I made these easy, aromatic, spicy and sticky Grilled Curry Chicken Thighs with Malaysian curry powder. Likewise curry powder is full of nutritional values. Besides, curry powder is a mixture of spices. Typically the mixture can include chilli pepper, coriander, cumin, fenugreek and turmeric. They can also add other ingredients depending on the recipe and the brand. Including dried red chilli, coriander seed, aniseed, cinnamon, star anise, nutmeg, cardamom, black pepper, and clove. In addition, they may include ingredients like ginger, garlic, fennel seed, mustard seed and curry leaf.
Curry powder can range from mild to hot. Moreover, the blend can include anything from 5 spices up to 20 spices. Besides, we use curry powder widely to spice up dishes that include chicken, beef, lamb or seafood. Furthermore, vegetables used can consist of cauliflower, pumpkin, sweet potato, potato, cabbage, peas, beans and chickpeas. We can also use these veggies regularly to make vegetarian or vegan curry dishes. Some salad dressing recipes likewise include curry as an ingredient.
Gluten Free Grilled Curry Chicken Thighs Recipe
For my gluten free grilled curry chicken thighs recipe, I am including Malaysian curry powder (Ayam brand). Specifically, their ingredients include coriander seeds, dried chilli, aniseed, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, star anise, pepper, fenugreek, nutmeg and cardamom. Furthermore, my extra main ingredients for the marinade are turmeric powder, paprika powder, blackstrap molasses and Worcestershire sauce. As well as dry sherry and rice bran oil. This grilled curry chicken thighs recipe is not only gluten free. But also dairy free, soy free, egg free, nut free, corn free and refined sugar free.
You may also like my other Malaysian curry recipes:
- Malaysian Chicken Curry (Kari Ayam);
- Malaysian Curry Laksa (King Prawns and Chicken Laksa);
- Prawns and Pineapple Curry;
- Malaysian Lamb Curry; and
- Beef Rendang.
Curry Powder Origin and Facts
The term curry came from the word “Kari” in the Tamil language in India, meaning sauce or gravy for rice. While curry powder is a Western creation. Because the British invented curry powder as far back as 4000 years ago. And many people have since added curry powder into many different cuisines in countries all over the world today. Accordingly, in India, they make similar spice mixes according to regions. For example, they named spice mixture as garam masala in the Northern provinces.
Nutritional Values and Health Benefits of Curry Powder
Since they make curry powder from both fresh as well as dried spices. As a result, there are numerous health benefits that arise from these spices used. Listed below are some of the most common spices they include in many curry powder.
Turmeric
Most commonly, they include turmeric, a light yellow spice, in curry powders. The overall health benefits of turmeric mainly come from its curcumin component that has anti-inflammatory properties.
Specific health Benefits of turmeric may include:
- Aid the treatment of arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and pancreatitis;
- Promote bone health and prevent osteoporosis;
- Regulate blood sugar level and may lower risks for diabetes;
- Support healthy central nervous system and reduce risks of Alzheimer’s disease; and
- Help to prevent or lower risks of cancer like prostate, breast, skin and colon cancer.
Coriander Seeds
Coriander seeds (cilantro seeds) is another regular spice, they often include in curry powder and it contains natural antibacterial properties.
Some of the health benefits of coriander may include:
- Helps detoxify the body from mercury, lead and other toxic heavy metals;
- Treatment for food poisoning;
- Promote healthy digestive system; and
- Lower blood pressure and cures skin problems.
Cumin
Commonly, they also add cumin as another spice to curry powder. Overall, its health benefits may include: promote healthy digestive system;
- Support weight loss;
- Anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-diabetic and antioxidant properties;
- Used in traditional medicines to treat asthma and rheumatoid arthritis;
- Promote healthy central nervous system; and
- Act as a natural laxative; and
- Anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties.
Cardamon
Regularly, they add cardamon as another spice to curry powder. The overall health benefits of cardamon may include:
- Promotes gum health;
- Helps lower blood pressure;
- Reduce risks of cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks and strokes;
- Supports healthy immune system; and
- Has anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a remedy for upset stomach, diarrhea and vomiting.
Fenugreek
While the fenugreek in curry powder helps lower cholesterol level and may help avoid the development of cholesterol gallstones.
Grilled Curry Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 1.2 kg skinless and boneless chicken thighs trimmed (8 thighs)
- 2 large brown unions halved and thinly sliced
- steamed basmati rice to serve
For The Marinade:
- ⅓ cup rice bran oil
- ⅓ cup blackstrap molasses
- ⅓ cup medium dry sherry
- 2 tablespoons gluten free Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 3 tablespoons curry powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika powder
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- ¼ teaspoons ground white pepper
- 2½ teaspoons salt
For The Garnish:
- 250 g baby peas lightly steamed
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients for the marinade together in a medium bowl. Whisk and mix well.
- Marinade the chicken thighs in a large bowl. Cover with cling wrap and set aside in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- Pre-heat fan force oven to 180C or 350F.
- Add all the onions evenly in a large non-stick baking tray lined with baking paper.
- Add the marinated chicken thighs on top of the onion covering all the onion pieces.
- Brush and add half of the marinate onto the chicken thighs and reserve the rest of the marinade.
- Grill the chicken thighs bottom side up for 20 minutes and then turn the chicken thighs around. Brush and add the remaining marinate onto the chicken thighs. Grill for another 25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
- Carefully pour all the sauce in the baking tray through a fine sieve into a medium bowl and reserve the sauce as a dressing for the chicken.
- Serve the chicken with some steamed baby peas, sauce and steamed rice.
Recommended Products
