Chicken Curry Adapted From Julie Sahni Classic Indian Cooking Food

BAINGAN BHARTA

Steps:

• Prick the eggplant with a thin-blade knife. Grill over or next to very high heat, turning as necessary until the skin is blackened and the eggplant collapses. Or broil, or roast on a heated cast-iron pan in the hottest possible oven. It will take about 20 minutes.
• When the eggplant is cool enough to handle, peel (this will be easy) and trim away the hard stem. Chop or mash in a bowl, with lime juice.
• Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat; add the onion. Cook, stirring often, until the onion is golden brown, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and chiles and cook for another minute. Add the tomato, turmeric and salt. Cook until the tomato is soft, 5 minutes or so.
• Stir in the eggplant purée and cook, stirring, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the cilantro and garam masala and turn off the heat. Serve hot with warm chapati bread or pita, or over rice.

CHICKEN KABULI (MURGH KABULI)

Steps:

• Buzz the garlic, ginger, tomatoes and yogurt in a food processor until they are a fine purée.
• Combine the oil and the puréed mixture in a large heavy-bottomed pan, preferably one with a non-stick surface. Place the pan over medium-high heat, and cook -- stirring constantly to prevent sticking and burning -- until the mixture reduces to a thick sauce and the fat begins to separate (about 15 minutes). It splatters some toward the end, so stay alert.
• Add the chicken pieces and cook, stirring rapidly, until they lose their pink colour and begin to sear slightly (about 5 minutes), but do not let them brown.
• Add the mace, nutmeg, almonds, cardamon, cumin, coriander, fennel and salt, and mix well.
• Reduce heat, cover the pan and let the chicken cook in its own juices for 15 minutes.
• Uncover and continue cooking for another 15 minutes (or until the chicken is fork tender).
• Stir in the cream, black pepper and cilantro/coriander leaves, and turn off heat.
• Let the dish rest, covered, for at least 1 hour. When ready to serve, reheat thoroughly, check for salt and serve.

CLASSIC INDIAN CHICKEN CURRY

Steps:

• Warm the oil in a large pan. Dice the onion finely and fry it for as long as you can without it burning, normally this takes about 10-15 minutes. you can add salt , about a teaspoon and a half at this stage, which speeds up the frying process. the onions need to be gold and crispy.
• Add the garlic and ginger and fry till gold.
• Add the cumin, coriander, fenugreek, garam masala, tumeric and chilli powder, stir fry for about 8-10 minutes till really fragrant, stir to avoid sticking and burning.
• Add the tomato puree and fry again all together, should thicken immediately. then add the chopped tomato, breaking the pieces into the spice mixture, till the whole thing is red. the whole idea is to fry for as long as possible without burning. this is the secret to a good curry!
• Add the chicken, combine well and fry a further few minutes till sealed. then add a cup of water, lower the fire and let cook till the oil rises above the sauce and chicken is tender. keep checking to make sure it doesnt dry out, but not too often.
• Check the salt, add if necessary. then add a handful of chopped coriander.
• Serve with boiled rice or nan.