I am a firm believer of meal planning. So much so, that every weekend I take a few hours to carefully plan our meals for the coming week. I grab a handful of cookbooks from my ever increasing library, a couple of sticky page tabs, my favourite pen and meal planning notebook (yes, I keep a notebook!), and get down to work.
First, I skim through the pages of various cookbooks for inspiration and ideas. Then I make a list of what I think we'd like to eat that week. I then go about designating a theme for each day of the week. It doesn't have to be anything elaborate, I'm not one to cook a 4-course dinner everyday! Usually my themes would look something like this:
Monday: Chicken
Tuesday: Pasta Night
Wednesday: Dal, Roti, Sabzi
Thursday: Soup & Sandwich
Friday: Movie & Munchie Night
Having set themes for each night of the week makes it easier for me to decide and plan a meal, ensuring I maintain a good balance between protein, carbs and vegetables. I usually leave weekends free which allows us play it by ear. After all, it's good to some amount of spontaneity thrown in!
Once my meals have been decided upon (after due consulting with Hubby Dear on whether he promises to eat the Bok choy I have planned for one day), I create my grocery list. Now, as much as this may make me seem a very organized person, I assure you that it's not always the case. There are often days when I don't feel like keeping with the plan, when I absolutely refuse to have a cous cous salad for dinner, or days when all we want is some take-out pizza. It's especially when days like those happen, that my so-called organization gets thrown out the window.
Today was one such particular day. I had a lovely looking mango sitting lonely in my fridge since I had a mango salsa planned sometime during last week. Well, that didn't quite work out, so the darned fruit was shoved into this week's menu. As I sat to plan my meals for this week, I realized I felt a little adventurous and wanted to take a new recipe for a test drive. And thus this Mango Chicken was born. All I have to say about it though, is that if Hubby Dear comes home even a tad bit late tonight, I can't promise he'll have any left for him. I'm starving already, and the dish bubbling away seems to be calling my name. Oh how will I ever resist!
MANGO CHICKEN WITH RED PEPPERS
Prep time: 10 min | Cooking time: 20 min | Serves: 4Ingredients:
2 large boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 large mangoes, diced into cubes
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 medium-sized onion, sliced
1-2 red chillies, finely chopped
1 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste
¼ cup chicken stock/water
¼ tsp turmeric powder
½ teaspoon red chili powder
½ teaspoon cumin powder
½ teaspoon coriander powder
2 tablespoon light cooking oil
salt, to taste
fresh coriander leaves, chopped for garnishDirections:
Heat oil in a large non-stick wok and saute chopped chillies, ginger-garlic paste and onions till lightly browned.
Add in chicken pieces, peppers and spices, and stir-fry till chicken is cooked through. Stir in chicken stock and mango, and allow to simmer for a few minutes.
Season with salt, and garnish with fresh coriander leaves.
Tried this recipe? Leave a Comment and let me know, also Rate it by clicking the number of stars on the recipe card. Want to share your version with me? Tag me on Instagram @hookedonheat
Tia says
I'm very impressed with your meal planning. My mom used to do the same thing with a gian calendar and cookbooks spread across the dining room table. I've recently started to follow suit, electronically. I've found an app for it that is a life saver. The only down side is you have to enter your recipes (but it's easy), but once you do, you can generate your menus and grocery list with a simple tap or two. It's called Mealboard and I highly recommend it for meal planning. I'm not affiliated in any way with this app except that I'm a frequent and loyal user of it. Now to try your mango chicken recipe, just found it.
Nilanjan says
Hello Meena,
I cooked the Mango Chicken...my first cooking adventure..and it turned out real good..everybody loved it..liked that mango idea very much..will try to add mango in other receipes too sometime later...
Thanks again...
Nisha says
I tried the Mango Chicken and it was awesome awesome awesome!! 🙂
Rochester says
Hey I did substitute the chicken with tofu and the recipe turned out very well....thanks for a great recipe !!!
Kathy says
Wow, this mango chicken was absolutely delicious. Like you, I had 2 mangos looking lonely and waiting to be eaten, what a wonderful surprise that meal was.
I tend to get out my old recipie books and spend time looking for recipies, my duaghter told me to get with the times, just google what you want, like 'mango chicken' and viola there you were. I will be back to check for other ideas soon. What a great site.
Ruth-Ann says
This recipe looks yummy... for years I hated the thought of 'cooking' fruit, but in the past few years have used peaches, apples, and mangos in a main dish and they're delish! i'm sure this would be great too --am adding it to my collection. This is a fabulous site (stumbled on it as I was looking for Indian food to prepare for my mom's b'day this weekend) - beautiful photos, very informative, well-written, and entertaining blogs, great recipes - THANK YOU!
Diane says
I love mangoes and chicken and heat. This recipe looks wonderful.
I also plan my menues for about a month at a time. I find it saves me time and so much money.
Thanks for the post!
Rochester says
Hi
just wanted to know if we can substitute chicken with Tofu as my hubby doesn't really like chicken.....would the recipe change in any manner?
Meena says
You would definitely have to use extra-firm Tofu and fry them adding to the sauce. Do let me know how it goes.
ashan says
Thanks for your quick reply Meena! Could you also tell me if it's also okay to substitute the ginger-garlic paste with finely chopped or crushed ginger and garlic? I can't seem to find the stuff on shelves and have no blender myself.
