I made this really delicious Achari Chicken using
Mounika Gowardhan – Cookinacurry’s recipe. I tweaked the recipe slightly,
adding green chilis and potatoes (because I’m Bong and must have alu in my
curry). It’s an extremely simple recipe which gives such a fab result. Also, I
think it would definitely taste better if you cook this a day or two earlier,
so that the chicken actually pickles a little bit. Use mustard oil for sure.
Ingredients
- 500 gms chicken with bone in pieces
- 3 tbsp mustard oil
- 1 large tablespoon panch phoron
- 1 teaspoon black mustard seeds (shorshe)
- 2 dried whole red chilies - broken
- 1 tbsp ginger paste
- 1 tbsp garlic paste
- 1 onion finely sliced
- 1 tomato - pureed
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp red chilli powder
- 3 green chilis slit
- 100 mls water
- 100mls lightly beaten yoghurt
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 large potato – boiled and quartered (optional)
- Salt to taste
- Chopped coriander to garnish (which I didn’t have, so didn’t use)
Method
1. In a pan, heat the mustard oil. Add the panch phoron. Sauté until it
starts to sizzle and pop for a min or so. Also add the whole red chillies,
stirring to make sure they don’t burn.
2. Add the sliced onion and fry until light brown in colour and have
softened for about 8-10 mins. To the pan now add the ginger/ garlic paste. Mix
well. Stir in the tomato puree, turmeric powder and chilli powder. Cook for a couple
of minutes till the oil leaves the sides of the pan.
3. Add the chicken pieces and the potato cooking on a medium heat to
make sure the pieces are sealed and coated in the gravy for 5-7 mins. Add the
water and bring the curry to a boil, then simmer covered on a low heat cooking
for 20 mins until the chicken is cooked through and succulent, stirring a
couple of times
4. At this stage, add the
yoghurt and stir, making sure not to let it split and continue cooking on a low
heat with the lid on for 5-7 minutes. Add salt and lemon juice to taste.
Garnished with coriander.
5. I served it with pulao.
