🍽️ Cuisine
Cari Poulet
Réunion Chicken Curry
Ingredients: 500g chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on), 30ml vegetable oil, 1 large onion (finely diced), 4 garlic cloves (minced), 25g fresh ginger (grated), 15g ground turmeric, 10g ground cumin, 5g black pepper, 3 sprigs fresh thyme, 2 medium tomatoes (chopped), 250ml chicken stock, 15ml fish sauce (optional, for depth), Salt to taste.
Preparation: Season chicken pieces generously with salt, turmeric, and cumin. Heat oil in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Brown chicken on all sides until golden, about 4 minutes per side, then set aside. In the same pot, sauté onion until softened and slightly caramelized, about 8 minutes. Add garlic and ginger, cooking until fragrant. Stir in remaining turmeric, cumin, and pepper, toasting spices for 1 minute. Add tomatoes and thyme, cooking until tomatoes break down. Return chicken to pot, add stock, and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook on low heat for 35-40 minutes until chicken is tender and sauce has thickened. Adjust seasoning with fish sauce and salt.
💡 Authentic cari improves overnight—the flavors meld beautifully when reheated the next day.
Rougail Saucisse
Sausages in Creole Tomato Sauce
Ingredients: 300g smoked sausages (or kielbasa), 15ml vegetable oil, 1 medium onion (sliced), 3 garlic cloves (minced), 20g fresh ginger (grated), 4 ripe tomatoes (roughly chopped), 1-2 bird's eye chilies (minced, adjust to taste), 5g fresh thyme leaves, 5g ground turmeric, Salt and black pepper to taste.
Preparation: Score sausages diagonally and blanch in boiling water for 5 minutes to reduce saltiness. Drain and slice into 2cm rounds. Heat oil in a large pan and brown sausage pieces on all sides. Remove and set aside. In the same pan, sauté onion until translucent. Add garlic, ginger, and chilies, cooking for 2 minutes. Add tomatoes, turmeric, and thyme. Simmer for 15 minutes until tomatoes break down into a chunky sauce. Return sausages to the pan, coating them in sauce. Continue cooking for 10 minutes until flavors meld and sauce thickens. Season with salt and pepper. Serve over steaming white rice.
💡 For deeper flavor, use a mix of smoked and fresh Creole sausages. The contrast of textures elevates the dish.
Gâteau Patate
Sweet Potato Cake
Ingredients: 400g orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, 100g brown sugar, 50g butter (melted), 2 eggs (beaten), 60ml coconut milk, 1 vanilla pod (seeds scraped) or 10ml vanilla extract, 3g ground cinnamon, 2g ground nutmeg, 1g ground cloves, Pinch of salt, Butter for greasing.
Preparation: Preheat oven to 180°C. Peel and cube sweet potatoes, then steam until very tender, about 20 minutes. Mash while still warm until completely smooth. Stir in melted butter, then brown sugar until dissolved. Add beaten eggs, coconut milk, vanilla seeds, and all spices. Mix until homogeneous. Pour into a greased 20cm baking dish. Bake for 45-50 minutes until top is golden and slightly cracked, and a skewer comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs. Let cool for 15 minutes before serving. Best enjoyed warm with a drizzle of local honey or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
💡 The cake continues cooking after removal from oven. Slightly underbaking ensures the characteristic moist, fudgy center.
