Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Chicken in Mint, Coriander and Coconut Gravy

MintCorianderChicken1

This year I have had no time for any gardening. It saddens me for I love seeing things grow but then I have realized I need to prioritize instead of taking up too many things and then not doing any of them right or rather simply delegating. Yes, I love delegating and if it is the husband who is at the receiving end I can turn into a full tyrant nagger. Unfortunately the husband has had not much time himself and after cleaning up the weeds and planting three cabbage plants which BS lugged from school he has refused to take my orders.

My family does not seem to understand the value I bring into their life. $#%$#%. And it does not stop at the other adult alone .My girls seem to follow the same route.

The other day I was particularly mad about something and told them --" You do not listen to me, I am going to go away and be some other kids' Mommy".

A statement which according to new age child psychologist would have scarred a child's formative mind and stunted their mental growth.
Nothing like that happened. My girls were not even bothered.

Instead the next day LittleSis comes and asks me, "Mommy, if you are going to be other kids' Mother, what is going to happen to their Mommy ? Are they going to have two Mommies? Won't their house get too crowded?" !

Nary a thought about her own Mother being gone was discussed.

MintCorianderChicken2

But not to worry. For I still have neighbors.

I mean I cannot delegate my work to them or make them understand my billion dollar worth but I can borrow their Mint. And there is no dearth of it. Come summer their Mint bush grows and spills over and creates havoc as if she had Persephone's number on speed dial. They are only too happy if I snip off some. And no doubt that is what I do.


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For a couple of weeks, every Saturday or maybe even Sunday I have been making this chicken curry with mint, coriander and coconut.We are trying to eat more fish and vegetables and less meat these days. Definitely very less of mutton or any red meat. But at least two days a week it is chicken curry for us and more for LittleSis who is a big time meat fan. With this kind of a curry you need to make little else and along with a rice and salad it makes for a nice weekend lunch.

The idea of this curry came from Srivalli's(who blogs at Cooking for all Seasons) Mutton Semi Gravy or Mutton Gojju. That it was Andhra style nailed it for me. To it got added the mint-coriander masala paste I make for Pudina Dhania Chicken  which was inspired by Aayis Recipes.Following Sri's idea I also added some coconut to the paste. The chicken curry was really very good.We all loved the gravy so much that I have made it several times now.

The best part is you can also use the same recipe for fish or Paneer and it tastes awesome

MintCorianderChicken4


Chicken in Mint, Coriander and Coconut Gravy  

Marinate 2lb of chicken with 2 tsp ginger-garlic paste, salt, turmeric powder and 2-3 tbsp of thick yogurt.


In a blender jar add
1/2 cup of coriander leaves 
1/2 cup of fresh mint leaves 
4 green chili(optional)
 
2 tbsp of chopped garlic 
1 tbsp of chopped ginger 

1" stick of cinnamon 
4 clove 
1 small piece of Star Anise 

1/3 cup of thick coconut milk or grated coconut
With a splash of water make a smooth paste.

Now heat Oil for cooking

Temper Oil with
4 green cardamom 
2 clove 
small tej-patta 
1/2 tsp Fennel seeds.
Add 1 tsp of sugar and caramelize sugar

Next Add 1 onion roughly chopped. Fry till onion turns soft and brown on the edges.

Add the marinated chicken pieces and saute till chicken pieces lose their raw coloring and turns golden yellow with brown spots.

Add
the green masala paste
1 small tomato chopped,
1/2 tsp of Kashmiri Mirch,
and 2 tsp Coriander powder
Mix well and cook the chicken in the masala for 10-15 minutes. If any water is release from the chicken let it evaporate. Finally when you see oil seeping out at the edges add about a cup of warm water.

Mix well and add salt to taste.A sprinkle of rock salt or beet noon enhances the taste.
Also add 6 green chili slit if like me you had not added chili to the paste. Add a few more mint leaves and cover and let the chicken cook You can do this step in the Pressure cooker too.

35 comments:

  1. Sandeepa thankfully you have not been told this. "You cannot be other kids mommy. They will not take you as their mommy. Tumi bishoon boko. :-." In every house, there is always a different but similar prompt answer ready.

    I have been looking for this recipe for a long time. Today I have all the ingredients. Must try.

