THE SHIT I EAT WHEN BY MYSELF – ONE POT INSTANT MC-URRY W BROKEN PASTA
MY “HURRY CURRY”… GOT MC-DED.
YESTERDAY, rising above a sea of flaming red and orange, I pulled myself together and decided to eat like a real human being.
I ordered McDonald’s.
That’s the danger of leaving me alone with myself, in an obscured reality and a space where I have nobody to impress, culinarily or physically. Things… can get really low. I ordered 2 large fries and 20-pc of nuggets, all of which are items I believe to be the gooders among evil, the first being undeniably an extension of real earth-grown potatoes, and the second, … protein. So on the couch there I was, horizontally, feeling really good about myself consuming a conscious choice of – really, when you think about it – potatoes and chicken protein, and forgot all about WHAT shits I eat when I’m by myself? I wasn’t at all anticipating a relapse.
The downfall was that I was being too good. In an applaudable demonstration of restrain and wellness-living, I left a whole 10 pieces of nuggets untouched. I was practically Gwyneth Paltrow. But today, when I walked into the kitchen to make one of my absolute favourite of all The Shit I Eats, which is an one-pot, instant-yet-homemade Thai curry with broken thin spaghettis and something legitimate like tofu and shrimps, something unprecedentedly horrid happened.
Unprecedentedly, was the key word. I don’t. Do this. Except for this time. My “hurry curry”… got Mc-Ded.
Broken, torn pieces of what’s possibly one of the greatest invention in the history of food, thrown into another greatest invention – curry. And they married. I mean, literally. In the land of curry where it yearns nothing more than substances that can soak up all its complex glory, everything that a curry could ask for, the nuggets answered. The breading and the porous interior of the nuggets became a sponge that drank up this bowl of good brown, along with broken thin spaghetti as a hearty backdrop, this was one of the best of the worst things I could possibly do.
Just to say… people probably shouldn’t do the same. Even I. Don’t do this. Except for this time.
Shouldn’t. Was the key word.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 1/2 tbsp Chinese dried shrimp, finely minced (optional)
- 2 tbsp Thai red curry paste
- 1 tbsp Thai yellow curry paste
- 1/4 tsp curry powder
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 2 cups chicken stock, or water
- 1 1/2 tsp dark brown sugar
- Approx 100 grams thin spaghetti, broken in segments
- 4 ~ 5 pieces Mc-nuggets, broken into chunks
- Chili oil and cilantro to finish
Instructions
- Heat up 1 tbsp of oil in a pot and cook the minced dried shrimps, red curry paste, yellow curry paste, curry powder and black pepper until fragrant. Add coconut milk, chicken stock (or water), and dark brown sugar and bring to a boil. Add the broken thin spaghetti, and nugget-chunks, then cook until the sauce has thickened and the spaghetti is cooked.
- Top with chili oil and cilantro. If you can, wait a couple min before eating. It'll taste better.
Notes
The Chinese minced dried shrimps will give the curry another depth of flavour, slightly resembling Singapore's laksa. I always keep a bag of dried shrimps in the freezer as one of my go-to ingredients. But if you don't have it, you can substitute with jared "shrimp fat", or, actual shrimps of course.
Mc-nuggets are not the only thing I throw into my curry... I do Taiwanese meatballs (gong-wan), shrimp balls, hot dogs... whatever the kitchen sink has to offer. You can of course throw in real chickens, or shredded roasted chickens, or any other more sensical things.
Kelly
11.15.2014at4:04 AMThis sounds good…. so I will!
Melissa
11.15.2014at4:04 AMI shouldn’t…. but I will! This looks dangerously delicious…
kimithy
11.15.2014at4:14 AM“I was practically Gwyneth Paltrow” should totally be your lead-in headline :) I snorkled my tea at that.
Lisa Collins
11.15.2014at4:22 AMI too snorted my drink…ha!
DAVID
11.15.2014at6:42 AMThe only problem I have with this recipe is that I never have leftover McNuggets…First World Problems~~!
Marcella
11.15.2014at7:02 AMI’ve been going through a weird McDonalds phase. “But I’m just getting a happy meal, what’s the harm in that?” I ask myself…WHAT 31 year-old woman buys herself happy meals! But If I buy McNuggets for this recipe, It’ll feel totally justified.
