Chicken Makhani with a twist!

Chicken Makhani with a twist  

                         "AKA"

Spinach Butter Chicken

Ingredients

Chicken  Breast/thigh  -3 pounds cut into bite size pieces

Cut,wash and rinse the chicken with some turmeric powder add some 3 tsp tandoori masala (store bought),2 tsp chili powder, 2 tbs yogurt,2  tbs oil,salt to taste  let it marinade for a few hours or can even marinate it overnight in the fridge. 

Butter or Oil -2 tbs

Red Onion- 1 large
Tomatoes- 2 whole chopped
Ginger 1 inch
Garlic -8 cloves
Cumin seeds-1 tsp

Garam masala 1 tsp
Tomato paste- 2 tbs
Dried Methi Leaves-1 tsp

Baby Spinach- 2 cups chopped fine
Heavy whipping Cream -4 oz


Step 1
Marinate the Chicken

Step 2
Bake in the oven on a greased tray  for an hour at 350 degrees F ,making sure you flip the  chicken pieces after 30 minutes.Broil for 7 minutes more if needed.



Step 3
On the stove top

Heat a large deep non stick frying pan, add the butter or the oil saute the onions,tomatoes,cumin seeds,methi leaves ,whole garlic cloves and diced ginger for approximately 3 minutes.

After you saute, bring it to room temperature  puree it in the blender till smooth, pour it back in the frying pan add the tomato paste,garam masala and more spices if needed according to your taste.Cook it for another couple of minutes.

Now add the  grilled pieces of chicken,chopped spinach leaves cook for a few more minutes, finally stir in the heavy whipping cream and simmer for 10 minutes till it all comes together.


Delicious MAKHANI is ready to be served with some warm Naan.

Idli Batter

 Idli Batter  Recipe

5 Cups Idly Rice 
1 Cup and a handful  whole Urid dhall
1  Tsp Fenugreek seeds whole soaked along with the urid dhall.
1/2 cup Aval (beaten rice )  soaked along with the urid
Salt to taste 
Enough water to grind

Method using a wet grinder.

Can do the same using a blender as well,I personally prefer the wet grinder.

Wash the rice till the water runs clear, soak for approximately 4-5 hours.
Wash the urid dhall  till it runs clear  soak for 3 hours.
Grind the urid dhall first till light and fluffy approximately 45 minutes in the grinder remove and then add the soaked rice grind till you get the desired consistency I like mine slightly coarse.Approximately 22-25 minutes.
Add the ground urid dhall with the ground rice in the grinder till it is well combined and comes together  approximately 2 minutes.

Remove,add salt and let it ferment overnight depending on the weather it would approximately take about 6-8 hours.

Chettinad Chicken Kurma

Chettinad Chicken Kurma




Ingredients


 1 Chicken  cut into small pieces
Onions-1 
Tomatoes-2
Curry leaves
Turmeric powder-1/4 tsp
Coriander powder-1 tsp
Salt to taste
1/2 grated coconut ground to a smooth paste
Ginger and Garlic paste -2 tsp
Green Chili-1or 2
Oil to fry

Whole spices to grind to a paste

Cardamon-2 
Cloves-2
Cinnamon stick -1
Poppy seeds-1/2 tsp
Pepper -1 tsp
Cumin 3/4 tsp
Fennel 3/4 tsp
Red chili 2 or 3

Dry roast the above ingredients and grind to a smooth paste ,set it aside.

In a frying pan saute the onions till golden brown,add the curry leaves,green chili,ginger and garlic paste fry till the raw smell disappears,then add the chopped tomatoes and turmeric powder and the ground Chettinad masala,coriander powder and fry till you see the oil separates.

Add the cleaned, washed chicken to the masala fry for a few minutes,add salt then let it simmer for another 15 minutes till the water evaporates now add the coconut paste and enough water to make the curry simmer for another 10 minutes.

Very tasty chettinad chicken kurma is ready to be served with some white rice or steamed Idly! 

Garnish with lots of curry leaves and cilantro leaves!  

Adding a squeeze of lime will add to the flavor also adjust the spice level by adding more red chili. 

Quick Chicken Curry

Quick Chicken Curry

Ingredients

Boneless or bone in chicken pieces 2 lbs
Potatoes 2 cubed
Onions 1 diced
Tomato 2 chopped
Ginger 1" minced
Garlic  6 cloves minced
Green Chile 3 de - seeded and slit
Curry leaves
Coriander leaves 1/2 bunch

Few Whole garam masala(cinnamon,cloves,cardamom,bay leaves,star anise)
Chili powder 2 tsp
Coriander powder 2 tsp
Turmeric powder 1/2 tsp
Cumin powder 1 tsp


Maggie Coconut Powder 3-4 tbs mixed with a little water
Juice of 1 lime
Salt to taste
Oil to fry

Directions

Wash the chicken and  marinate with some salt and turmeric powder, keep it aside.

In a non stick pan add  2 tbs oil add the whole  garam masalas and wait for it to sputter then add the chopped onions fry till transparent,then add the minced ginger and garlic followed by the green chili fry for a couple of minutes.

Now add the masala powders fry for a minute or more then add  the chicken  stir till the masala gets well coated on all the pieces of chicken.

Time for the tomatoes and potatoes to be tossed in along with a handful of curry  leaves.Cover with a tight lid let it simmer for about 15 minutes remove the lid add  the coconut powder mixed with some water about a cup and bring to boil and let the curry simmer for another 15 minutes till it all comes together.Finally add the lime juice and garnish lavishly with the chopped coriander leaves.

Quick Chicken curry ready to be served with some hot Rice or warm Roti's!