Hyderabadi Chicken 65

Ingredients  (Serves 5 – 6)

1. Chicken – 500 gm, cut into small cubes

Ginger-garlic paste – 1.5 tsp

Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp

Kashmiri chilly powder – 2 tsp

Pepper powder – 1/2 tsp

Garam masala – 1/2 tsp

Lemon juice – 1 tsp

Salt – To taste

2. Egg – 1/2 of 1 large, beaten

Corn starch – 1 tbsp

All purpose flour – 1 tbsp

3. Oil –  For shallow-frying or deep frying

For gravy

4. Oil + butter – 1 + 1 tbsp

Ginger – 1.5 tsp, finely chopped

Garlic – 1 tbsp, finely chopped

Green chilies – 2 – 3, slit

Curry leaves – 15 – 20

5. Yoghurt – 1/2 cup, beaten well

Chilly garlic sauce – 1.5 tbsp

Tomato ketchup – 1.5 tbsp

6. Hot water – 1/4 cup

7.  Cumin powder – 1/4 tsp

Garam masala powder – 1/4 – 1/2 tsp

8. Salt – 1 – 2 pinches

To garnish

9. Onion rings

Lemon wedges

Chopped cilantro

Method

1. Marinate chicken pieces with all the ingredients numbered 1. Keep in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight. Take it out of the refrigerator half hour before frying.

2. Add half of one beaten egg, corn starch, all purpose flour and a pinch of salt to the marinated chicken. Mix well.

3. Heat oil in a pan over medium-high or high heat and fry the chicken pieces in 2 – 3 batches for about 5 – 8 minutes until done. Transfer to a paper towel.

4. Combine the beaten yoghurt with tomato ketchup and chilly garlic sauce.

5.  Heat 2 tbsp oil + butter in a pan over medium heat. Add ginger, garlic, green chilies and curry leaves. Cook for 1 minute. Bring down the heat to low. Add 1/4 – 1/2 tsp cumin powder and 1/2 tsp garam masala powder.  Mix well. Add yoghurt mixture and mix well.  Cook for a few minutes until oil separates. Taste-check for salt. Add 1/4 cup water, if it is very thick and mix well. Cook for a minute or two and add the fried chicken pieces. Stir until they are well-coated with the gravy. You can cook for a few more minutes until completely dry. Switch off. Sprinkle chopped cilantro and serve immediately with onion rings and lemon wedges. Enjoy!!

* Beat the yoghurt well and bring down the heat to the lowest setting before adding yoghurt.