfood.net/orderfishcurry.htm
Hello Sham, I live in North Carolina, USA. I manage to found the Baba’s Curry Powder. You may order online at AsianSupermarket365.com
Good luck!
Best regards,
Mala
So glad that I found this website. I am a missionary in the Philippines, and was able to go to Singapore last year for a week. I was able to buy some Baba Curry Powder there, and was wondering if this can be purchased here in the Philippines too. I made this for dinner tonight, thanks again for all your recipes.
Shannon
Hello! May I ask where you got Baba’s curry powder in Richmond public market?? Thank you 🙂
Try Lee Men in Richmond Public Market, or Great One Supermarket on Park Road or Golden Summit across the RPM.