Mulligatawny Stew

A Dr. Haynes Favorite

I’ve been making this stew for 20 years and have forgotten the original source.  I save it for entertaining and have even served it to the most discriminating foodies.  It avoids the 3 most common food sensitivities – gluten, dairy, eggs.

Mulligatawny is an English soup with origins in Indian cuisine.  Don’t be afraid of the long list of ingredients.  It is so worth it.  The almonds and banana garnish create a tropical taste and crunchy texture.  Invite people over.

Makes 8 cups (but I usually double the recipe).

Ingredients:

  • 6 TBSP butter (or substitute)
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1 carrot, diced
  • 2 stalks celery with leaves, diced
  • 1 green pepper, seeded and diced
  • 1 apple, peeled and diced
  • 1 pound of chicken breasts
  • 1 can coconut milk
  • 1 cup loosely packed finely shredded coconut
  • 1 TBSP curry powder
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • 2 whole cloves, crushed, or ¼ tsp powder
  • 5 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup peeled and chopped tomatoes (canned is fine)
  • Salt to taste
  • 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 cup toasted, sliced almonds for garnish
  • 4 ice-cold bananas, sliced as garnish (optional)
  • 3 – 4 cups hot cooked rice (if you want to serve the stew on top of a scoop)

Directions:

  1. Gently melt the butter (or substitute) over medium heat in a large soup pot.
  2. Add the onion, carrot, celery, green pepper and apple, and whole chicken breasts and simmer.  Stir frequently, for about 15 minutes.  Do not over brown.  Add a little water if needed.
  3. Mix in the curry and nutmeg and cook an additional 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Stir in the broth, cloves, tomatoes, coconut milk, shredded coconut, salt, and cayenne.  Partially cover and simmer for 30 – 40 minutes.
  5. Pull out the chicken breasts out and let cool.  Shred into bite size pieces removing any of those disgusting chewy bits.  Return to pot.  Taste and correct seasoning.
  6. You can serve on a mound of rice if you wish.  Garnish with the toasted almonds.  Pass the bananas separately.