Chicken and Vegetable Curry

Chicken and Vegetable Curry

Ingredients

Chicken -1 whole cut into 22 pieces
Carrots-2 Diced
Potatoes-2 Cubed
Zucchini-1 Cubed
Turnips-1 Cubed
Green Beans-1 handful trimmed and cut into 1/2 " pieces

Onions-1 minced
Garlic-4 cloves crushed
Ginger-1" minced
Green Chili-1(optional)
Tomato-1 chopped
Curry Leaves-few
Cilantro for garnish

Whole Spices

Cinnamon-1
Cloves-2
Cardamom-2
Star Anise-1
Bay leaves-2
Fennel-1/4 tsp

Oil
Salt to taste

Curry powders

Turmeric Powder-1/4 tsp
Cumin Powder-1/2 tsp
Chili Powder-1 tsp(depending on your spice level)
Meat Masala-1 tsp

Coconut Powder- 4 tbs mixed with 1 cup of water

Directions

Chop and /or  dice all the vegetables

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

 Heat a wide pan, add 2-3 tbs oil add the whole spices wait for it to sputter then add the onions followed by the curry leaves,ginger,garlic and chili,saute for a couple of minutes making sure it does not burn.

Now add the curry powders with 2 -3 tablespoons of water fry till oil separates.

Add the marinated chicken,tomatoes salt to taste and cover with a tight lid steam cook for 20 minutes.

Add the cut vegetables,see if there is enough water from the chicken if not pour about 1/2 cup of water,cover - cook till done another 20 minutes approximately.

Check for spice level,salt and add the coconut milk simmer for another 5 minutes.

Very tasty Chicken Curry with Vegetables  is ready.

Kid's will enjoy this one pot dish serve with some Rice Pilaf or just over plain hot Rice.

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.

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!

 

Chettinad Chicken Fry with Fresh Coconut

Chettinad Chicken Fry with  Fresh Coconut 

INGREDIENTS

Chicken - 5 pounds with or without bones
Oil to fry
Salt to taste
Onions - 3 sliced lengthwise
Red chili- 2
Ginger and Garlic paste- 2 tbs
Turmeric powder-1/4 tsp
Green chili-2
Curry leaves few sprigs
Coriander leaves to garnish
Fresh coconut -2 tbs


Roast the following and dry grind 

Coriander seeds-2 tsp
Red Chili-3
Cumin seeds-1 tsp
Pepper powder-1 tsp
Fennel seeds- 1 tsp
Fenugreek -1/2 tsp

Grind the above into a fine powder.



Method

In a wok add enough oil fry the onions,red chili,curry leaves,add the ginger and garlic paste fry till u see the oil separate and the raw smell goes add the turmeric and the chettinad masala which was ground according to your spice level.

Fry for a couple more minutes,then add the chicken pieces to it and add salt to taste.Cook till the chicken is tender and the masala gets coated on each piece.Fry till all the liquid evaporates, now add the 2 tablespoons of fresh coconut,2 green chilis and a teaspoon of lemon juice.

Fry till it all comes together.Serve with some white rice!!Yummy Chicken Chettinad is ready to be served!

Chicken Stock

Recipe for the Chicken Stock as follows....

Ingredients

Chicken- 3 pounds(Preferably dark meat,with bones)
Celery Stick- 2 ribs diced
Ginger-1 inch minced
Garlic -6 cloves minced
Onion- 1 diced
Peppercorns -2 tsp
Cilantro leaves-1/2 bunch chopped
Salt to taste
Fennel seed-1 tsp(I like the flavor)
Water-1.5 Gallon Cold water

1.Place the cut up chicken,diced vegetables,minced herbs and Indian spices
in a pressure pan,add water bring it to boil.Check for salt and pressure cook on medium flame with the weight for 20 minutes.
2.You can also slow cook on medium flame for 1 hour on the stove top .

I do it the easy way out as in Step 1

3.Cool and strain the stock and cool it in the refrigerator for a few hours, skim the solidified fat from the surface.Use as base for soups and sauces.

Creamy Chicken Makhani 

(Indian Butter Chicken)

Ingredients

For the Marinade

Chicken (6-8 chicken breast / thigh pieces cubed)

Lemon juice 2 tsp

1/2 cup yogurt( optional) for dairy free version swap with cashew paste 2 tbs

Salt to taste

make your own marinade

1 tbs Kashmiri Chili powder

2 tsp chili powder(adjust to your taste)

2 tsp methi leaves crushed

1 tsp Cumin powder

1/2 tsp Garam Masala Powder   

Saute and Grind to a smooth paste

Oil -1 tbs

Onions -2

Tomatoes -2

Tomato paste -4 oz

Ginger -2" piece

Garlic-8 cloves

Other Ingredients for the sauce

Cumin powder- 2 tsp

Kashmir red Chili powder -1 1/2 tsp

Garam masala  -1/2 tsp

Kasuri Methi leaves - 11/2  tsp

Ketchup -2 tbs

Sugar (optional) 1 tsp 

Butter - 1/2 stick or just use oil

Whipping cream -1/2 pint

Cashews 1/4 cup 

Cilantro leaves for garnish

Water -2 cups approx

Method

 Skin, clean the chicken cut into cubes.

Marinate the cubed chicken with the shan masala or make your own marinade ,yogurt,lemon juice and salt let it stand for a couple of  hours or better still over night.

Bake at 300 degrees for 30 min  and broil for 10 min at 350 degrees.

Baste it with 1/2 stick butter and keep aside or you can drizzle some oil on it.

 

Heat 1 tbs oil in a frying pan pan  add onions,tomatoes,ginger and garlic minced, cashews and fry till the onions and tomatoes are mushy remove from stove,cool at room temperature and grind to a smooth puree in the blender.

 

In the same pan add the remaining butter add the ground paste followed by the spice powders ,kasuri methi,ketchup, check for salt let it saute for 5 minutes.Add some water at this point.Bring it to a rolling boil.

Now add the broiled chicken pieces,whipping cream and let it simmer for 8-10 minutes !

Garnish with cilantro leaves!

 

Murg Makhani is ready to be served with some Buttered Naan...or any 

Pilau!