CHICKEN FRY WITH MASALA PASTE

INGREDIENTS

Chicken – 1 kg

FOR MASALA PASTE

Small onion – 1

Cloves – 25

Cardamom – 4

Cinnamon – 1 1/2 inch piece

Poppy seeds – 1/2 tbsp

Ginger – 2 inch piece

Garlic – 12 or ginger garlic paste 1 1/2 tbsp

Star anise – 1

Coriander seeds – 1 tbsp

Cumin seeds – 1/2 tsp

Fennel seeds – 1/4 tsp

Cashew nuts – 15

Grind all the above ingredients into a fine paste using little water.

Water – 1/2 cup

Red chilli powder – 4 tbsp

Salt to taste

A generous pinch of turmeric

TALIMPU

Oil – 1/2 cup

Crushed garlic – 8

Cumin seeds -1/2 tsp

Broken red chillies – 10

Curry leaves few

Finely chopped onions – 3

A pinch of salt

Green chillies – 6

Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp

Finely chopped coriander leaves for garnishing

METHOD

• Wash the chicken and put it in the pressure cooker. Grind all the masala ingredients to a fine paste using little water.
• Transfer the masala paste into the chicken. Add salt, red chilli powder, turmeric powder and 1/2 cup of water. Mix well.
• Pressure cook the chicken for 3 to 4 whistles and turn off the flame. Wait for the pressure to release naturally. Keep it aside.
• Heat oil in a wide pan. Add all the talimpu ingredients one by one. Fry till the curry leaves turn crisp and aromatic.
• Add sliced onions, turmeric powder and a pinch of salt. Cover and cook on medium flame till the onions light golden brown.
• Now add the cooked chicken along with any left over gravy and cook on high flame.
• Let the water evaporate. Mix well and adjust seasoning. Roast the chicken on medium flame for 5 to 6 minutes.
• Scrape the sides and bottom of the pan now and then. When the chicken turns light brown in colour, add finely chopped coriander and mix throughly.
• Fry for another 2 to 3 minutes. Check out the seasonings. Switch off the flame and serve hot.