A thin curry of young desi chicken with papaya, served with hot rice, is a truly satisfying meal. When fever, stomach upsets or a long illness leave you with no appetite, there is no substitute for this light yet nourishing curry. The homely dish is not only unique in taste but also beneficial nutritionally.

First wash the chicken well. Then sauté it thoroughly in a pan with onion, ginger, garlic and light spices. Once it is well browned, add enough hot water and bring it to the boil.

When the curry is boiling and the chicken is about 80 per cent cooked, cut the papaya. Papaya should never be cut long before cooking: cut in advance, it forms a rough, dry coating, will not soften easily and can spoil the taste of the curry.

So cut the papaya when the chicken is nearly done and put it straight into the boiling curry. When the papaya is well cooked, sprinkle roasted cumin powder over the top just before taking the pan off the heat. Serve with hot rice.

When the body is weak after illness and there is no appetite, a bowl of hot papaya and chicken curry can bring relief in place of heavy food. Raw papaya contains a natural enzyme called papain, which helps break down protein, so meat is digested easily without putting extra strain on the stomach or liver.

Young desi chicken is low in fat and provides lean, easily digested protein, helping the body rebuild and overcome weakness quickly after illness.

The hot curry is very effective against the dehydration caused by colds, fever or stomach problems. Made with light spices, it speeds the supply of nutrients to the blood, restores the appetite and naturally boosts the body's resistance.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.