My mom used to teach music during the afternoon until the evening. Sometimes, she wouldn't have much time between the lesson so she'd have snack and dinner on the table already prepped. She'd write out directions on reheating for me to feed my sister and myself. Dry curry was one of those stables. It's really easy to prep and reheat when ready to eat. I found the hardest part of making this dish is to find chili sauce. Depending upon the type and brand you get, the flavor changes drastically. I used to dislike having raisins in a savory dish but as an adult, I find it a nice balance with the spicy curry powder. For the kids, I typically serve them the dish without the curry powder if the one I have on hand has a bit more kick in it than they like. Always serve it on top of rice!

🥢Ingredients

For Dry Curry:

🔸 3/4 lb. ground beef (200 g)

🔸 1/4 onion (diced)

🔸 1 carrot (finely diced or shredded) (30 g)

🔸 1 capsicum/any color pepper (finely diced)

🔸 1/3 cup chili sauce

🔸 1 tsp salt

🔸 1 tbsp butter

🔸 2 tbsp raisins (30 g)

For Rice:

🔸 3 cups of rice

🔸 3 cups of water

🥄Directions:

DRY CURRY:

▫️ In a large pan on medium heat, melt butter and sautee onions, garlic, carrots and capsicum until the onions are translucent.

✔️For littles, I sometimes food process all the veggies so they're pureed and then heat. It's easier to chew and if you have any that don't like seeing their veg, it's a sure way they can't pick it out.

▫️ Add ground beef to the pan and cook through.

▫️ Add chili sauce, curry powder, and salt to the pan. Mix all ingredients well.

▫️ Add raisins, cover pan with a lid and let it simmer on low allowing the flavors to meld together.

✔️To make it easier for my littles to swallow, I do add a bit of extra liquid by adding a bit of water into the chili sauce bottle. Just enough to get all the chili sauce out of the bottle. When you simmer the raisins in it, it will release some sweetness to the curry.

✔️Depending upon the age of my kids at the time, I pull out some meat and veggies aside before I add curry and chili sauce. The youngest is old enough to have chili sauce added so I pull it out before I add the curry powder, depending upon what spice level powder I have on hand. Play it by ear - you know your kiddos best.

▫️ You can turn off the heat and warm when you're ready to eat, or serve right away over a bed of rice.

RICE

▫️ Wash rice well in a pot. Drain water and fill with clean water. Cover pot. Soak for 15 - 20 minutes if white rice. If brown, soak for minimally 30 - 40 minutes.

▫️ Put pot on high heat. Once it begins to boil and liquid begins lifting the cap, turn to low immediately and place timer for 10 minutes.

▫️ Once ten minutes pass, turn off the heat completely, take it off the heat and let it rest for 10 minutes. DO NOT OPEN THE LID.

▫️ As soon as the rice finishes resting for ten minutes, immediately take off lid and stir the rice with a rice paddle. Recap and leave it aside until you're ready to eat.

✔️ Whatever amount you need, always make sure it's 1:1 ratio.

✔️ Wash thoroughly. Holding the pot in one hand, use the other hand to wash the rice. When washing the rice, fill the pot so it just covers the rice. Grab a hand full of rice and rub it between your fingers and palm. Repeat a few times. Drain the water as best as you can, then repeat a few times until the water is clearer. I typically do this step 3 times. This is the way my great grandmother taught me and is the best way to make the rice tastier.

🌟If you want a tutorial of how to cook rice, let me know.