Shahi Murg Korma

 

This dish is a Mugal dish, it’s made in a rich creamy gravy with nuts and raisins and hence the name Shahi… this dish goes well with Paratha or Pulao. 

Marination 

Ingredients 

1/2 kg Chicken pieces boneless or with bones as desired 

1 tsp Ginger - Garlic - Chilli paste 

1 small Onion Sliced,  Fried and paste 

Salt to taste 

1/2 tsp Turmeric powder 

1/2 tsp Garam Masala powder 

1/2 tsp Chilli powder 

1/2 tsp Cumin powder 

1/4 tsp Pepper powder 

3 tbsp Curd

Method 

Mix all the ingredients together and keep it aside for an hour or more. 

For the Wet paste 

Ingredients 

5 to 6 Almonds soaked and peeled 

5 to 6 Cashews soaked in water 

6 Raisins 

2 tbsp Desiccated Coconut 

2 tbsp Fresh Cream

1/4 cup Milk 

Few drops of Kewra essence (optional) 

Method 

Grind all the above ingredients into a paste.

 

For the Gravy 

Ingredients 

Marinated Chicken 

Wet paste 

1 small Onion Paste 

1/2 tsp Ginger - Garlic paste 

1 Bay leaf

2 Cloves 

2 Green Cardamom 

1 small piece of Cinnamon 

1/2 tsp Sugar

Salt to taste ( if required )

1/4 cup Curd beaten 

2 tbsp Cream 

3 tbsp Ghee

Method 

Add the ghee into a wok. Once the ghee heats up, reduce the flame, add the bay leaf, cardamom, cloves and cinnamon, sauté until the spices crackles. Add onion paste, ginger - garlic paste and sugar. Sauté until light brown in colour, add the marinate chicken. Cook on medium low flame until the oil releases. Add the wet paste, cover and cook on low flame, stirring the chicken occasionally for 5 minutes. Add the curd and cream, continue to cook, until the chicken has cooked. If required add salt as per required. Serve the chicken with Pulao or Paratha. 

Chicken Rezala

 

This Mughali dish  is very popular in any Mughali restaurant - West Bengal. It’s a rich, mildly spiced and aromatic dish,  that is made in thick white rich gravy was introduced by the Mughals. More like a korma, but more richer in taste. Chicken rezala can be eaten with Paratha, but also goes well  with pulao. 

Marination

Ingredients 

1 kg Chicken cut into medium size pieces cleaned 

1 medium size  Onion paste 

1 tbsp Ginger - Garlic paste

1 tsp Green Chilli paste 

1/2 cup Curd

Salt to taste 

Method 

Take a bowl, add all the above ingredients and marinate all the ingredients together very well. Keep it aside for minimum 1 hour or more. 

For the Wet paste 

Ingredients 

15 Cashew-nuts soaked in water  for 15 minutes 

1 tbsp Poppy seeds

Method 

Grind the cashew nuts and poppy seeds with little water into a fine paste

For the Chicken Rezala

Ingredients 

Marinated Chicken 

2 medium size Onions chopped 

1 cup Curd 

2 pinches of Saffron soaked in 1/4 cup of Warm Milk

2 drops of Kewra essence 

2  drops of Meetha attar - optional 

Salt to taste 

1 tsp Sugar

1 tsp Coriander powder

5 Dried Red Chillies 

1 Black Cardamom 

1 inch Cinnamon piece

3 Cloves

3 Green Cardamom 

2 Bay leaves 

4 tbsp Ghee 

Method 

Heat up the ghee on medium flame in a pot. Once the ghee heats up, lower the flame and add the dried red chillies, black cardamoms, green cardamoms, cinnamon, cloves and bay leaves. Sauté until the spices gives out a beautiful aroma.  Add the chopped onions. Sauté until the onions are translucent. Add the marinated chicken.  Stir, cover the pot  and cook the chicken until half done or for 15 minutes. Add the salt to taste, sugar and coriander powder.  Stir and cook for few minutes more. Add the cashew and poppy seeds paste and curd. Stir and slow cook, stirring occasionally until the chicken is cooked. Switch off the flame, the Kewra essence, the mitha attar and the saffron milk. Stir once again. Serve it with Paratha or Pulao.

Bengali Chicken Stew

 

The most easy recipe and comfort food, that we most of us in Bengali household must have had as kids on a regular basis and even after growing up we enjoy having it with hot steamed rice..... specially in winters when we get varieties of fresh vegetables in the market and its also made on the days when someone in the family is unwell. It’s made with loads of vegetables like cauliflower, green peas, beans, carrot, potatoes, raw papaya, tomato, onion, ginger, garlic and chicken. We can replace oil with ghee.. then butter is not required. 

