Homestyle Chicken Curry Recipes

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.

HOMESTYLE CHICKEN CURRY

Steps:

• Season the chicken all over with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven over high heat. Add the chicken in a single layer and brown 3 to 4 minutes per side. Remove to a plate.
• Reduce the heat to medium high and add the remaining 2 tablespoons vegetable oil to the pot along with the cardamom pods, cinnamon stick and clove. Cook, stirring, until the whole spices are toasted, about 20 seconds.
• Add the onions, season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring, until soft and browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the ginger and garlic and cook, stirring, until golden, about 2 minutes. Add the coriander, cumin, chili powder and turmeric; cook, stirring and scraping the pan, until the ground spices are toasted, about 30 seconds.
• Add the tomatoes and cook, stirring, until they break down, 4 to 5 minutes. Return the chicken and any juices to the pot. Stir in 1 1/4 cups water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium low, cover and simmer until the chicken is almost cooked through and the sauce has thickened slightly, about 12 minutes.
• Tuck the potatoes among the chicken pieces, submerging them as much as possible; season with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cover and simmer until the chicken is tender and the potatoes are just cooked through, 18 to 20 minutes. Uncover and simmer, turning the potatoes, until the curry is thickened, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Thin the curry with water, if necessary; season with salt. Serve with rice and top with cilantro.