masala

Hello everybody.
Back to cold and gloomy weather, plan was to plant and arrange the garden today but clouds and eastern crisp wind aren’t encouraging at all.

Lunch was chicken tikka masala, same recipe is always make, but this time I did Indian rice on the side, though one ingredient is missing ‘ mustard seeds ‘ and original recipe contains cumin seeds not powder, but result was superb, light and aromatic and goes well with the chicken.
Ingredients and method :
* 2 cups rice ( I used basmati)
* cardamom pods, cinnamon sticks.

*1 tsp salt.
* small chopped onion.
* 2 cloves garlic.
* ghee or oil.
* 1 tsp mustard seeds.
* 1 tsp cumin seeds.
* 1 tsp turmeric powder.
* 1 tsp chili flakes.

* boil washed rice with lots of water and the cardamom pods and cinnamon till it’s done.

* when done pour in sieve and wash, remove pods and sticks.
* in the same pan heat oil then sauté mustard seeds, cumin seeds, turmeric and chili till seeds start to pop.
* add onions and garlic and saute till done.
* add the rice and mix all well then leave for few minutes to heat all over.

* serve with tikka or kebabs.

end result !

Hello everybody.

No escape from cooking today I guess,though I was confused what to do after grocery shopping,I bought many vegetables and stuff so I have many options.

After family discussions I decided to do this recipe sent to me by my friend’s niece Hanin whom I saw the other day and everybody in her family recommended it, so chicken masala it is,since I have all ingredients which is the most important thing,sometimes I do cancel the whole dish cause one ingredient is missing,don’t you?

This is an Indian recipe of course,most Indian food is usually hot and spicy,well today I made it medium so that all can eat with comfort,it turned out very delicious and easy.

Ingredients and method:

* 2 large chicken breasts ( original recipe says thighs but nobody in my family loves them,but breasts were good also),cut to big chunks.

* marinate for chicken:

* 1 cup yogurt.

* ginger garlic paste ( 1 tablespoon fresh ginger with 3 cloves garlic pressed or finely chopped together)

* 1 tsp salt.

* 1/2 tsp pepper.

* marinate chicken for at least 30 minutes or overnight if you can.

*Sauce:

* 2 tablespoons olive oil.

* 2 tablespoons butter.

*1/3 cup ginger garlic paste.

* 2 hot peppers (didn’t have any so I used hot dried chili )

* 2 tablespoons tomato paste.

* 1 tablespoons gram masala spices ( Indian spices bought ready or homemade by mixing special spices including : 2 tablespoons cumin seeds,2 tablespoons coriander seeds,1 tsp pepper seeds,2 tsp cardamon seeds,1 tsp cloves,1 tsp fennel seeds,1 cinnamon stick,3 bay leaves,1/2 tsp fenugreek (حلبه) ,pinch of nutmeg. you roast all seeds except nutmeg very well then grind then to fine powder and add nutmeg)

* 2 tsp paprika.

* 8 small tomatoes or canned diced tomatoes.

* 1 1/2 tsp salt.

* 1-2 cups water.

* 1/2 cup heavy cream.

* minced fresh cilantro for garnish.

* cooked rice or naan bread for serving.

* making sauce and cooking:

* heat oil and butter then add ginger garlic paste and stir,then add hot peppers.

* add tomato paste and cook till brownish then add masala,paprika and saute for 3 minutes.

* add tomatoes,saltand water and simmer till sauce is thickened,you may need more water if it dries.

* meanwhile grill the chicken in some hot oil,try to shake excess marinate .