Ingredients 

500 grams Chicken pieces 

Few medium size Cauliflower florets 

1 medium size  Potato cut into cubes

1 medium size Onion sliced 

1 medium size Tomato chopped 

1 medium size Carrot cut into pieces 

Few cubes of Raw Papaya 

6 to 8 French Beans cut into pieces (Didn’t have)

Few Green Peas (Didn’t have)

2 Green Chillies (Optional)

4 Garlic crushed 

1/2  tsp Ginger paste 

Salt to taste 

1/2 tsp Pepper powder 

1 tsp Sugar 

2 Bay leaves 

2 Cloves crushed 

2 Green Cardamom crushed 

4 Pepper corn crushed 

1 small Cinnamon crushed 

2 Cups Water 

2 tbsp Oil or Ghee 

1 tsp Butter (Optional)

Method 

Take a pressure cooker,  add oil, once the oil is hot, add the whole spices (cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and pepper corn), bay leaves, ginger and garlic. Sauté for a few seconds, add the chicken pieces and sauté until it changes its colour. Add the vegetables, stir for few seconds. Add the sugar, salt and pepper powder. Stir and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Add 2 cups of water, stir and pressure cook until 3 whistles. Let the pressure release. Open the cooker and add the butter. Serve the stew with steamed rice. 

Godrej Yummiez Chicken Lasooni Tikka Rose Buns

I am extremely delighted to get these super yummy pre cooked packets from Godrej Yummiez   . They are very convenient pre marinated or pre cooked frozen products and easy to cook... specially when sudden guests comes over or when we have busy schedule. It’s #Gharkafastfood, as Godrej Yummiez can be stored in the freezer and used as and when required, it’s healthy, chef curated and it’s delicious. 

I have used GodrejYummiez Chicken Lasooni Tikka for this recipe. 

To make the Dough 

Ingredients 

2 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour 

1 tsp Dry Active Yeast 

1 tsp Sugar

1/2 tsp Salt

1 tbsp Oil 

Method 

Take a cup with 1/2 cup Lukewarm Water. Add sugar and yeast. Mix the ingredients and keep the yeast to rise. Take the a mixing bowl, add the flour and  salt, mix the ingredients. Once the yeast rises, add the yeast water and little more water into the flour to form a dough, knead the dough for 5 minutes. Add the 1 tbsp of oil into the dough and knead the dough for another 5 minutes. Brush the remaining oil on the dough, cover and keep it aside until the dough rises double in size. After 2 hours, punch and knead the dough for another minute. 

To make the Chicken Lasooni Tikka Rose Buns

Ingredients 

1 packet of Godrej Yummiez Chicken Lasooni Tikka 

1 Medium size Onion Sliced 

Bread Dough 

2 tsp Butter 

2  tbsp Oil

1 Egg Beaten 

Method 

Thaw the Chicken Lasooni Tikka packet for 30 minutes. Take a fry pan, add 2 tbsp of oil,  add the onion slices, sauté the onions until translucent, add Godrej Yummiez Chicken Lasooni Tikka pieces into the pan, occasionally flip the tikkas and cook the tikkas for 15 minutes in the pan. Break the chicken tikka into bite size pieces.  Grease the baking tray with butter. Make lemon size portions of  the dough. Take a portion and roll the dough into 6 inch disc. Make 4 diagonal slits, leaving the center intact. Add some chicken tikka pieces in the center of the disc. Take one sections of the dough and cover the stuffing on one side. Now take the opposite side of the  section and cover the other side of the stuffing  with the dough. Repeat the last 2 sections in the similar manner. 

Pinch on the side to seal the the dough. Place the bun on the greased baking tray. Repeat the same process until all the buns are ready. Brush the beaten egg over the buns. Bake the buns for about 15 to 20 minutes in a a preheated oven at 180 degrees celsius. Remove the buns and brush them with butter. Serve the buns with walnut and mint dip. 

Walnut and Mint Dip

Ingredients 

Take 1/2 cup Walnut 

1/4 cup Mint leaves 

1 Green Chilli

1/3 cup Curd

Salt to taste 

Method 

Blend all the above ingredients  to make the dip. 

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Chicken Tikka

Chicken tikka is a popular dish found in India.

The word tikka means small bits or

pieces.

