CUCUMBER CHICKEN

Contribution by Sanghita Pal

INGREDIENTS:

*Chicken- 850 gm-1 kg

*Potatoes- 2- cubed/diced

*Cucumber- 1 big (finely chopped) for marination; 1 medium- for garnishing

*Yoghurt- 1 cup

*A thick paste of 1 capsicum, 2 big onions, 1 tomato, 2-3 pods of garlic, small ginger piece (of two soya chunks’ size!)

*Salt to taste

*A pinch of sugar

*Cardamom, Cinnamon- 2 each finely grounded

*Turmeric powder- ½ tsp (for marination); ½ tsp (for cooking)

*Red chilli powder- ½ tsp (for marination); ½ tsp (for cooking)

*Coriander powder- ½ tsp (for marination); ½ tsp (for cooking)

*Cumin powder- ½ tsp(for marination); ½ tsp (for cooking)

*Chicken Masala powder- 1 tsp

*Green chilli- 2-3 (slit)

*Mustard oil- 2 tsps for marination; 2 tsps for cooking

FOR MARINATION:

Marinate chicken with yoghurt, cucumber, salt, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, cumin powder, coriander powder, salt, sugar, mustard oil and keep it aside for 2 hours. 

METHOD:

In a wok, fry the potato cubes till golden brown. Keep them aside. Now nicely fry the thick paste till the oil gets separated and add turmeric powder, red chilli powder, cumin powder, coriander powder, salt to it one by one. Add the marinated chicken, chicken masala powder, fried potatoes, green chilli and cook until done. Season with cardamom-cinnamon powder. Garnish with cucumber pieces and serve hot with rice/chapattis/ any type of bread. 

(Note: You can use 2-3 sprigs of freshly chopped coriander/cilantro leaves as a substitute for cardamom-cinnamon powder.)