Malwani Green Chicken

This is one of my favourite recipes! I got it from a friend of mine who hails from Maharashtra. It is easy to make and very delicious. The spices, the aromas and thickness of coconut milk gel together to create an irresistible gastronomic delight!

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

Chicken-1 kg, cut into medium size pieces

Ginger-Garlic paste - 1 1/4 tbsp

Scraped Coconut - 1 1/4 cup

Oil - 5 tbsp

Cinnamon - 1'' stick

Black Cardamom - 1

Green Cardamom - 2

Cloves -4

Cinnamon - 3/4 tsp

Onion - 5, medium size, finely chopped

Garam masala - 3/4 tsp

Coriander leaves - to garnish

Salt- to taste

For Green Masala:

Fresh Coriander leaves - 1/2 cup

Fresh Coriander roots - 1/2 cup

Scraped coconut - 3/4 cup

Ginger - 3/4'' piece

Green chillies - 4-5, de-seeded

Method:

1. Marinate the chicken pieces with ginger-garlic paste and salt and keep aside for 30 minutes.

2. Grind the scraped coconut (1 1/4 cup) with half a cup of warm water and extract thick milk.

3. Grind together all the ingredients for green masala to a fine paste.

4. Heat oil in a pan. Add all the spices (cinnamon, black and green cardamoms, bay leaves, cloves and cumin seeds) When they crackle, add finely chopped onions and stir till they turn soft and lightly brown.

5. Add the green paste. Saute on low heat for a couple of minutes.

6. Put in the chicken pieces along with the garam masala powder. Add 3/4 cup of water and cook till the chicken is well done.

7. Lastly, add the coconut milk. Mix well. Remove from heat.

8. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve hot with rice or rotis.