Kadai Chicken

Kadai Chicken is a deliciously yummy delight from North India. It is an easy to prepare recipe. It tastes great with Indian breads like naan, roti, parantha, chapatti or even with plain steamed rice.

Ingredients:
Chicken: 1 kg
Shallots: 1 and 1/2 cup, chopped
Tomato puree: 2 cups
Garlic paste:1 and 1/2 tbsp
Ginger paste: 1 and 1/2 tbsp
Green chilli: 3, slit
Cashew nuts: 15 pieces
Melon seeds: 3/4 tsp

For the Masala:
Cumin seeds: 1 and 1/4 tbsp
Coriander seeds: 1 and 1/4 tbsp
Black peppercorns: 15 corns
Kashmir dry red chilli: 3-4

For Garnish:
Coriander leaves: 3 tbsp, finely chopped

Method:

1. Clean, wash and pat dry. Take the pieces in a bowl, add a little salt and a pinch of turmeric powder and mix and keep aside.
2. Heat a pan, add the masala to broil. First add coriander seeds, when it changes color, add the peppercorns and lastly add the red chilies,cumin seeds and stir for 3-4 minutes or till you get the aroma of the spices.
3. When cool, beat the masala to a fine powder. Keep aside. Soak the cashew nuts and melon seeds in warm water.Make a smooth paste of cashew nuts and melon seeds
4. Heat a kadai, add oil, add the chopped shallots and curry leaves, saute for 2-3 minutes. Then add salt and stir fry till they are golden brown in color.
5. Add the ginger garlic paste and saute for 2-3 minutes. Add the tomato puree and stir well. Cover and cook for 4-5 minutes, or till the oil floats from the masala.
6. Now add the chicken pieces, mix well. Add 1 cup water, mix close and cook  till the chicken is well cooked.
7. Transfer to a serving kadai. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.
8. Serve hot with butter naan, rotis or chapatis.