Cari Poulet Réunion
“Réunion's national chicken curry — bone-in chicken simmered in massalé-tomato-onion-garlic-ginger-thyme sauce, served on a Réunion plate with rice, rougail piment-tomate, lentils, and brèdes (sautéed greens). The four-element creole plate is the household structure.”
Where it comes from
Cari poulet is Réunion's national dish, found at every household lunch and every restaurant. Structurally similar to Mauritian cari but with subtle differences: less combava, more thyme, slightly more turmeric in the massalé.
On the plate
Spoon up cari poulet over rice with rougail and lentilles on the side. Chicken is fall-off-bone tender, sauce is thick-orange-red from massalé. Complex spice (coriander, fenugreek), thyme aromatic, kaffir lime floral citrus, tomato base. Rougail piment-tomate adds fresh acidic bite. Lentils give earthy ground. The complete Réunion plate.
How it works
Massalé toasted in hot oil releases volatile aromatics. Tomato + tomato paste create umami concentration. Kaffir lime leaves contain citronellal that's preserved by mid-cook addition. Slow simmering converts collagen to gelatin.
Variations
Cari boeuf uses stewing beef. Cari poisson uses firm white fish. Cari magret uses duck breast. Cari cabri uses goat. Vegetarian uses jackfruit + chickpeas.
On the Palate
Ingredients
Serves 4
How it's made
10 steps · Show ↓35 min active · 45 min waiting
How it's made
10 steps · Show ↓- 116 min
Cut 1 whole chicken (1.4 kg) into 8 bone-in pieces. Season with 1 tsp salt + 1 tsp turmeric. Rest 15 min.
- 29 min
Brown chicken in 3 tbsp oil 8 min. Remove.
- 36 min
Cook 2 chopped onions 6 min until golden.
- 43 min
Add 6 garlic + 3 tbsp ginger + 4 thyme + 1 bird's eye chili. Cook 2 min.
- 53 min
Add 4 tbsp massalé + 1 tsp turmeric. Toast 90 sec.
- 69 min
Add 4 diced tomatoes + 1 tbsp tomato paste. Cook 8 min.
- 731 min
Return chicken + 250 ml water + 4 kaffir lime leaves + 1 bay leaf + 1 tsp salt. Simmer covered 30 min.
- 89 min
Uncover; reduce 8 min.
- 93 min
Stir in 3 tbsp cilantro.
- 105 min
Serve on Réunion plate with rice, rougail piment-tomate, lentilles, and brèdes.