Dani K
11.15.2014at8:29 AMWhen my husband goes out of town overnight (or longer), there’s an immediate trip to the store for tater tots and other forms of indulgent comfort foods that may or may not even go together. I think, in part, I’m too embarrassed to binge like that when anyone (aside from the dogs) is there to witness. But, maybe it’s also that cooking something glorious is meant to be shared with someone else, and feels like a waste when I’m alone. And perhaps, too, I crave the comfort my husband’s presence brings, but still need to wallow in regret and discomfort (an indigestion) over his absence.
Belinda@themoonblushbaker
11.15.2014at11:48 AMHaving left over chicken nuggets? Is this a real thing that happens??
If I ever have the chance to exercise “my inner good girl” I have to try this!
tunie
11.15.2014at12:24 PMOoo, this IS bad. Can see how it could happen, but, yeah – bad. hahaha
Becky
11.15.2014at1:01 PMOkay so I hardly ever read a food blog post from start to finish (a sad admission since I’m a food blogger) but this one got me! Thanks for the good laugh. And I hope all is well :)
Deanna Bushman
11.15.2014at1:02 PMAt least you put effort into your “the bae’s away” food. I literally pace back and forth between my pantry, fridge, and freezer until I give up and make a cup noodle or a can of soup. Unless there’s left over taco stuff, in which case I will make tacos until I hate myself for eating like twelve tacos in like an hour. For lunch. When I’m supposed to be dieting.
Meg
11.15.2014at2:09 PMThis is, without question, my favorite post of all time. I am going to McDonalds for “ingredients”.
Millie l Add A Little
11.15.2014at4:25 PMHOLY SHEET GIRL
Pang
11.15.2014at5:19 PMI laughed so hard at your ‘I was practically Gwyneth Paltrow’ !!!!! OMG, Mandy!!!! hahaha You are so hilarious :)
OK. now about the menu, I really don’t see anything wrong with it, really I don’t. :)
Rebecca@Figs and Pigs
11.15.2014at6:12 PMThanks for this great series almost Gwyneth. This dish is most definitely acceptable. Almost like a chicken katsu.
Sini | My Blue&White Kitchen
11.16.2014at9:21 PMUmmm, this shit actually _does_ look tasty. Looove that color!
natalie @ wee eats
11.17.2014at12:05 PMSo, you’re saying i SHOULDN’T do this, but you will tell me how to do it, just in case I…. you know… feel the need to maybe do this… privately. In the comfort of my own home. Where no one would ever witness such a thing happening. And I would surely never tell anyone about it. It would just be a secret between my belly, myself, and my computer screen. Well now I don’t know how I could resist. It’s like you locked me in a room with a red button and said “whatever you do, don’t push the button. but if you DO push the button it will be delicious. But you definitely shouldn’t push the button because that’d just be bad” Or would it? OR WOULD IT?
mandy@ladyandpups
11.17.2014at1:29 PMNatalie: You’ve just about described what goes on in my head like 3/4 of the day…
evalyn
11.17.2014at2:40 PMI have been admiring your pot for a while…so creepy. Is this the same one you used to make the cake portion of your magic flan cake? Where did you get your pots, they look both pretty and functional? Thanks so much. I have loved your blog for such a long time. UGH I feel like we’re on the same page in terms of addiction to mochi textured things. And noodles.
mandy@ladyandpups
11.17.2014at3:02 PMEvalyn: It’s called a Japanese YUKIHIRA! Google it! You should be able to buy it from a lot of places online :) I absolutely love! It’s light and practical, and beautiful at the same time.
Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy
11.18.2014at5:16 AMOh. My. Gosh. I think this is the best thing I’ve ever seen, hahaha! Amazing :)
Shikha la mode
11.18.2014at6:10 AMI can’t handle that there are McNuggets in there – hilarious and awesome!
vvn
11.20.2014at8:18 AMI love McDonald’s and this is great! Sure it’s fast food but I hate when people pu-pu it because I know that everyone loves it (even if secretly)!
Maggie
01.28.2015at6:47 AMAs a fussy eater I think I will try this ; I am a bit of a fried spuds and beans girl but am tempted by the nuggets
Looks yummy
Maggie
01.28.2015at6:48 AMYum
Geri
04.28.2015at10:47 PMHOT DAY-UM this looks soo good…. so far every recipe I’ve seen on this website is something that 1. I’ve never had, and 2. I’d LOVE to eat!! Keep it commin girlie! I’ll never look at chicken Mc nuggets the same way again LOL!!!
Paul Yan
12.23.2015at6:32 PMAmazing post…. Such a relief to my bachelor oasis :p