I love apricot juice as the base for this apricot chicken curry dish. Chicken drumsticks are an economical meat option, but any bone-in pieces will do. Hold back on the Madras curry and peppers to keep this dish mild and flavorful, or adjust upward if you enjoy a lot of heat! Serve over rice for a complete meal.
Preparation Details
Prep Time: 30 mins
Cook Time: 40 mins
Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 8 chicken drumsticks
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 4 cups apricot nectar
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch, or as needed
- 3 tablespoons Madras curry powder
- 1 cup dried apricots
- 4 medium carrots, thinly sliced
- 1 large onion, roughly chopped
- 1 large green bell pepper, roughly chopped
- 1 fresh green chile pepper, minced (Optional)
- ½ cup chopped water chestnuts (Optional)
Steps
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Season chicken with salt and pepper.
- Heat oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and red pepper flakes; cook and stir until garlic is soft and fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add chicken and brown for about 3 minutes per side.
- Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake until chicken is no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, 7 to 10 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
- Bring apricot nectar to a boil in a large pot over medium-high heat, then reduce then heat to medium-low. Mix water and cornstarch together in a small bowl; stir into apricot nectar. Stir in curry powder, then apricots. Add baked chicken.
- Place the cast iron skillet with chicken drippings over medium heat. Stir in carrots, onion, bell pepper, and chile pepper; cook and stir until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Pour chicken and apricot sauce into the skillet; cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Season again with salt and pepper. Stir in water chestnuts just before serving.