Chicken Curry With Whole Spices Recipes

HOMEMADE CURRY POWDER SPICE MIX

Steps:

• Combine all the spices in a small spice jar. Give it a good mix.
• Store at room temperature for up to 3 months.
• Add the whole paprika in a frying pan and toast them over med-low heat for a minute.
• Then add the whole spices and toast them for a minute more until fragrant.
• You will start to get the beautiful aroma of spices
• Take it off the heat and let cool until barely warm.
• Place all the whole and powder spices in a spice blender and blend until smooth
• Pulse it a few times until finely ground.
• Store in an airtight spice jar for up to three months.

CHICKEN CURRY RECIPE

Steps:

• First heat oil in a deep pan, then add whatever whole spices you have - bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves & green cardamoms. Fry them till you get an aroma, just for a min.
• Add chopped onions and chilies. Saute till the onions turn deep golden in color.
• Next add ginger garlic paste and saute till you get a nice aroma. This just takes about a minute.
• Then add tomatoes, turmeric and salt. Mix well and cook until the tomatoes turn soft & mushy.
• Pour yogurt (or cashew paste), red chili powder, garam masala & coriander powder.
• On a low heat, cook until the mixture smells good and the raw smell goes away.
• Add chicken and coriander leaves. Fry till the chicken turns white or pale in color. This takes around 3 mins.
• Cover and cook on a low heat for 3 to 4 minutes. This step is very important as the chicken absorbs all the flavors of the spices.
• Meanwhile in a separate pot, heat up 1 cup water. Using cold water most times toughens the chicken so it is good to use hot water.
• Pour hot water just enough to make a thick curry. Do not add too much water. Chicken curry will become runny. Sometimes chicken lets out lot of moisture. So use only as needed.
• Cover and cook on a medium to low flame till the chicken is soft cooked and the curry turns thick.
• Taste the curry & add more salt if needed.
• You can also add another ½ tsp garam masala at this stage if you feel it is less in flavors.
• Cover and cook on a low flame for 3 to 5 mins. When the chicken is cooked completely it will fall off the bone easily.
• Lastly garnish with coriander leaves, cover and off the heat. Serve chicken curry with butter naan or jeera rice.

HOME-STYLE CHICKEN CURRY

Steps:

• Roughly chop 1 large onion, transfer to a small food processor, and add 3 tbsp 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.
• Put 6 roughly chopped garlic cloves and 50g roughly chopped 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.
• Heat 4 tbsp vegetable oil in a wok or sturdy pan set over a medium heat.
• Combine 2 tsp cumin seeds and 1 tsp fennel seeds with a 5cm cinnamon stick and 1 tsp chilli flakes and add to the pan in one go. Swirl everything around for about 30 secs until the spices release a fragrant aroma.
• 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.
• Stir in 1 tsp garam masala, 1 tsp turmeric, and 1 tsp caster sugar and continue cooking for 20 secs before tipping in a 400g can chopped tomatoes.
• Continue cooking on a medium heat for about 10 mins without a lid until the tomatoes reduce and darken.
• Cut 8 skinless, boneless 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 250ml 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 2 tbsp chopped coriander and serve with Indian flatbreads or fluffy basmati rice and a pot of yogurt on the side.

CHICKEN CURRY WITH WHOLE SPICES

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a pan and fry the cumin seeds till they start to pop.
• Add the onions, ginger, garlic and red chillies, fry till onions are soft, do not brown them.
• Add the cinnamon, cloves, cardamoms and allspice stir and fry for 1 minute.
• Add the turmeric and paprika, stir and add the chicken. Fry for 5 mins over medium heat.
• Add water and salt, bring to boil, cover the pan and cook on low heat for 20 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes, green chilli and the ground almonds stir and cook a further 6 minutes.
• Stir in the coriander leaves and serve.

IRRESISTIBLE CHICKEN CURRY

Steps:

• Cut the chicken into 1-inch pieces, and then add to a bowl. If you'd like to leave the chicken uncut or if you are using bone-in chicken pieces, the chicken can be left whole.
• Scatter 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander, 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper over the chicken. Toss well and set aside to marinate for at least 20 minutes.
• Make ahead: The chicken can be left to marinate up to 24 hours, keep it covered and stored in the refrigerator.
• Add garlic, ginger, onion and 1/2 cup of water to a blender or food processor. Blend until mostly smooth. An immersion blender with cup attachment can also be used.
• Heat the oil or ghee in a wide skillet (with lid) over medium-high heat. Arrange the marinated chicken into the pan so that it is in one layer and brown on both sides. Remove the chicken from the pan and place the skillet back onto the heat.
• Add the onion-ginger mixture and cook, stirring often, until all of the water has evaporated, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the remaining 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon coriander and 1/4 teaspoon turmeric over the onion-ginger mixture, and cook for about 20 seconds. Stir in the tomato paste, turn the heat down to medium-low and then cook another minute.
• Add the yogurt, a tablespoon at a time, stirring it into the sauce before adding anymore.
• Return the chicken pieces and any accumulated juices to the pan along with the remaining cup of water and 3/4 teaspoon of salt. Bring to a boil, turn the heat down to a simmer, and then cover with a lid. Simmer, covered, for 20 minutes.
• Remove the lid and stir in the Garam Masala and cream. Taste the sauce and add the final 1/4 teaspoon of salt if you feel that it is needed (we almost always add it).
• Turn the heat back up to medium-high and cook, stirring gently every now and them, until the sauce has reduced a bit and thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Serve with fresh cilantro scattered on top.