 Small pieces of boneless chicken are marinated with spices, curd, lemon and salt. The marinated chicken pieces are then skewered. It’s then grilled over hot charcoals. It’s served with green chutney, onion and lime. 

For Marinating the Chicken pieces- 

500 grams medium size Boneless Chicken pieces 

Juice of 1 medium size Lemon 

1 tsp Garlic paste

1/2 tsp Ginger paste 

1/2 tsp Chilli paste

1 medium size Green Capsicum cut into cubes

1 medium size Onion cut into cubes 

1 medium size Tomato deseeded cut into cubes 

1/2 cup Hung Curd

Salt to taste

2 tbsp Tikka Masala 

1 tsp Kasuri Methi - optional 

1 tbsp Mustard Oil 

Method 

Marinate all the above ingredients together and keep it for 5 to 6 hours 

To Grill the Chicken Tikka

Ingredients 

Marinated Chicken 

Little Chaat Masala to sprinkle 

Onion and lemon cut into pieces for garnishing 

Method 

 Skewered in the vegetables and chicken pieces one after the other into the wooden skewer. Place it on a tray and grill it in a preheated oven for 15 minutes at 240 celsius, remove and turn the skewer, grill for another 15 minutes. Remove, sprinkle with Chaat masala and serve it hot with green chutney, onion and lemon. 

Tikka Masala Powder 

Ingredients 

1 Black Cardamom 

4 Green Cardamom 

3 to 4 Cloves

1 small piece Cinnamon 

1 tsp Pepper Corn

2 tbsp Coriander Seeds

2 tbsp Cumin seeds

10 Red Spicy Whole Dry Red Chillies 

10 Kashmiri Dry Red Chillies 

1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder 

1 tbsp Dry Mango Powder 

Method 

Roast the whole spices 2 minutes on a low medium flame. Cool the spices and add the turmeric and dry mango powder. Grind all the ingredients into into a powder. 

Murgir Kofta Curry / Chicken Kofta Curry

 Murgir kofta Curry 

This is a simple Chicken Kofta Curry to be enjoyed with steamed rice or paratha. Here I have taken boneless chicken pieces and ground the chicken pieces into a paste to make the kofta. I have added the Chicken Koftas into the curry without frying. 

For the Kofta 

Ingredients 

350 grams Boneless Chicken pieces 

1 small size Onion sliced 

1 Green Chilli 

1 Garlic 

1 small piece of Ginger 

Few Mint Leaves 

Few Coriander Leaves 

1/2  tsp Cumin seed powder 

1/2 tsp Garam Masala powder 

Salt to taste 

Method 

Take a food chopper or a grinder jar, add all the ingredients and use the pulse button on the mixer few times. Take a lime size portion of the Keema and make a ball. Repeat the process with the remaining keema. Keep the keema balls in the fridge. 

For the Wet Paste 

Ingredients 

2 small Onions sliced 

2 small Tomatoes chopped 

5 Garlic Cloves 

1 small size Ginger piece

1 Green Chilli 

Method 

Take a grinder jar, add all the above ingredients and grind all the ingredients into a paste 

For the Murgir Kofta Curry 

Ingredients 

Keema Balls

1 small Onion sliced 

3 Medium size Potatoes cut into medium size chunks 

1 Green Chilli 

Few Coriander leaves for garnish 

1 tsp Turmeric powder 

1 tsp Coriander powder 

1 tsp Cumin powder 

1 tsp Kashmiri Chilli powder 

1 tsp Garam Masala powder 

1 tsp Sugar 

Salt to taste 

2 Bay leaves 

1/2 tsp Cumin seeds

Wet paste

2 tbsp of Curd 

1 tsp Ghee

3 tbsp Mustard Oil 

Method 

Take a wok or a pot, add oil, let the oil heat up, reduce the flame, add the cumin seeds, green chilli and bay leaves. Sauté for some few minutes, until the cumin seeds crack. Add the onion and fry until light brown in colour. Add the potatoes, stir and cook for 2 minutes. Add the wet paste, stir and cook the masala until the oil realises from the masala. Add the curd and all the dry powder masala, salt and sugar. Stir and cook for another 2 minutes. Add 2 cups of water, stir and cover the pot. Let the curry simmer until the potatoes are half cooked. Now add the keema balls. Let it cook until the potatoes and keema balls are cooked. Drizzle ghee and garnish with coriander leaves. Serve it hot with hot steamed rice. 

