Home style Chicken Curry

HOME STYLE CHICKEN CURRY

CLOUR: yellow 

GARNISH: Coriander leaves 

PORTION: 4 portions

Accompaniment:

S.NO	INGREDIENTS	QTY	UNIT
1	large onion	1	no
2	garlic cloves, roughly chopped	6	no
3	ginger, roughly chopped	500	gm
4	oil	4	tbsp
5	cumin seeds	2	tps
6	fennel seed	1	tsp
7	cinnamon stick	5	no
8	chilli flakes	1	tsp
9	garam masala	1	tsp
10	turmeric	1	tsp
11	chopped tomatoes	400	gm
12	chicken thighs, skinned, boneless	800	gm
13	chopped coriander	2	tsp
14	hot chicken stock (Optional)	250	ml

METHOD:

1.       Roughly chop the onion, transfer to a small food processor, and add 3 tablespoons of water - process to a slack paste. You could use a stick blender for this or coarsely grate the onion into a bowl – there’s no need to add any water if you are grating the onion. Tip into a small bowl and leave on one side.

2.       Put the chopped garlic and ginger into the same food processor and add 4 tbsp water – process until smooth and spoon into another small bowl. Alternatively, crush the garlic to a paste with a knife or garlic press and finely grate the ginger.

3.       Heat the oil in a wok or sturdy pan set over a medium heat. Combine the cumin and fennel seeds with the cinnamon and chilli flakes and add to the pan in one go. Sauté everything around for about 30 secs until the spices release a fragrant aroma.

4.       Add the onion paste – it will splutter in the beginning. Fry until the water evaporates and the onions turn a lovely dark golden - this should take about 7-8 mins. Add the garlic and ginger paste and cook for another 2 mins – stirring all the time.

5.       Add  garam masala, turmeric, and sugar and continue cooking for 20 secs before tipping in the tomatoes. Continue cooking on a medium heat for about 10 mins without a lid until the tomatoes reduce and darken.

6.       Cut the chicken thighs into 3cm chunks and add to the pan once the tomatoes have thickened to a paste. Cook for 5 mins to coat the chicken in the masala and seal in the juices, and then pour over the hot chicken stock. Simmer for 8-10 mins without a lid until the chicken is tender and the masala lightly thickened – you might need to add an extra ladleful of stock or water if the curry needs it. Sprinkle with chopped coriander and serve with Indian flatbreads or fluffy basmati rice and a pot of yogurt on the side.