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    1. Also check the original recipe. It suggests more chili powder and also is done without the paste. I am planning to do that exactly too in a Pressure Cooker. But this mint paste is very universal. I will make it over the weekend and use it for curry, fish bake or paneer throughout the week

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  2. this chicken is so very familiar, i can almost taste it! you know, we lived and worked in bangalore for a couple of years, and the one thing that i loved was the minty touch to their food. even after i'd gotten tired of the curry leaves, i still loved the mint. my cook (yes, those were the days!) would make this amazing hyderabadi biryani with mint, and i would come back home from work to that smell wafting out of the kitchen. i miss all that!

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    1. I lived and worked in B'lore too and have a fondness for South Indian cuisine :) Love curry leaves too but not in my noodles. Amen to that.

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  3. Just finished reading this and now am hungry for chicken curry.

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  4. It is breakfast time here in Sydney but I could give anything to have this chicken curry ! Now I know what I am making for tonight's dinner !! Looks yummy !!

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    1. If you like mint, coriander and coconut , you should lime this one

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  5. Very simple but too delicious chicken curry. In photos it looks really perfect. Thanks for sharing....

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    1. Thanks, many things look perfect in photos don't they :)

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    2. What you see , is not what you get ( always) .

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  6. Glad you tried the curry sandy..nice to read abt your lil one..:)

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    1. Hoping to try more chicken dishes from your blog now that the older one likes "spicy" chicken

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  7. Kids come up with the most interesting things to say!:-))
    Interesting combination of Mint+Coriander with coconut in a chicken curry. Don't think I've had it this way before.

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    1. I don't use too much coconut in my cooking and I reduced the amount here. In fact i used C.Milk. The original recipe suggests more and grated coconut though.

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  8. With mint and coconut milk in it this gravy sounds delicious....

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  9. Can't wait to try out ths recipe!

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  10. Hi hi i love lil S question yeah kids are so different arent they now. When i say hings like that Shyama says with a huge smile to Hans we will put in the local newspapaer, A handsome Widower looking for a well filled woman and she has to be a multi millionaire too :-)

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  11. I forogt to say the chicken dish looks super yumm.

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  12. This looks really delicious. But during summer season you also need to keep your digestive system cool. Thus i suggest to drink a glass of Jaljeera, which is easy to make in home.

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  13. Sandeepa: Lovely answer from your puchki!
    Arno recently saw a movie called "Mars need moms"..
    can you imagine what HIS answer would be?
    hoyto MARS jabar ticket i kete dilo amake..
    ;-)))
    cheers
    d

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    Replies
    1. We saw that movie in the theaters last year and all LS had to say is "Brocolli khelona tai or Ma ke niye gelo" and that didn't make her eat Broccoli if you are curious !!!
      Amar ek bondhur chelera kintu "Ma, Mars e chole jabe" bole khub kande

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  14. Sandeepa, even the threat of going away will be a treat these days!!! :-D
    Our garden has suffered too....

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  15. LS is a delight :)

    I have mint growing like weeds and this would be perfect. I have tried almost a similar recipe with potatoes but never thought of doing it with chicken. Looks really tasty and I can almost taste it.

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    1. Only potatoes ? That would be interesting

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  16. Looks delish and is a great combination, bookmarked for my robibarer murgir jhol.

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    Replies
    1. Mandira if you like Mint this one is a sure winner

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  17. Clever Little S, these kids talk so much nowadays, don't they?

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  18. hi, ive been following your blog and recipes for a few months and love it! i live in the uk and am a bong, soon going to be a mom too. so these recipes , esp the bong ones, are dear to my heart. i made this one this weekend and its turned out beautifully- thank you! ive also made shorshe salmon and your aloo posto and they are now repeats in our home. i look forward to be able to try out more of your stuff during myyear long mat leave!!!

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  19. Hello,

    I have prepared something like this before. Let's say it was similar and was called "korma". In addition to mint, coriander, coconut, it had poppy seeds(khus khus, posto) also. Rest of the ingredients remain the same. Good pictures(the slices of lemon on the plate make it so tempting!!). Make some Mughlai porota if you can. I have looked over a few recipes and tried(eating) it outside, but they were dfferent from each other and I couldnt make out which is authentic.

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  20. Umm. Again something delicious,..:)

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  21. Eta to darun, khub siggiri banabo. yum yum...

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