Sri Lankan turkey curry

Ingredients:-

1 tbsp uncooked long grain or basmati rice
50g/20z coriander seeds
25g/1oz cumin seeds
25g/1oz fennel seeds
7.5cm/3in piece cinnamon stick
1 1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp cardamom seeds
1/2 tsp black mustard seeds
1 tsp black peppercorns
3 dried red Kashmiri chillies

For the Sri Lankan turkey curry

2 tbsp coconut or vegetable oil
15cm/6in cinnamon stick, broken into smaller pieces
10 cardamom pods, bruised
10 cloves
350g/ 12 1/4 oz onions or shallots, peeled, cut in half, thinly sliced
40g / 1/2 oz garlic, peeled, crushed to a paste with the edge of a knife
25g 1oz fresh root ginger, peeled, finely grated
2 tbsp roasted Sri lankan curry powder
1 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder
1 tsp ground turmeric
200g/7oz canned chopped tomatoes
20 fresh curry leaves
4x4cm 1 1/2 in piece pandan leaf
1 fat lemongrass stalk, tough outer leaves removed, cut in half, lightly bruised with the edge of a knife.
3 green cayenne chillies, split open lengthways
1 tsp salt, or to taste
400ml/14fl oz canned coconut milk
750g-800g/1 lb 10 1/0 oz-1lb 12 1/4 oz cold cooked turkey, cut into small pieces.
1 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice.
salt and freshly ground black pepper
steamed rice, to serve

Method:-

1. For the roasted Sri Lankan curry powder, heat a heavy-based frying pan over a medium heat. Add teh uncooked rice and cook for 2-3 minutes, shaking the pan regularly, until the rice is toasted and pale golden-brown. Transfer the toasted rice to a large mortar or spice grinder and set aside to cool.

2. Repeat the dry-fryking process with the spices, then tip into a bowl and set aside to cool.

3. Repeat the dry-frying process with the dried chillies. then tip into a bowl and set aside to cool.

4. When the toasted rice, spices and chillies have cooled, grind them to a fine powder (do this in batches if necessary) Store the roasted Sri Lankan curry powder in an airtight jar for up to three months.

5. For the Sri Lankan turkey curry, heat the oil in a large, heavy-based frying pan. Add the cinnamon stick, cardamom pods and cloves and fry for 15-20 seconds, or until fragrant.

6. Add the onions or shallots and fry for 4-5 minutes, or until softened and pale golden-brown. Add the garlic and ginger, stir well to combine. and fry for a further 2-3 minutes.

7. Stir in two tablespoons of the roasted curry powder, the chilli powder and ground turmeric and fry for a further minutes.

8. Add the chopped tomatoes, curry leaves, pieces of pandan leaf, lemongrass stalkl, cayenne chillies and salt. Cover the pan with a lid and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over a low to medium heat. Continue to simmer for 20-25 minutes. or until the curry sauce has thickened.

9. Add the coconut milk and cooked turkey, then re-cover the pan with the lid, return the mixture to a simmer and continue to simmer for a further 4-5 minutes, or until the turkey has heated through. Stir in the lime juice and remove the pan from the heat. Serve with steamed rice.