How to use wild plant leaves - Spicy Chicken and Goosegrass [Galium aparine]

The Really WILD Food Guide

SPICY CHICKEN & GOOSEGRASS

An almost dry curry - with a consistency a bit like sag aloo but with meat instead of potato - and with a lovely tomato edge. It's an ideal way to deal with goosegrass leaves which have little taste.

VARIATIONS & ALTERNATIVES
Try cubed lamb instead of chicken.

½ -1 cup chicken - cubed
1 garlic clove
1 small onion - sliced
Butter or oil
Ground ginger, cumin, coriander seed, cayenne, pepper, garam masala - large pinches
1 clove
½ cup water
3 tomatoes
Salt
1 cup goosegrass leaves

[Main ingredients above are approx. per person, but obviously variable according to taste and circumstance.]

METHOD

· Separately chop the onions, garlic and tomatoes.

· In a skillet stir-fry the chicken pieces until nicely browned. · Remove from the heat and set meat aside.

· Add a little more oil to the skillet and then gently fry the onion and garlic for a few minutes. · Add all the spices - with the exception of the garam masala - and continue cooking for another minute. · Then add the chicken pieces, chopped tomatoes and water, and some salt.

· Raise the heat to boiling then cover and reduce to a very low simmer. · Stirring occasionally, to prevent sticking, continue cooking for 30-45 minutes until the chicken is very tender.

· Raise the heat and stir in the goosegrass leaves gradually, cooking in the remaining liquid. · Continue until most of the liquid has been absorbed and evaporated. · Remove from the heat and sprinkle over a pinch of garam masala. · Serve with rice, or even some spiced potatoes.

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