Meena says
Yes Ashan, you can definitely substitute ginger-garlic paste for fresh, finely chopped ginger and garlic.
Chris says
Hi Meena -- we made this tonight, it was the perfect way to use the mangoes we had on hand. Thanks!
ashan says
Hi Meena, I've been browsing through your website to find recipes to try (I just bought the basic ingredients you mentioned in your 101 posts). You mention ginger-garlic paste in many of your recipes; I couldn't find it at the grocery and would like to check with you if it's okay to use crushed ginger and garlic as a substitute.
Thanks for teaching us how to make all this wonderful stuff! If I may make two requests: one, please continue your intro in Indian cooking posts -- they're very helpful for those of us still feeling our way in, and two, it would be great if you could include more recipes with green veggies (I'm trying to cut down on the carbs). Cheers!
hiren says
Wow. that looks really yummy. really liked your blog. hope i can make the stuff for mango season is just on in india.
Elissa says
I tried your recipe last night and it was great! I confess that I did leave out the turmeric because I didn't have any. I served it with whole wheat couscous.
I always plan meals before shopping...it's amazing what having 4-5 planned dinners and healthy snacks around the house will do to make your life easier.
Meena says
Serving it with couscous is a great idea Elissa, maybe I'll try it the next time. Planning meals makes shopping a breeze; you spend less time browsing all the shelves, and in turn, save money by not bringing home anything unnecessary!
Mandy says
oh my, this is definitely something up my alley! I am saving this recipe now. Nice blog!
FlaNBoyant Eats says
oh great! mango and chicken: what a fab combo... ur pics are great.
glad I find you.
Ruthie @ Menu In A Box says
Love your site! Certainly inspired me - thanks!
Kaveri says
Hi Meena,
I just love the pictures on your website! I am a vegetarian but believe me these dishes can tempt anyone 🙂
Your meal planning is something I can never do since I am more of on-the-go-whatever-is-in-the-fridge kind of a person!
Meena says
I used to be just like you Kaveri, until I realized it's much easier to cook things on a whim when I have all the ingredients at hand - and this kind of planning helps. For a delicious vegetarian version, try substituting the chicken with fried pieces of tofu. I'm sure that would taste heavenly as well!
revathi says
Wow, I am happy that there is another soul who does this organizing. However, I don't maintain a book. Ur theme idea seems awesome. With farmers market in full swing, I have to get back to this lost-routine.
ur mango chicken looks good. I love the mango chicken in Banana leaf ( a Malaysian restaurant ) sans their use of ketchup.
meeso says
Wow, This I have to try! No dish of yours has failed me yet 🙂
Claudia (cook eat FRET) says
wow - great blog
I need to spend some serious time checking you out!
this recipe sounds wonderful!
Dani says
I am with you! I am a big fan of having a loose meal plan for the week...it really helps me when I don't have time to think during the week! This recipe looks delish!! This is my first time here (I have no idea how I have never seen you before) and you are now bookmarked!!
Ashley says
this looks delicious! can't wait to try it out 🙂
Maitrayee says
looks yummy!! Will surely try.
steamykitchen says
ohhhh delicious! I love mango chicken - one of my favs.
Mallika says
I wish I could have your discipline (sigh!).
Julie VR says
This looks fantastic!! Perfect use for the mangoes that don't make it into our smoothies in time... Thanks Meena!
Cynthia says
I plan and organise a lot of things about and in my life but the discipline to plan my meals weekly, I fail miserably 🙂
chandni says
Have u used raw mango or ripe?
Meena says
I used riped mangoes Chandni, it's impossible to get such great flavour and consistency from raw ones!
Dana McCauley says
What a lovely picture! What kind of camera do you use?
Kevin says
That looks great. Nice photo.
Your sister! says
Mmmmm Yummmyyyyyy
Happy Cook says
Wow beautiful colour and i bet they were tasting delicious too.
I am a opposite i never plan what i am going to make during the weekdays, but then for weekend i make plans 🙂
Alexandra says
it looks so colourful and absolutely gorgeous...I can almost taste it!! did hubby have any left? 😉
Cham says
Looks like heaven in plate 🙂 Mango and chicken never tasted, assume it should be wonderful.
shriya says
First time here and already lovin' it. You have a very nice blog. The pictures are awesome. Mango chicken, that's somethin' new to me. It's really tempting and mouthwatering. And I love the idea of a theme for every day, you are very organized. your blog is very professional and neat. Love it.
Yogamum says
Wow, that sounds great! I have all of those ingredients on hand...well, except the chicken! I might try it tomorrow night.
I also prefer to plan the week's meals, but in practice, it hardly ever works out that way!
Gretchen Noelle says
First off, I love that you plan like this! I love to plan meals ahead of time and just enjoy knowing others do as well! I also wanted to say that I really like your picture. Your picture has great lighting on it, it caught my eye. Also, I like the sounds of this dish. I have 2 recipes that are similar but are started more with a mango chutney rather than the fruit itself. Great idea!
Katerina says
I am so not that organized, my meal planning ended once I was no longer a student. This looks good!