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Remove fat from the chicken and then salt and pepper it. Sprinkle with
chili powder. Add yogurt and mix well until the chicken is covered
liberally with yogurt. Use your hands. Set aside for 1 hour before
cooking. If kept in the refrigerator, set aside for at least 4 hours.
Heat oil in a large heavy pan. When oil is hot, add mustard seeds, if
you are using them. Add cloves, cardamom, and coriander seeds and fry
for 30 seconds. Add the onion and fry for two minutes until the onion
beings to turn brown. Lower heat to medium. Add the ginger and garlic
paste and fry for 4-6 minutes. Add mustard powder, if using it, add
Garam Masala, and add cumin powder.
Brush excess yogurt off the chicken and put it in a large pot. Add
ingredients from the frying pan. Cook uncovered over high heat for 4
minutes. Reduce heat to low and cover. Cook for 25 minutes or until
the chicken is tender, stirring every 5 minutes.
note:
When chicken is cooked with a cover on the pot, it releases water that
becomes a part of the sauce. If after 10 minutes, there isn't enough
sauce in the pot, add 1/4 cup water. Conversely, if there is too much
liquid in the pot, cook uncovered until the liquid evaporates.
Note:
There are several variations to the above recipe:
Leave out the yogurt. Add 1/4 cup of water just before turning the
heat to low and covering the pot.
Boil two potatoes for 10 minutes before slicing them thinly. Add
sliced potatoes to the pot when you start cooking the chicken.
This variation is usually called "Malai Chicken" or literally
"creamy" chicken. Leave out the yogurt. When the chicken is 3/4 done,
add one small can of tomato paste. Just before removing add a small
carton of whipping cream, and cook for a few minutes.
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