Gua Bao / Steamed Bao Buns stuffed with Sticky Chicken and Pickled Vegetables

 

Gua bao also known as Bao bun or Pork belly buns or lotus leaf buns are very popular all over China. It’s very popular street food of Taiwan.  It’s a complete meal, the soft fluffy buns are served usually with pork belly but it’s also served with chicken and pickled vegetables. 

For Steamed Bao Buns 

Ingredients 

2 1/2 cup All Purpose Flour 

1 tbsp Active Yeast

2 tbsp Sugar

1/2 tsp Salt

1/2 tsp Baking Powder 

1/4 cup Lukewarm Water

1/2 cup Lukewarm Milk 

2 tbsp Oil

Method 

Take a cup, add the warm water, 1 tbsp sugar and active yeast. Stir and keep the yeast to rise. Add the milk and 1 tbsp oil in the yeast. Whisk the yeast. Take a bowl add flour, salt, baking powder and remaining sugar. Mix all the ingredients together. Add the liquid. Mix all the ingredients together and knead the dough for 10 minutes. If required add little more water, it should be a soft - stretchy dough. Apply the remaining oil on the dough, cover and keep it aside for 1 to 2 hours or until it rises doubled in size. Open the lid of the bowl, punch the dough and gently knead it for a minute. Roll out the dough into a disc, take a round cutter, and make medium size round disc. Remove the excess dough. Now fold the disc into half, and gently press the bun, with the roller. Repeat the process for other buns. Place the buns on a small butter paper, cover the buns and let the buns rest for 30 minutes. Take a steamer, add water and let the water boil. Place the buns into the steamer vessel along with the butter paper, keeping little distance between the 2 buns. Cover the steamer and let it steam for 10 minutes. Once done switch off the flame and open the lid, let the buns remain in the steamer for 2 minutes before removing the buns from the steamer. 

Pickled Vegetables 

Ingredients 

A small piece of Carrot cut into thin strips 

A small piece of Cucumber cut into thin strips 

A small piece of Capsicum cut into thin strips

A small piece of Red Cabbage sliced 

Few Coriander leaves 

2 tbsp White Vinegar 

Salt to taste 

1 tsp Sugar

1/4 tsp Pepper powder 

Method 

Mix all the ingredients together and let it marinate for 2 to 3 hours 

Sticky Chicken 

Ingredients 

200 grams Boneless Chicken cut into pieces 

1 tsp Garlic minced

1/2 tsp Ginger minced 

1 tbsp Soya sauce 

2 tsp Red Chilli sauce 

1 tsp Tomato Ketchup 

1 tsp Fish Sauce 

1 tsp Vinegar 

2 tbsp Honey 

1 tbsp Sesame Oil 

Salt to taste 

1/2 tsp Pepper powder 

1/2 tsp 5 spice powder 

1 tsp Roasted Sesame seeds 

Method 

Take a bowl and mix all the above ingredients, together, except sesame seeds, keep it for an hour. Take a wok, add the marinated chicken, and cook the chicken until the chicken has become soft and the juices has dried up. Switch off the flame. Add the sesame seeds over the chicken. 

To Assemble - 

Take a bun, add a tbsp spoon of the chicken in the middle of the bun, add some pickled vegetables and some coriander leaves or spring onions. Serve the buns and enjoy! 

DescriptionParchment paper, and place it on a tray, cover the buns and let it rest for 30 minutes. Take a steamer, boil the water in the steamer. Place the buns along with the butter paper into the steamer. Cover the lid and steam the buns for 10 minutes. Once done, switch off the flame and open the lid and let it stand for 2 minutes before removing the buns from the steamer. 

Coxinha - Brazilian Chicken Croquettes

Coxinha is a popular ingenious street food in Brazil. It’s a savoury snacks made with dough filled with creamy chicken stuffing. It’s dipped in egg and coated with bread crumbs and then deep fried. 

It can be easily made at home. It’s delicious. 

Recipe adapted from tasty.. 

For the Chicken Stuffing 

Ingredients 

1 cup of boiled shredded Chicken

2 Garlic cloves minced 

1 small Onion chopped 

1 tsp chopped Parsley 

Salt to taste 

1/4 tsp Pepper powder 

2 tbsp Cream Cheese

1 tsp Oil 

Method 

Take a pot, heat the oil, add the onion and garlic, sauté the ingredients until soft and brown in colour. Add the shredded chicken, salt, and pepper. Stir and mix the ingredients together. Transfer the mixture into a bowl, add parsley and cream cheese into the bowl and mx it. 

