I grew up eating Asian food which my mom always made with recipes memorized in her head. Sometimes she would make a curry dish made with potatoes and boneless meat cut up into chunks. The curry spice was a bit different than the ones she typically used in her everyday Chinese dishes, but it added a unique flavor that made my tongue dance.

My recipe version below uses cut up bone-in chicken parts. You can purchase cut up chicken pre-packaged at the grocery store which will save you time. Bone-in chicken provides a lot of flavoring in the stock that will naturally form when the juices run out of the chicken during cooking.  This chicken curry recipe also uses coconut milk to provide a rich, smooth, creamy sauce.

Benefits of Tumeric

Turmeric, sourced from a plant similar to ginger, provides many health benefits. According to the Mayo Clinic, “A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows curcumin, an active ingredient in turmeric, effectively kills certain cancer cells. ‘Turmeric has natural anti-inflammatory compounds called curcuminoids, and these curcuminoids have been associated with a positive effect on various diseases,’ says Anya Guy, a Mayo Clinic dietitian. Those diseases include Type 2 diabetes, obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer.”

My recipe uses turmeric powder or turmeric essential oil. A good way to add nutritional benefits to your diet is by adding food-grade, pure essential oils. They not only enhance the flavor but also provide a health boost. I add essential oils in my recipes so that my family can experience the natural health benefits of the plants that go into the essential oils.

Not All Essential Oils Can be Ingested

Not all essential oils are created equal, and not all essential oils are safe to ingest. Some companies use synthetic fillers to keep costs down, and these additives can be harmful to your body. The only way to validate purity is through comprehensive testing.

As such, I only use dōTERRA essential oils which are Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade^® oils. This means that dōTERRA oils go through a process which certifies there are no added fillers, synthetic ingredients, or harmful contaminants that would reduce their efficacy. They use independent third-party labs to test each batch. You can track the testing results and source of every bottle. As such, I only recommend dōTERRA’s essential oils because I can verify they’re 100% pure.

Ready for Yumminess? Try This Recipe!

This chicken curry recipe uses only one pot for easy cooking and cleanup. The turmeric turns the chicken into a beautiful golden color. With the chicken simmered in a creamy, flavorful coconut milk sauce, this dish goes perfectly with a side of rice or naan bread.

South Asian Chicken Curry with Turmeric

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Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 6 shallots or small onions
• 3 cloves garlic chopped
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 6 tablespoons curry powder
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder or 1 drop dōTERRA turmeric essential oil
• 4 tablespoons water
• 2.5 pounds chicken parts
• 6 medium potatoes peeled and quartered
• 1 can coconut milk (approximately 13.5 oz)
• 2 teaspoons salt
• Cloves and cinnamon sticks (optional)

Instructions

1. Heat oil in a large pot on medium heat. Add shallots or onions and garlic until slightly brown.
2. In a small bowl, mix chili powder, curry powder turmeric powder/turmeric essential oil, salt, and water until smooth. Stir mixture to the pot and cook until fragrant.
3. Add chicken parts and mix well with curry mixture.
4. Add potatoes and half of the coconut milk then mix well. Bring to a boil, then simmer covered over low heat for approximately 20 minutes. Stir occasionally.
5. Add cloves and cinnamon sticks (optional) as well as the remaining half of the coconut milk . Bring curry mixture to a boil again. Continue simmering until chicken and potatoes are tender.

Find More Recipes Using Essential Oil Here