Its a Sunday morning and I had one extra chicken breast left from a cookout earlier in the week. I was in the mood for some spicy indian curry and was wondering what to make. Pepper seemed like an important ingredient and therefore, I looked for several pepper chicken recipes and ended up making a fusion dish- it was spicy and the perfect blend for both rice and chappathi. My first concern was because I did not have a blender that would make fine powder. So most recipes that start with a dry roast step was out of question for me. But I ended up having a hack: just using a mix of spice powders :D Here is how I made Kadai Pepper Chicken in under 30 minutes!
Ingredients:
Chicken breast cut into small pieces, better if you use chicken with bone
An inch of cinnamon bark
4 green cardamom
4 cloves
2 medium sized onions finely chopped
1 large tomato chopped
3 slit green chillis
1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
2 tsp turmeric powder
Salt to taste
In a bowl: add 2 tsp red chilli powder, 2 tsp pepper powder (of good quality!), 2tsp cumin powder and 2tsp coriander powder
Method
In a cast iron pot (cast iron really makes a difference here!!) heat 6 tbsp oil and add cinnamon, cardamom and cloves
Once it becomes hot add finely chopped onions and 1 tsp salt. Wait for the onions to become deeply brown. I realized this step is a game changer. Waiting helps!!
Now add ginger garlic paste and the green chillis
Mix it well and add the tomatoes. Add more salt at this stage and wait until the tomatoes turn mushy
Add turmeric powder at this stage. Mix well.
Add your chicken pieces (no prior marination required)
Mix well and add enough water to partially submerge the chicken. Mix well and add more salt as required at this stage
Close with a lid and let the chicken cook well (depending on the type of pieces you used)
Open the lid and add the dry powder mix. You will notice a change in color. Mix well.
Keep on medium flame and close the lid.
After 5-10 minutes open and taste the gravy. Adjust the taste with some salt and keep on high flame for the gravy to thicken.
Add fresh coriander leaves at this stage (optional) and mix well
Kadai Pepper Chicken ready!
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