To Make the Dough

Ingredients 

1 cup All Purpose Flour 

1/2 tbsp Butter

1 cup Milk

1/2 cup Chicken broth

Method 

Take a pot, add the butter, chicken broth and milk. Let it boil, add the flour, stir and make it into a dough, switch off the flame, let it cool a bit, once easy to handle, knead the dough well. 

To make the Coxinha

Ingredients 

Chicken stuffing 

Dough 

1 Egg beaten 

1/2 cup Bread Crumbs 

Oil for frying 

Method 

Take a lemon size portion of the dough, roll the dough. Make a cavity in the center of the dough, add a spoonful of the chicken stuffing. Give the dough a pear shape. Repeat the process. Dip the Coxinha into the egg and then coat it with the bread crumbs. Repeat the process.  Heat the oil.  Deep fry the Coxinha until golden brown in colour. Remove them on a paper towel and serve them hot. 

Baked Stuffed Eggplant with Chicken, Cheese and Veggies..

This dish is super delicious... 

Any vegetables like mushroom, zucchini, capsicum, tomato etc can be added... instead of chicken... prawns, sausage, bacon etc can be added... or make it only with vegetables... this dish can be eaten with bread or to make it a complete meal, cooked pasta can be added with the vegetables.. 

Ingredients 

1 big size Eggplant cut into half and scooped out the flesh from the center

4 Garlic cloves  finely chopped 

1/2 cup chopped Mix coloured Capsicum 

1 small Tomato chopped 

Scooped  Brinjal flesh

Some Olive slices  

1/2 cup small Chicken pieces 

Salt to taste 

1/2 tsp  Pepper powder

1/2 cup  Arrabbiata sauce or Béchamel Sauce

1/4 cup Amul Cheddar Cheese cut into small cubes 

Some Amul Mozzarella Cheese pieces 

1 tsp Olive Oil

Method 

Once the flesh of the brinjal is scooped out, immediately apply olive oil and salt on the brinjal. Take the scooped  brinjal  and place them on a baking tray. Take a bowl, add garlic, capsicum, tomato,  olives, scooped brinjal flesh, chicken, cheese, salt, pepper and sauce of your choice. Mix all the ingredients together. Add this into the brinjal cavities. Add mozzarella cheese from top and bake the brinjals at 180 degrees celsius for 20 minutes in a preheated oven. Serve this with bread.

Aslam’s Butter Cream Chicken

Few days back one of the foodie friend Rakesh Sharma ji had posted this fabulous recipe in a group. I was very tempted to make this recipe... and believe me this recipe is worth making.. 

Sharma ji had mentioned in his post that Aslam’s Butter Chicken is a very famous dish sold at Aslam Chicken near Jama Masjid, Old Delhi. 

This dish is very different in look and taste from the Punjabi butter chicken recipe. 

In the actual dish Aslam Chicken grills the marinated chicken pieces on a charcoal grill and then the main key ingredients other than the chicken is loads of Butter, fresh cream and curd. The spices that are used in the dish are a top secret. If you scroll the net, there are loads of videos that teaches us to make the Aslam Butter Cream Chicken, Since this recipe was tried and tasted, I preferred to adapt this recipe. 

It’s a very easy recipe... we can grill the chicken in an oven at home, or on a skillet. 

To get the smoky charcoal flavour, heat up the charcoal and place the hot charcoal on a small plate in between the marinated chicken, pour a tsp of ghee and cover the bowl for a minute - I have used this technique and this was not mentioned in the original recipe and it’s optional. 

 Then the chicken can be grilled and further method can be followed as per the recipe. I personally have not visited the restaurant and tasted the original dish, but this recipe indeed very delicious and my family loved the dish... I have added the Garam Masala powder which was not mentioned in Sharma ji’s recipe. Also I have reduced the quantity of the chicken, hence changed the quantity of the other ingredients and have added the butter as per my requirement. The original recipe calls for around 100 grams plus butter. The method follows the same.. 

For Marinating the Chicken 

Ingredients 

500 grams Chicken cut pieces 

1/2 cup of Hung Curd

1 tsp Ginger paste

1 1/2 tsp Garlic paste

1/2 to 1 tsp Chilli paste

Juice of 1 small size lime 

Salt to taste 

1/2 tsp Pepper Powder 

1/2 tsp Garam Masala powder 

1/2 tsp Kasuri Methi

1 tsp Cumin seed powder 

1 tbsp Amul Butter

Method 

Marinate the chicken pieces with all the above ingredients and keep the marinated chicken for 5 to 6 hours. We can use a hot burn charcoal to give a smoky flavour to the dish as mentioned in the description. 

