Recipe

Bunny chow is Durban's great street food: a hollowed-out bread loaf that becomes the bowl for a serious chicken curry. This one earns the word serious — whole cardamom pods, cloves, cinnamon and star anise toasted in oil before the ginger, garlic and curry powder go in, so the gravy soaks into the bread walls carrying real depth. It feeds a crowd of twenty, which is fitting: bunny chow was never meant to be eaten alone.
2 | cups vegetable oil |
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3 | chopped onions |
1 | tablespoon cumin seed |
1 | teaspoon minced garlic |
1 | teaspoon grated ginger |
5 | cracked cardamom pods |
5 | whole cloves |
4 | cinnamon sticks |
3 | star anise |
3 | tablespoons curry powder |
| • | chili powder (optional) |
5 | pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, chopped into small pieces |
1 | cup chopped fresh cilantro |
2 | tablespoons salt |
5 | tomatoes, chopped and pureed |
3 | potatoes, chopped |
1 | stem fresh curry leaf, leaves picked |
8 | loaves unsliced firm white bread, halved, for serving |
| • | carrot, salad for serving |
| 1. | In a large wide heavy pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and cook until they caramelize and turn golden brown, which will take around 10 to 15 minutes. Add in the cumin seeds, minced garlic, grated ginger, cracked cardamom pods, whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, and star anise. Stir well and let the spices infuse for 1 to 2 minutes. Incorporate the curry powder and add chili powder for a kick of heat if desired, continuing to cook for an additional minute. Introduce the boneless, skinless chicken pieces, ensuring they are well coated with the aromatic spices. Cook the chicken for about 2 minutes before adding the fresh cilantro, salt, pureed tomatoes, chopped potatoes, and fresh curry leaves. Allow the curry to simmer gently until the chicken is cooked through, which should take approximately 30 minutes. Tweak the seasoning if required. |
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| 2. | Prepare the bread loaves by hollowing out the center of each half, ensuring to keep the 'plug' intact. Fill each hollow with the prepared chicken curry and place the bread 'plug' back on top. Serve the Exotic Chicken Bunny Chow with a side of refreshing carrot salad. Encourage guests to use the bread as a delightful edible bowl to enjoy the curry and salad. |
The following values are based on a single serving of this recipe.
| Calories | 1142.5 kcal |
| Protein | 49.6 g |
| Fat | 50.6 g |
| Carbohydrates | 120.6 g |
| Fiber | 7.7 g |
| Sugar | 11.6 g |
Published on Jul 23, 2024 by Luminița