Chicken Pulao

I had jotted down this recipe ages ago based on a recipe I had found on the internet. Recently tried it all over again.

Serves - 2-3 people

Ingredients:

1. Chicken - 300gms (Cleaned and marinated with chili powder, turmeric powder and salt)
2. Rice - 2 cups
3. Onion - 1 large vertically chopped
4. Tomatoes - 2 medium chopped
5. Ginger paste - 1 tsp
6. Garlic paste - 1 tsp
7. cardamom - 3-4
8. Cinnamon - 1 large stick
9. Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
10. Cloves - 7-8
11. Curd - 1 tbsp
12. Green chili - 1 vertically slit
13. Mint leaves - a handful - chopped
14. Coriander leaves - a handful
15. Chili powder - 1 tsp
16. Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
17. Water - 4 cups
18. Oil - 4-5 tbsp

Method

1) Heat oil. Add all the dry spices (Ingredients 7-10). Fry for 2-3 minutes

2) Add the ginger garlic paste and fry for few more minutes

3) Add the onion. Fry till translucent

4) Add salt, turmeric powder and chili powder. Fry for 2 more minutes

5) Add the tomatoes and fry for 5-6 minutes

6) Add the chicken pieces. Fry for 4-5 minutes

7) Add the curd and mix well. Fry for 2 more minutes

8) Add half of the chopped mint leaves. Add little water. Mix well.

9) Pressure cook ( 1 cooker whistle)

10) Open the pressure cooker and ensure that chicken is cooked. Take 1 cup water from the chicken mixture and mix with 4 cups water. Heat this.

11) Add the rice, green chili coriander leaves and remaining mint leaves. Add salt as per taste.

12) Pressure cook the rice

13) On a serving plate serve the rice. Spread the chicken mixture on top and devour!!

Green chicken curry

Again, one of my own creations, inspired from the famous Goan chicken cafreal.

Ingredients:

1. Chicken - 800 gms
2. Coriander leaves - 2 cups
3. Garlic - 15-20 cloves
4. Ginger - 3-4 pieces
5. Tamarind - 1 tbsp
6. Peppercons - 14-15
7. Cinnamon - 2 sticks
8. Green chilies - 3
9. Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
10. Onion - 1 large vertically chopped
11. Grated coconut - 1 cup
12. Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
13. Chili powder - 2 tsp
14. Curd - 1 tbsp
15. Oil - 3-4 tbsp

Method

1) Clean chicken. Apply turmeric powder, chili powder curd and salt 

2) Grind the ingredients from 2 to 9 into a fine paste. 

3) Apply about 2-3 tbsp of this to the chicken and let it marinate for 2-3 hours

4) Add the grated coconut to the ground paste and grind again

5) Heat oil. Fry the onion till translucent.

6) Add the chicken and fry for few more minutes.

7) Turn off heat and pressure cook the chicken (1 whistle). Keep the cooked chicken on flame. Add the ground paste and let boil.Serve hot with bread.

Spinach and Green Peas soup

This is one of my own creations. A healthy and high calorie item for kids!

Serves: 1

Ingredients

1. Spinach - 1 cup
2. Green peas - 1 cup
3. Onion - 1 finely chopped
4. Garlic - 2-3 cloves
5. Butter - 2 tsp
6. Pepper powder - 1/2 tsp
7. Turmeric powder - a pinch
8. Chili powder - a pinch

Method

1)Cook the green peas in a microwave or boiling water until cooked. Cook the spinach in a microwave or boiling water until cooked. Grind the spinach to a paste

2) Heat the butter. Add the minced garlic and onion. Saute till translucent

3) Add the turmeric and chili powder. Add salt as per taste

4) Add the spinach paste and green peas.

5) Add the pepper powder and bring to a boil. Serve hot.

Tip: You can use sweet corn instead of green peas and also garnish with cheese.