To make the Butter Cream Chicken 

Ingredients 

Marinated Chicken

1/2 cup of Hung Curd 

1/4 cup of Fresh Cream

1/2 tsp Chaat Masala

1 tbsp Butter for Grilling 

4 tbsp and more Melted Butter

Method 

Preheat the oven at 180 degrees celsius. Take a baking tray. Take the marinated chicken and place the chicken pieces on the baking tray. Rub 1/2 tbsp of butter on the chicken pieces and turn the chicken pieces. Grill the chicken pieces at 180 celsius for 15 minutes. Remove the baking tray, apply the remaining 1/2 tbsp butter on the chicken pieces and turn the chicken pieces and continue to grill the chicken pieces at 200 degrees celsius for 15 minutes. Once done, the chicken pieces are golden brown, remove the chicken pieces from the baking tray. For the gravy, take a pan, add the remaining marinated juices into the pan. Let the water of the marinated juices reduce a bit, add the chicken pieces and coat the chicken pieces with the marinated juices. Switch off the flame. Transfer the chicken pieces into a serving bowl, now take a bowl, add the hung curd and the cream into the bowl and mix the ingredients together. Sprinkle the Chaat masala. Pour the curd and the cream over the chicken. Mix the ingredients together. Now pour the melted butter over the chicken. The chicken is supposed to be drenched in butter... but I used less butter for health reasons... Serve this unique butter chicken with rumali roti, sliced onion and lime.

Chicken - Aloo Tikki

This is a bit different Chicken - Aloo Tikki recipe, that I made in my Kitchen. Chicken boneless pieces are required, along with potatoes and with just few spices like cloves, cinnamon and cardamom that goes into a Bengali garam masala. 

This dish goes well as a starter and as snacks. This can be served with green coriander chutney and ketchup. 

Ingredients 

10 to 12 medium pieces of Boneless Chicken  preferred 

2 medium size Potatoes (peel and chop 1 potato into very small pieces and peel and cut the other potato into big pieces as it will grind with the chicken) 

2 Green Chillies (1 Chilli to grind and another chilli to slice) or added chillies as per requirement. 

5 to 6 Garlic Cloves 

1 small Ginger piece

1 tbsp chopped Coriander 

2 tbsp Sour Curd 

Salt to taste 

1/4 tsp Garam Masala powder 

1/2 cup Rice Flour

1/4 cup Fine Semolina 

1/4 cup Vermicelli 

Oil to fry 

Method 

Take a grinder jar, add the chicken pieces, big potato pieces, 1 chilli, garlic, ginger and salt. Grind the ingredients into a paste, add 2 tbsp curd and grind the paste once more. Remove the paste into a bowl. Add the chopped potato pieces, sliced chilli and chopped coriander leaves. Mix the ingredients together. Add the rice flour, mix it and keep it aside for an hour. Add the vermicelli and mix the ingredients together, now add the semolina and garam masala powder. Mix the ingredients once more. Heat up the oil in a wok, Take small lime size portions and flatten the ball. Once the oil heats up, add the tikkis into the oil, fry the tikkis on medium low flame until golden brown in colour. Remove the tikkis on a paper towel. Serve the tikkis with green chutney and ketchup. 

Malai Tangdi Kabab

Now the best way to enjoy restaurant food is to make it at home, one of my favourite restaurant dish is Malai kabab... I had 6 pieces of chicken tangdi at home. So marinated the chicken tangdi. Since the kababs are made in tandoor and we don’t have at home, we can give a smokey flavour by burning a charcoal piece and placing it on a small plate and placing the plate on the chicken pieces and pouring little oil over the charcoal and closing the bowl with a lid, before grilling the chicken pieces. 

This dish can be had as a starter. Garnish the Kabab with onion, mint, tomato and green chutney. 

Ingredients 

6 Chicken drumsticks 

1 tsp Garlic paste

1/2 tsp Ginger paste

Juice of 1/2 Lime 

1/4 tsp Fresh Green Chilli paste 

1/4 tsp White Pepper Powder 

3 tbsp Fresh Cream 

4 tbsp Hung Curd 

1/2 tsp Shahi Garam Masala powder 

Salt to taste

1 tbsp Mustard Oil 

1 tsp Butter 

Onion rings, Mint leaves and tomato for garnishing 

Method

Take a bowl, add the curd, ginger, garlic, green chilli, lime juice, salt,  pepper and garam masala and mix well, add the chicken tangdi. Rub all the ingredients well. Marinate it for minimum 2 hours. The longer it’s kept it’s better. I had kept it for 8 hours. Now add the cream and the mustard oil and keep it for another 2 hours. 

