Gourmet Dinner Service

Why it’s good for mums
This is a quick cooking curry (lots of curries are slow cookers) which uses a purchased curry paste. It is a sweet tasting curry and is a great introduction for kids. The sweetness and crunch of the accompanying salad vegetables help to take away some of the heat.

Why it’s good for kids
Kids enjoy taking matters into their own hands by adding things to their food. They can add their choice of salad vegetables to the curry. Children also like silly shapes and cool colours so choose different coloured vegetables and cut them into fun, interesting shapes and sizes.

Ingredients		Method
500g lamb, diced leg 2 tablespoons purchased korma curry paste 150g sultanas 1 cinnamon stick (optional) 1 onion, finely chopped 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons olive oil 400g tinned diced tomatoes 2 tablespoons tomato paste 60ml water Salad vegetables; your choice of: carrot, cucumber, capsicum, celery, cherry tomatoes, boiled egg		Heat oil in saucepan with cinnamon stick over medium heat. Add onion, garlic and salt and cook gently, stirring for 1-2 mins until onion softens Add curry paste and water and stir for 1 min. Add lamb and coat in spice mixture, cook stirring for 3 min Add sultanas, tinned tomatoes and tomato paste, mix through Simmer with lid on over a low heat for approx 30-40 mins until lamb is cooked through. Stir occasionally. Whilst curry is cooking chop up salad vegetables Serve with rice and salad vegetables

2. TIPS FOR MUM

Busy Mums
The curry can be made ahead and will be okay in fridge for two days or double the recipe and freeze.

Tips
Check your curry after 15 mins of cooking, if you think there is too much liquid remove the lid for the rest of the cooking time.

Hiding vegetables
If your kids don’t eat sultanas, blend them into the curry paste and water with a stick blender. Try not to omit them as they add the sweetness to the curry.

If you don’t think your kids will eat the raw salad vegetables you could cook up some pumpkin, cauliflower and red capsicum, puree them and add them to the curry before serving. They will be disguised by the tinned tomato.

3. MAKING IT FUN

Creating a Scene
On a plate make a well with rice. Then add the sauce as the bottom of the well and place lamb pieces on the top of the sauce. The lamb will be visable to the kids and more appealing. Children don’t like to see food mixed up together, their instant reaction is yuck! Hopefully this ‘picture’ will get around this issue.

Game Time
What is it? - Guess my Chew
One of you closes your eyes and places your ear to the other's cheek. The other eats a piece of dinner and chews as necessary. The goal is to identify what is being chewed. If your kids are young, let the adult be the guesser and your kid will hopefully try to outsmart you by trying all the different items on their plate.

Hands on

Help decide which salad vegetables they would like and what shape they will be
Washing salad vegetables
Measure the sultanas
Crush garlic
Help stir the curry at the different stages

4. ADULT FRIENDLY

2nd sitting

Cook rice separately
Reheat curry
Set aside a portion of salad vegetables

Spice it up

Add sambol olek or diced chilli to your curry