Peanut Butter Chicken Curry

My kids’ favourite dish, they’ll love the fact peanut butter is in this. Get them involved, especially when it comes to mixing the peanut butter and coconut milk into the dish and watching it change colour.

Serves 4

Prep time 10 mins, cooking time 20 mins

Ingredients

• 3-4 chicken breasts, thickly sliced

• 300g/10oz Basmati rice (brown is best)

• 1 red onion, diced

• 4 garlic cloves, peeled and grated

• 1 thumb of ginger, peeled and grated

• 1 teaspoon of cumin

• 1 teaspoon of ground coriander

• ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper (older kids only)

• 1 x 400g/14oz can of chopped tomatoes

• 1 x 400g c/14oz can of coconut milk

• 2 tablespoons of peanut butter (preferably chunky)

• Approx 180g/6.5 oz fresh spinach, rinsed or 6-8 frozen cubes

• Vegetable oil

• Salt

Method

1. Season the chicken then cook in a teaspoon of vegetable oil for 4-5 minutes until browned, turning frequently. Remove from the pan.

2. Cook the rice per packet instructions.

3. Cook the onion in a teaspoon of vegetable oil and pinch of salt for 2-3 minutes then add the garlic, ginger and spices. Cook for a further minute.

4. Add the tomatoes, coconut milk and peanut butter to the pan and mix well.

5. Bring to the boil, add the chicken back in (along with the frozen spinach if using) then simmer for 10-12 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken.

6. If using, add the fresh spinach then cook for a further 2 minutes then serve alongside the basmati rice.

Who doesn’t love a sausage? This dish is a super easy one pot that also features lots of lovely nutrients. Serve over rice or pasta for more carbs and swap the sausages for some chorizo if you prefer.

Serves 4

Prep time: 10 minutes, Cook time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 8-12 good-quality sausages

• 1 onion, diced

• 1 teaspoon dried thyme

• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary

• 1 teaspoon dried oregano

• 2 courgettes/zucchini, finely diced

• 2 carrots, finely diced

• 1 tablespoon plain/all-purpose white flour (or any alternative)

• 600ml/20fl oz/2 1/2 cups vegetable stock

• 2 large handfuls of kale, tough stalks removed, roughly chopped

• 2 x 400g/14oz can of butter/lima beans, drained

• Cheese, for grating

Method

1. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add the sausages and cook for around 5–6 minutes, turning once. Remove then pour out any excess fat from the pan.

2. Heat another tablespoon of oil in the pan. Add the onion and cook for 2–3 minutes. Add the thyme, rosemary and oregano and mix well. Add the courgettes/zucchini and carrots and cook for 3–4 minutes.

3. Whisk the flour into the stock, then pour into the pan. Add the sausages back in, cover the pan and simmer for 15 minutes.

4. Add the kale and butter/lima beans and cook for a further 3–4 minutes before serving with some grated cheese. Goes great with some crusty bread.

Adam Shaw is a Leiths trained chef, Dad of 3 young boys and founder of At Dad's Table

He specialises in fun, positive family food and his debut cookbook, How to Grow Your Family was released in 2022. How to Grow Your Family is the award-winning debut cookbook from Tunbridge Wells based Family Chef and Founder of At Dad’s Table, Adam Shaw.

Featuring over 120 recipes taking you from pregnancy through to family meals, and focussing more on what you can have, less on what you can’t, the book is packed full of exciting and fun recipes designed to promote food confidence.

Whether you’re expecting, a new parent or looking to jazz up your family mealtimes, How to Grow Your Family features plant, meat and fish-based dishes the majority of which are ready in under 30 minutes.

Endorsed by Giovanna Fletcher, the winner of the Health and Wellness Best Healthy Cookbook 2022 and named in the BBC Good Food’s top 8 family cookbooks, How to Grow Your Family is available online and in all good bookshops.

Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre, 01892 540744

7 Acorns Day Nursery, Sevenoaks. 0-5 years. Enquire now www.7acorns.co.uk, 07803 697404

BRENCHLEY, Kinderversity Pre-school, wrap around care, holiday clubs, 0-11 years, 01892 458231

DUNTON GREEN, Broughton Cottage Day Nursery, TN13, 3 months to 5 years, 01732 462339