Preheat oven at 200 degrees celsius. Place a aluminium foil on the baking tray. Place the marinated chicken drumsticks on the foil. Add some marinated juices, put the tray in the preheated oven and grill it for 15 minutes, remove the tray and turn the chicken pieces, add the remaining marination and grill for another 15 minutes. Remove the tray from the oven, apply butter on the chicken tangdi. 

Serve hot garnished with onion rings, mint, tomato and green chutney. 

Easy Grilled Chicken

An easy delicious chicken recipe... that can be enjoyed as starter... Grilled chicken can also be served with sautéed vegetables. Chicken can be substituted with fish, prawns or paneer. 

Ingredients
250 grams Boneless Chicken cut into big pieces 

Juice of 3/4 lime

1 tsp Garlic powder 

1 tsp Dried Mixed Herbs 

¼ - 1/2 tsp Chilli Flakes 

Salt or Pink Salt to taste 

2 tbsp Melted Butter 

Method 

Marinate the chicken with all the above ingredients for an hour. Take a grill pan, let it heat. Grill the chicken pieces on a low flame until cooked and golden brown on both the sides. Remove the chicken pieces from the grill and cut the chicken into smaller pieces. Drizzle the juice on the chicken that was left on the grill. Serve it hot. 

Stuffed Chicken Mushroom Bombs

This dish is extremely tasty. It’s crispy from out and juicy from in. This dish is best to serve as starter.

Ingredients 

100grams Chicken minced  

1 packet of Mushroom

1 tbsp minced  Onion

1 tsp minced Garlic

1 tsp minced Green Chilli 

1 cube Cheddar Cheese grated 

Salt to taste

1/2 tsp Garlic powder

1/2 cup  All Purpose Flour 

Water as required 

1/2 cup or as required Bread crumbs 

Oil for frying 

Method 

Take a mixing bowl, add the chicken, garlic, onion, cheese and salt to taste. Mix all the ingredients well and keep it in the fridge for 30 minutes. Take the mushrooms and remove the stems. Take little portion of chicken stuffing and fill the stuffing into the cavity of the mushroom. Repeat the process. In a small bowl take all purpose flour, add salt to taste and little water at a time and make a thick batter. Take bread crumbs in a plate, add garlic powder and little salt. Mix the bread crumbs. Take a wok, add oil. Let the oil heat up. Lower the heat. Dip the stuffed mushrooms into the batter and then coat the mushrooms with bread crumbs. Fry the mushrooms until golden brown. Serve it hot with any dip or ketchup. 

Saoji Chicken Curry

Halba Kosti Tribes from Madhaya Pradesh, who are weavers by professions came to Vidharba region of Maharastra Nagpur and  settled there. They settled in large numbers and took up job at Empress Mill. They introduced Saoji Cuisine, their cuisine is fiery hot and spicy that needs an acquired taste.  It’s the unique spice blend that makes the difference, it’s is slow cooked and linseed oil is used in the authentic recipe. Each house adds their twist to the spices.  The recipes are closed guarded secret to each family. In 70s the first Saoji joint was opened in Nagpur, there after now many restaurants have opened selling Saoji Cuisine. They are mainly non vegetarian having mutton, chicken, fish. The cuisine is now known to the world by word of mouth. 

For Saoji Masala 

Ingredients 

2 tbsp Coriander seeds 

1 tsp Cumin seeds

1 tsp Shahi Jeera 

8 Dry Red Patna Chillies  

8 to 10 Black pepper corns

1 inch Cinnamon stick 

1 Black Cardamom 

4 Green Cardamom 

4 Cloves 

1/2 Nutmeg 

1 Star Anise 

1 tsp Dagad Phool / Stone Flower 

1/4 piece Nutmeg 2 Bay leaves 

1 tsp Poppy Seeds or White Sesame Seeds

1 tsp Rice

2 tbsp Dry Grated Coconut / Dessicated coconut 

1/2 tbsp Chana Dal   / Split Chickpeas 

3 Bay leaves 

Method 

Take a pan,  on a low heat stir and roast Coriander seeds, Split Chickpeas, Rice, Cumin seeds,  poppyseeds or sesame seeds, cinnamon, cloves, black and green cardamom, nutmeg, star anise, pepper, bay leaves, stone flower, whole red chillies and dry grated coconut . Roast until you get an aroma out of the spices. Cool the spices down and then grind the spices into a powder. 

