Chicken and banana curry for dogs…

I know, it sounds pretty weird. Cooking a curry for dogs. But the title is just a bit of fun for what is otherwise a way of using up rapidly ripening fruit, simply by adding to chicken in the slow cooker, along with a few “curry-like” spices that are also suitable for dogs. Just to emphasise: no onions were used in the making of this “korma”!

And however off the wall it might sound, it is nutritionally sound.

Chicken supplies a highly digestible, complete protein, together with niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, selenium and phosphorus. Banana and apple both contribute carbohydrate and soluble fibres and generally broaden the carbohydrate and fibre component of what would otherwise be predominantly a protein-rich dish. Separately, the bananas also provide potassium and apple provides pectin, a fermentable fibre that can provide substrate for intestinal bacteria.

And we mustn’t dismiss the spices here. They are more than simply dog-safe additions. Used regularly in small amounts, turmeric, ginger, coriander and cardamom can contribute useful plant bioactives, some of them associated with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and digestive functions.

Ingredients:

1 kg chicken (thighs or legs)
0.5 tsp turmeric
0.5 tsp cardamom
0.5 tsp coriander
One Granny Smith apple, chopped
Small piece of root ginger, chopped
300g chestnut mushrooms, sliced
3 small bananas (unpeeled weight 315g), sliced

Method:

  • First, place chicken in the slow cooker. Add water and cook until bones can be removed easily.
  • In the meantime, toast turmeric, cardamom and coriander powders for 30 to 60 seconds in a dry pan. Add a little water and set aside.
  • When chicken has cooked sufficiently, take out of the slow cooker and remove (and retain) excess cooking water.
  • Remove bones from chicken. Add spices to the remaining water in the cooker, and stir. Add the ginger, apple, mushrooms, bananas and lastly the boned chicken.
  • Cook for two hours on low and allow to cool.
  • Remove chicken and place the remaining ingredients in the blender. Blitz. Return the chicken to blitzed “curry sauce”.

This recipe freezes well.

 

 

 

This recipe freezes well.

chicken curry, with a splash of Greek yoghurt

Mix with a little yoghurt and rice; add other ingredients like egg, vegetables, ground seeds or chicken liver for a fuller nutritional profile.

 

 

Important Considerations:

  • Always consult your veterinarian before making any significant dietary changes, particularly where there are pre-existing health conditions or dietary restrictions.
  • If you are feeding commercial food, check the label for ingredients before giving more. Excessive intake of any foods can have adverse effects.
  • Ensure (where possible) that you use high-quality, organic products specifically formulated for pets (or better still, human grade ingredients) to avoid any potential adverse effects.
  • Introduce new foods gradually to avoid adverse effects such as gastrointestinal upset or diarrhoea.
  • I provide nutritional information purely as a helpful guide. Nutritional information on ingredients is obtained from the US Department of Agriculture’s FoodData Central site (https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/index.html) and any nutritional information provided in recipes is based on an online calculator: calories and other information will vary based on brands, ingredients and other factors.
  • Check nutrient levels and recommendations for your dog’s weight, age and activity. For example this nutritional guideline produced by FEDIAF.
  • I am not a professional canine nutritionist but supporting research is cited.
  • The recipes shared were created by me and tested in my kitchen – and tasted and approved by our doggy friends!