Kashmiri Chilli Chicken

I had a taste of this next dish during one of my dinner forays and as I was bowled over by it, I just had to try it out. This North Indian dish has a wonderful blend of sweet & spicy flavours. The masala used for this dish is fine paste of ginger, garlic, tomatoes & authentic spices. Add into this a well-balanced mixture of cashew nut paste & the sweet fruitiness of dome golden raisins (sultanas) and be prepared to fall for this aromatic dish. This is ideal when served with plain rice/roti/ fried rice.

Ingredients

For Marination

• 1 kg chicken
• 2 tbsp. ginger garlic paste
• 2 tbsp. yogurt
• 1 tbsp. coriander powder
• 1 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp. garam masala powder
• 1 chicken stock cube crushed
• 1 tbsp. chilli powder
• 2 tsp. Kashmiri chilli powder

For the gravy

• 2 tbsp. veg oil
• 4 cardamom pods
• 2 onions finely chopped
• 1 tsp. ginger garlic paste
• 1 tbsp. Kashmiri chilli powder
• 1 tbsp. chilli powder
• ½ tbsp. garam masala powder
• 1 tbsp. tomato paste
• 3 tomatoes finely chopped
• 1 chicken stock cube
• ½ cup sultanas/ golden raisins
• 2 tbsp. cashew nut powder

Marinate the chicken for 1 hour or more. (Keep in the refrigerator).

In a non-stick pan add veg oil; add cardamom pods and sauté for a minute. Add onions and ginger garlic paste and sauté till translucent. Add chilli powder, Kashmiri chilli powder and garam masala powder. Sprinkle some water if you feel it’s too dry. Sate for a minute or two. Add tomato paste and chopped tomatoes. Add 4-5 tbsp. water and chicken stock cube; cover and cook till tomatoes are done. Remove from heat and let cool.

Grind the mixture into a paste by adding ½ cup water.

In the same pan, add the marinated chicken and cook without adding water on a medium fame until the chicken is 3/4^th cooked. This will take around 20 minutes. Add sultanas and cook for another 5 minutes.

Add the paste and cashew nut paste and mix completely. Check for salt. Cover and cook for 10-15 minutes. If you want you can add ¼- ½ cup water.

Remove from heat and garnish with coriander leaves. Yuuummmm!!!!!!