Pan-fried Chicken with Curried Leeks and Lentils

This Pan-fried Chicken with Curried Leeks and Lentils makes a lovely meal full of wonderful flavors, nutrition and protein, with a fab creamy sauce. 

I don’t post all the chicken meals we eat but we eat a lot of chicken, especially thighs. They aren’t too expensive and they lend themselves so nicely to a variety of sauces and spices. Chicken is adaptable! Plus, it is a good source of protein, something I’ve been trying to eat more of. 

We loved this dish and writing this up reminds me that I need to add it to the coming week’s menu again. 

Pan-fried Chicken with Curried Leeks and Lentils

This recipe is adapted from one in my (now-defunct) favorite food magazine, delicious. I really miss it. Among other things, the original added two cans of lentils. Our appetites aren’t that large and one suited nicely. Drain and add a second can, if you’d like, but only save and use the liquid from the first one. 

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

Fine sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

4 large chicken thighs

2 shallots, finely sliced

3 garlic cloves, finely sliced

2 leeks, sliced

1 tablespoon mild curry powder

5 oz or 150ml dry white wine

1 can (14.1 oz or 400g) green lentils (or two, see note above)

5 oz or 150ml whipping cream

For garnish: a few leaves cilantro

Method

Peel and finely slice the shallots and garlic. Clean the leeks well and slice them into rounds.

Season the chicken with salt and a few generous grinds of black pepper. 

Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat, then add the chicken thighs, skin-side down, and cook until the skin is crisp and golden (about 8-10 minutes.)

Transfer the chicken to a plate. 

Add the shallots, garlic and leeks to the pan. Add the wine and scrape the bottom of the pan to loosen all the lovely brown bits. 

Stir in the curry powder. Leave to simmer until the wine is reduced by half.

Drain the can of lentils, saving the liquid. Add the lentil liquid to the pan along with the cream.

Return the chicken to the pan, skin side up, and cover with the lid. 

Simmer for 15-20 minutes until the chicken is cooked through juices should run clear when a sharp knife is pushed into the thickest part of the thigh.

Remove the lid, push the chicken to one side (or remove it to give yourself more room to stir) and add in the lentils. 

(I tried the side push first and I guess my pan wasn't quite big enough for me to stir well.) Stir to combine.

Add the chicken back again if you removed it or center it in the pan if you didn’t. Simmer for 7-9 more minutes to reduce the sauce a little and heat the lentils through. 

Taste and add salt if needed. Garnish with a few leaves of cilantro to serve. 

Enjoy!

It’s Sunday FunDay and today we are sharing recipes made with fresh vegetables. Many thanks to our host, Sneha from Sneha’s Recipe. Check out the links below. 

• Creamy Italian Ranch Corn & Green Bean Salad from Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
• Curry Roasted Potatoes and Asparagus from A Messy Kitchen
• Garlic Basil Wax Beans from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Garlicky Margherita Pizza from Amy's Cooking Adventures
• Pan-fried Chicken with Curried Leeks and Lentils from Food Lust People Love
• Roasted Chinese Eggplant from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Tendli and Potato Fry from Sneha's Recipe
• Veggie Mac & Cheese from Mayuri's Jikoni

 

We are a group of food bloggers who believe that Sunday should be a family fun day, so every Sunday we share recipes that will help you to enjoy your day. If you're a blogger interested in joining us, just visit our Facebook group and request to join. 

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