I live in Illinois and I'm going to tell you one of our state's best kept secret. This is information millions of Chicagoans don't even know. If you travel...

Beans Paruppu Usili

Paruppu usili is a traditional south-indian side dish for rice. It is a dry curry made with the combination of dhal and vegetables. Usili can generally be made with many vegetables, string beans, cluster beans, banana blossom to name a few. This recipe here is a short-cut method to make usili. Authentically the dhal mixture is ground into a paste and stir-fried in oil until it is dry and cooked

Spicy Andhra Chicken Curry

"I love Curry"

It is a book by Anjum Anand in which I tried all her recipes except few non-vegetarian recipes.I liked all of them and here comes my next entry after the Paneer Bruschetta from her book.

It has now become as one of the most wanted gravies by my family members. I am sure you also like it.

Basic Information:
Preparation Time: 45 minutes
Idle Time: 30 minutes - 8 hours
Cooking Time: 45 minutes
Serves: 4

Ingredients:

For Marinade:

Chicken - 400 grams, boneless, skinless
Turmeric powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Red chilli powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Plain yogurt/Curd - 2 tablespoons
Lemon Juice - 2 teaspoons
Ginger garlic paste - 1 teaspoon
Salt - 1/4 teaspoon

For Masala:

Poppy Seeds - 1 tablespoon
Cloves - 6 nos
Whole black pepper - 1/2 tablespoon
Fennel seeds - 2 teaspoons
Dry red chillies - 6 nos
Cumin seeds - 1/2 teaspoon
Cinnamon stick - 2 inch length piece

For Gravy:

Oil - 4 tablespoons
Onion - 1 no, finely chopped
Tomatoes - 2 no, blended to a smooth paste
Curry Leaves - 2 strings
Salt - to taste

Turmeric powder - as required
Ginger Garlic paste - 2 teaspoons

Method:

1) Wash and cut the chicken into cubes. Mix all the ingredients given for marinade and then mix with the chicken cubes. Marinate it for minimum of 30 minutes to maximum of 8 hours or overnight.

 

 2) Dry roast the ingredients given for roasting and make a fine powder of it after it cools down to room temperature. Colour of the spice powder differs based on the quality of the ingredients used.

 

3) Heat oil in a thick bottom pan. Add onion and saute until it turns translucent.

4) Add the ginger garlic paste given for gravy. Saute for 1-2 minutes.

5) Add tomato paste and cook until the oil separates from it.

6) Add the dry roasted and powdered spices to the gravy. Add 1/2 cup - 1 cup of water to the pan and continue heating  until the gravy comes to the homogeneous state.

7) Add the chicken with its marinade.  Continue cooking over a high heat, stirring constantly until the yogurt get incorporated with the chicken. Add salt and 1/2 cup of water. Mix well.

8) Cover and cook for 5-10 minutes on low flame. After 5 minutes, stir often, as it help the sauce to a creamy consistency.
9) Taste and adjust the seasoning.
10) Add lemon juice and curry leaves. Serve hot with steamed rice.

Note:
1) After adding chicken, it is optional to add water. Chicken cubes itself leaves out some water while cooking. So increase or decrease the water quantity as per your need.
2) Add water with the powdered spice mix to avoid lumps.