Pepper Masala Chicken - 1

I have this crazy desire to make different kinds of chicken dishes every time. I change one or the other ingredient every time to see if I can come up with a new dish. Most of the times they all taste almost same even though I switch around something. V loves spicy chicken, so few weeks ago I tried this spicy pepper masala chicken. It reminded me of our days in Bangalore when we loved to eat at Andhra restaurants. I served it with simple spinach dal and rice. It was a very comforting meal.

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Pictorial: Fry onions and ginger-garlic paste. Add all the dry masalas and fry for few minutes. Add tomatoes and cook till they are mushy. Then add marinated chicken. Cook till done.

Pepper Masala Chicken

Ingredients

  • 1 lb 1/2 kg approx boneless chicken
  • A pinch turmeric
  • 1/2 cup onion
  • 1/2 cup tomatoes
  • 1 tea spn chilli powder
  • 1/2 tea spn coarse pepper powder
  • 1 tea spn coriander powder
  • 1 tea spn cumin powder
  • 1/2 tea spn garam masala
  • 1/2 tea spn amchoor powder
  • 7-8 curry leaves
  • 1 tea spn ginger garlic powder
  • 1 tbl spn plain yogurt curd
  • Oil
  • Salt

Instructions

  • Apply turmeric powder, a little salt and yogurt to chicken pieces and keep aside for atleast 1 hr.
  • Heat oil, add curry leaves, onion, ginger-garlic paste.
  • Fry till onion is slightly brownish.
  • Now add all dry powders, fry for a min till nice aroma comes out.
  • Add tomatoes and fry till they are mushy.
  • Add chicken pieces and mix well.
  • Cover and cook till chicken is done. In between mix everything couple of times to make sure it doesn’t burn.
  • Serve hot.

Pepper Masala Chicken

Ingredients

  • 1 lb 1/2 kg approx boneless chicken
  • A pinch turmeric
  • 1/2 cup onion
  • 1/2 cup tomatoes
  • 1 tea spn chilli powder
  • 1/2 tea spn coarse pepper powder
  • 1 tea spn coriander powder
  • 1 tea spn cumin powder
  • 1/2 tea spn garam masala
  • 1/2 tea spn amchoor powder
  • 7-8 curry leaves
  • 1 tea spn ginger garlic powder
  • 1 tbl spn plain yogurt curd
  • Oil
  • Salt

Instructions

  • Apply turmeric powder, a little salt and yogurt to chicken pieces and keep aside for atleast 1 hr.
  • Heat oil, add curry leaves, onion, ginger-garlic paste.
  • Fry till onion is slightly brownish.
  • Now add all dry powders, fry for a min till nice aroma comes out.
  • Add tomatoes and fry till they are mushy.
  • Add chicken pieces and mix well.
  • Cover and cook till chicken is done. In between mix everything couple of times to make sure it doesn’t burn.
  • Serve hot.
palak kadhi - 16

Cooking for weekdays is becoming a juggling act for me. I try to keep things simple, but I still want my family to eat something fresh. My two year old is in his “terrible-twos” phase. So vegetables usually go untouched. I am finding new ways to include it back in their diet. Last week I tried this kadhi. It was simple, delicious and easy to make – 3 things which I look for in whatever I cook. Also check this spinach tambli .

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Pictorial: Heat oil and add all seasoning. Then add spinach. When it is wilted, add water, salt.

Mix gram flour in buttermilk and mix well. Then add some boiling spinach water into it.

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Add the mix back into boiling water. Cook for few mins.

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Spinach-Buttermilk Gravy (Palak Kadhi)

Ingredients

  • 2 cups thick buttermilk or curd/yogurt
  • 2 green chillies
  • 1/2 tea spn grated ginger
  • 1 cup chopped spinach
  • 3-4 curry leaves
  • 1/2 tea spn urad dal
  • 1/2 tea spn cumin seeds
  • 1 tea spn besan gram flour
  • A pinch asafoetida
  • 1/2 tea spn mustard seeds
  • Oil
  • Salt

Instructions

  • Heat a little oil and fry mustard seeds, urad dal, cumin seeds.
  • When they start popping, add green chillies, curry leaves, asafoetida, ginger.
  • Fry for few minutes and then add turmeric, spinach.
  • When spinach is wilted, Add a cup of water, salt. Bring to boil.
  • In a separate bowl, take buttermilk, besan and mix well to remove any lumps.
  • Now add a ladle full of spinach-water mix into yogurt and mix very well. (This step helps in bringing up temperature of buttermilk and so it does not curdle much when heated).
  • Beat the mixture very well and add it slowly back into the boiling spinach-water.
  • Cook on a medium-low heat. Mix it occasionally to avoid any curdling.
  • Serve with rice and some spicy side dish.