Garlic and Kashmiri Chilly Chicken

Ingredients

1. Chicken – 1/2 kg, cut into medium pieces
2. Onion – 2.5 small, thinly sliced
3. Tomato – 3 small, chopped
4. Garlic – 18 – 20 small cloves
5. Dry red chilies – 6 – 8 small ( The actual recipe calls for Kashmiri dry red chilies/piriyan mulaku (you can use around 10 – 15  nos) which gives an attractive red color and a thicker gravy. Since I didn’t have it, I used regular vattal mulaku.)
6. Garam masala powder – 1/2 tsp
7. Cardamom powder – 1 pinch (optional)
8. Salt – To taste
9. Oil – As required

Method

1. Heat 3 tbsp oil in a pan at medium heat and fry the dry red chilies until crisp and brown. Drain on to a paper towel. Add garlic and fry until golden, about 4 – 5 minutes. Drain on to a paper towel and set aside to cool. Crush the dry red chilies in the small jar of a mixie/blender and then add the garlic cloves. Grind them to a fine paste and set aside.

2. Heat the remaining oil over medium heat. Add sliced onion and saute until they turn golden. Then add chopped tomatoes and saute well until they get mashed up and oil separates. Now add the chicken pieces. Mix well and cook covered at medium heat. Do not add water as it will ooze out from the chicken pieces. When it is half-done add the ground chilly-garlic paste. Cook until the chicken is well done. It takes about 35  minutes. Add  1/2 tsp garam masala powder and a pinch of cardamom powder. Mix well. Switch off. If you want a gravy add 1/2 – 3/4 cup hot water while cooking the chicken. It goes well with chapathis, rice, fried rice etc.

Recipe Courtesy – Heney Padavathil