Expecting a small crowd last Saturday night for a birthday celebration, I decided to make an Indian style chicken curry. I chose the dish because it had a lot of things going for it. First thing, it was economical. Second thing, it was fairly easy. Third, it is fun food; and fourth, it was make-ahead. And not to mention it’s really good and everyone likes it.
I bought three family packs of boneless, skinless chicken thighs consisting of eight thighs each. The total cost for the meat was about $25.
I wasn’t exactly sure how many people were coming but somewhere between eight to eleven people. It was plenty of chicken. I only used two of the three packs. The curry turned out to be enough for a group of eight and leftovers for four, and some more for another meal for two. I served it with Basmati rice.
Then I made chicken soup with the rest of the thighs. So basically I got 20 or more meals out of those 24 chicken thighs. I may be sick of chicken thighs now, but I was patting myself on the back for being so economical — generally not one of my strong suits. I don’t like to scrimp when it comes to the ingredients.
Of course, I always say, the meat, even costly meat, is the cheapest part of the meal. I think I spent more on the other ingredients than the chicken.
For instance, the madras curry powder I like is pricey. The other spices I needed were fairly cheap because I only buy small amounts from the in-bulk jars at River Valley Market. Then there were the cucumbers and yogurt for the raita sauce. Green beans. Lettuce and carrots for the salad with carrot ginger dressing. The toppings, fresh toasted coconut, diced oranges, chopped peanuts, Major Grey’s mango chutney, cilantro, and a jar of SambalOelek, a hot ground chili paste to give it a kick if people like it hot. Have to have naan bread too, of course. So all that adds up. Not to mention wine and champagne. Better check my bank account.
It’s only money, right? Oh well. YOLO. And, all in all, a reasonably priced meal for eight and the many meals that stemmed from that batch of chicken thighs.
Not sure who or where the saying came from, but I guess it’s true, “winner, winner, chicken dinner.”
—LUCY
You can have your YOLO.
Give me carpe diem every day of the week.
By the way, I love SambalOelek. Give me this wonderful hot chili sauce instead of sriracha sauce every day of the week. Why, I just may have to make some of it myself. Like a gallon’s worth. I’ll save you some.
—LOU