To make the Saoji Chicken 

Ingredients 

1 kg County Chicken / Gavti Murgi / Komdi cut into pieces 

2 Onions sliced 

1 tsp Garlic paste

1 tsp Ginger paste

Few Coriander leaves chopped 

2 Bay leaves 

1 tsp Turmeric powder 

1 tsp Spicy Chilli powder 

3 tbsp of the Saoji Masala 

Salt to taste 

1/2 cup Oil 

Method 

Take a pan, add a tbsp oil, fry the onion until brown, cool it down and make a paste with little water. Take the saoji masala, add little water and make a paste.. 

Take a pot, add oil, add bay leaves, add ginger and garlic paste, sauté for few seconds. Add the fried onion paste, sauté for a minute, add few chopped coriander leaves, turmeric powder, chilli powder, Saoji masala paste,  chicken and salt. Stir and cook the ingredients on a low flame. Cover the pot and cook for 5 minutes. Open the lid, now add a cup of water. Stir, cover  and let it cook for another 15 minutes. Open the lid, add 2 cups  of  water, close the lid and cook until the chicken has cooked. Garnish with chopped coriander.  Serve the chicken with Roti, bhakri or rice. 

Chicken Chaap

The Nawabs moved to Murshidabad from Dhaka in 18th century, they introduced Awadhi cuisine to Bengal. This cuisine became a part of Bengali Muslim Culture. They introduced many dish, the Biriyani and Chicken Chaap became a combination which is sold in many of the old Muslim restaurants in Kolkata. 

Chicken Chaap
My memories take me back to my childhood where every summer my visit to Kolkata and visiting Nizam or Shiraj or Royal Indian Hotel for the chicken Chaap, Rezala and Biriyani with my cousin was a must.
The chicken full leg marinated and fried in ghee is a rich affair. There are lots of ingredients that goes into the marination.
I followed the recipe from you tube channel Uttar Bangla shared by Royal Indian Hotel which I found relatively easy to make with less ingredients.

Ingredients 

2 Chicken Full Leg pieces, make few slits on the chicken. 

1 1/2 tsp Ginger paste

1 tsp Garlic paste 

Salt to taste

1 tsp Garam Masala powder 

1 tsp Red Chilli powder 

2 tbsp Sattu 

4 tbsp Curd

1 tsp Kewra water

2 drops Meeta Athar 

2 pinches of Saffron soaked in 3 tbsp of water

1/2 cup Ghee

Method 

Take a bowl, add curd, saffron water, ginger, garlic, salt, chilli powder, garam masala powder, sattu, kewra water and meetha athar. Mix all the ingredients very well. Add the chicken legs, apply the marination to the chicken. Keep the chicken for 2 hours. Take a heavy bottom pan, add the ghee. Once the ghee melts, add the marinated  chicken. Fry the chicken pieces on both the side on a low flame until almost tender turning the chicken pieces occasionally. Add in the marination and 1/4 cup of water. Cook the chicken in the marination, turning the sides occasionally until the chicken is tender and the masalas have cooked well. Serve the chicken chaap with Biriyani, Pulao or Porotha. 

Shinwari Chicken Karahi

Shinwari Chicken Karahi is a popular dish belonging to the Shinwari Pashtun tribe residing in some parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan.  It’s a very easy dish cooked with very less spices, yet it’s very delicious in taste.  This dish is served with naan and salad and also can be eaten with roti, chapati or paratha. 

Ingredients
500 grams Chicken cut in to pieces
1/2 tsp Ginger paste
1/2 tbsp Garlic paste
2 big Tomatoes cut into small cubes 
3 Green Chillies cut into halves lengthwise 
Salt to taste 
1/2 tsp Pepper powder 
Few Coriander Leaves chopped
Few Ginger Juliennes
1 Green Chilli cut lengthwise into thin strips
1/4 cup Oil

Method
Heat oil in a kadai. Add the chicken and stir fry for  5 to 7 minutes. Now add tomatoes, 3 green chillies, ginger paste, garlic paste, salt and pepper. Stir and cover the karahi and cook on low flame stirring it occasionally. Cook the chicken for 10 minutes or until it’s done and the oil separates from the chicken.
Garnish with coriander leaves, green chilli and ginger. Serve with hot Naans / Roti / Paratha.