Wednesday 3 December 2014

Chicken Curry

People always say that it becomes difficult when you marry a person with different food habits. Just as, i am a vegetarian (egg-etarian) and my husband is a non-vegetarian. Well, i guess it doesn't remain an "issue" when you take food as food (and don't really categorize it), and respect what the other person likes or dislikes. Like our day-today meals are vegetarian, but i make sure i make one non-vegetarian dish on weekend, just to satisfy hubby's cravings. At times, when we go out, i insist that he eats chicken or meat and i love it when he enjoys it. So, we maintain a balance of our habits and things become simpler.

Last weekend, i made Chicken curry. I don't really like to give names to a curry as the basic ingredients are always the same - onions, tomatoes, garlic, and ginger. What differs is the spices (masalas) that you add. It brings out a different taste and flavour to the onion-tomato paste. The last time, i had posted Kaala Masala Chicken curry recipe, this time i kept it quite simple and didn't add any special masalas but the regular kitchen masalas that we have. Guess keeping minimalistic is always the key ;)



Ingredients:

Chicken pieces - 250 gms
Onions - 3 medium
Tomatoes - 2 medium
Garlic - 8-10 pieces
Ginger - 1/2 inch piece
Red chillies - 2 (optional). 
Salt - to taste
Oil - 3 tbsp
Red chilli powder - 1 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Corriander powder - 2 tsp
Garam masala - 1 tsp
Water - as required
Asafoetida - a pinch

To marinate :
Ginger garlic paste - 1/2 tsp
Lemon juice - 1 tsp
salt - a pinch

Recipe:

Wash the chicken pieces and marinate it with ginger garlic paste, lemon juice and salt and keep aside for an hour. You can cover it with a cling foil and refrigerate or just keep it aside till you make your masalas.

Roughly chop the onions and heat little oil on tava and fry the onions till they turn golden brown. Make sure the onions don't burn.

In a mortal and pestle, crush the ginger and garlic together.

Burn the whole tomatoes directly on flame (As we burn brinjal while making Baingan Bharta). This way, the tomatoes get a burnt/smoked flavour. Remove the skin if it has already come out, or use it as it is. Chop the tomatoes roughly when cooled.

Let the onions cool down and make a paste of it in mixer grinder (Add little water only if needed, or else avoid).

In a kadhai, heat 3 tbsp oil, add the red chillies and asafoetida. Now add the onion paste and fry till it becomes more brown. 

Meanwhile, make a paste of tomatoes in mixer-grinder. The paste should be smooth.

Now, add the crushed ginger-garlic to the onions and fry for about a minute.

Then add the tomato paste and mix well.

Now add the red chilli powder, turmeric powder, corriander powder and some salt. Mix it all well and keep frying the masala till oil starts leaving the sides (takes about 20-25 minutes). Keep adding water little by little (from the sides, and not in the middle) when the masala starts to thicken and become sticky. 
Don't add a lot of water at a time, as the masala would lose the colour and look.

Now add the chicken pieces, and mix well so that the pieces are quoted well with the masala.

Cover and cook for about 5 minutes. Now, add garam masala and adjust salt.

Add water to the desired consistency (from the sides) and cook uncovered till the chicken is done.

I served it alongwith Bhaakri (the traditional Maharashtrian bread), but it can be eaten with chapati/paratha or even rice as per your choice.


Enjoy this simple chicken curry :)

Happy Cooking :)



12 comments:

  1. o my goodness this is looking so wonderful :) and very nice presentation

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much dear, glad you liked it :)

      Delete
  2. Delicious looking chicken curry.

    Your story is romantic . It's really nice to see our loved ones eating what they actually like.

    www.rasakama.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Absolutely dear :) Thanks a lot, glad you liked it :)

      Delete
  3. Aww my favorite curry! With rotis is match made in heaven

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha, yeah, hubby dearest loves the bhaakri-chicken combination too :) Thanks girl :)

      Delete
  4. I love the less is more concept in cooking. True the way you look at things in life , they tend to assume that outlook. The chicken curry looks uber delicious and I can bet it tasted even better than it looks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Absolutely rightly said Piyali... yes hubby dearest loved it, so it must have tasted good for sure :)

      Delete
  5. This chicken curry is looking delicious Gauri !! Though I have turned to vegetarian but my hubby still loves to have chicken. I will definitely try your version for him. Happy cooking.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, thats nice to know... Its the same with me too :) Do let me know your feedback when you try it :)

      Delete
  6. I know what it is like with two people with different taste for food. We manage, don't we? This chicken curry is temptation. But as said earlier, my other half is chicken free, so only can try when he is away. Yummilicious.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha... same story there but other way round :) Yes, we manage, and so well :) Haha... Thanks Nava for liking it :)

      Delete

Appreciate your comments, Thank you so much for for dropping by :)!!!