Chicken Vindaloo Balti Style Food

CHICKEN VINDALOO

Steps:

• Wash and pat dry the chicken pieces and keep aside in a large non-reactive bowl.
• In another clean glass bowl add vinegar and soak all the ingredients needed for the spice blend for 15-20 minutes. Then blend these into a fine paste using a blender.
• Add the spice mixture paste to the chicken and toss well to evenly coat all the chicken pieces. Let the chicken marinate for 4-6 hours.
• In a large and deep skillet/wok heat the oil on medium heat. Add the marinated chicken and cook for 4-5 minutes. Stirring often.
• Add the chopped onions, tomato paste, salt and pepper to the chicken. Give everything a good stir. Finally add ½ cup of water, cover the lid of the skillet and lower the heat to low. Let the chicken simmer on low for 15-20 minutes or till well done and the oil start to ooze from the curry.
• If you prefer little thinner gravy add water as need and let it simmer for another 4-5 minutes before serving. I prefer the gravy to be thick and sticking to the meat pieces.
• Serve hot with rice/bread.

CHICKEN VINDALOO

Steps:

• Toast the turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, cloves, cumin, paprika, and cayenne pepper in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium-low heat until the spices are fragrant, about 2 minutes. Stir the spices constantly as they toast, taking care that they do not burn. Stir in the olive oil, onion, garlic, and ginger. Increase heat to medium, and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the tomato paste until no lumps of paste remain. Add the chicken, potatoes, tomatoes, chicken broth, wine vinegar, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the potatoes are tender, and the chicken is no longer pink in the center, about 15 minutes. Remove the cover, and cook 5 minutes more to thicken slightly. Season to taste with salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper to serve.

CHICKEN VINDALOO

Steps:

• To prepare the chicken, mix the lemon juice, diced chicken, vinegar, garlic and ginger together in a large bowl with the dried spices. Cover and leave to marinate in the fridge for at least 3-4 hours, or overnight.
• Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat and add the spices, onion and salt. Cook, stirring, until the onion is browned but not burnt, about 10-15 mins. Reduce the heat to medium and add the marinated chicken. Cook, stirring, for another 5 mins. Add a splash of water, reduce the heat slightly, cover and simmer for 15-20 mins until the chicken is cooked through.
• Garnish with some coriander and crispy onions and serve with flatbreads, if you like.

CHICKEN VINDALOO

Steps:

• Soak the chiles in the vinegar in a small bowl for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place the onions in a food processor and process until they become a paste. Transfer to a large bowl and set aside. Place the ginger and garlic in the food processor and process until they become a paste. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside. When the chiles are done soaking, place in the food processor and process until they become a paste. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside.
• Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the vegetable oil and heat it. Add the bay leaves, cloves, cardamom pods, cumin seed and cinnamon stick and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Add the onion paste and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Add the ginger and garlic paste and cook, stirring occasionally, until the raw taste of the garlic goes away, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in the tomato puree. Add the chile paste, Kashmiri red chile powder, red chile powder, coriander, cumin, garam masala, turmeric powder and 1 tablespoon salt. Cover and simmer over low heat for 15 minutes. Add the chicken and potatoes, cover and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and the potatoes are tender, about 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the cilantro. Serve with rice.

CHICKEN VINDALOO BALTI STYLE

Steps:

• In a bowl mix together the coriander seeds, cumin seeds, chilli power, turmeric, garlic pulp, ginger pulp, salt, paprika, tomato puree, fenugreek with the water and vinegar.
• Add the chicken and allow to stand till needed.
• In a wok heat the oil and fry the onion and curry leaves till golden.
• Reduce the heat and add the chicken with the spice mix and stir fry for 3 minutes.
• Add the potato, cover the wok with a lid and cook over low heat till the potato is cooked.
• Garnish with green chillies.

VINDALOO FOR CHICKEN OR LAMB

Steps:

• For the spice blend: Combine the turmeric, coriander, cumin, paprika, dry mustard, cardamom and cinnamon.
• For the chicken: Place the chicken (except for the wings) in a shallow dish and dress with half the spice blend, the garlic, lime juice and some salt and pepper. Cover and let marinate for 1 hour.
• Place the chicken wings in a small pot, cover with water and season with salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a low simmer and poach for 30 minutes.
• For the vindaloo: Heat the vegetable oil in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, bay leaves, chile pepper, ginger, onions and the remaining curry spice blend. Season with salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 7 to 8 minutes. Add the tomatoes and about 1 cup of the wing stock and bring to boil. Slide in the chicken and partially cover with the lid or foil, allowing some steam to escape. Reduce the heat to a simmer and poach the chicken in the sauce, about 30 minutes.
• For serving: Meanwhile, prepare the rice according to the package directions. Heat the naan on a griddle pan with a splash of water, then brush with melted butter.
• Serve the vindaloo with choice of garnishes over the rice, and the naan on the side.

CHICKEN VINDALOO

Steps:

• Puree the garlic, chiles, ginger, tomato paste, 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, the Worcestershire sauce, curry powder and paprika in a food processor until a paste forms, scraping down the sides and adding 1 to 2 tablespoons water as needed.
• Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and lightly browned, about 6 minutes. Add the garlic-spice paste and cook, stirring constantly, until toasted and darkened in color, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add 2 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt to the skillet. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low; cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes. Add the chicken and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly, 8 to 10 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper and thin with water, if needed. Serve with rice and top with cilantro.

HEALTHIER CHICKEN BALTI

Steps:

• Put the chicken in a medium bowl. Mix in the lime juice, paprika, chilli powder and a grinding of black pepper (step 1), then leave to marinate for at least 15 mins, preferably a bit longer.
• Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a large non-stick wok or sauté pan. Tip in the cinnamon stick, cardamom pods, whole chilli and cumin seeds, and stir-fry briefly just to colour and release their fragrance (step 2). Stir in the onion, garlic and ginger and fry over a medium-high heat for 3-4 mins until the onion starts to turn brown. Add the remaining oil, then drop in the chicken and stir-fry for 2-3 mins or until it no longer looks raw. Mix the turmeric, cumin, ground coriander and garam masala together. Tip into the pan, lower the heat to medium and cook for 2 mins (step 3). Pour in the passata and 150ml water, then drop in the chunks of pepper. When starting to bubble, lower the heat and simmer for 15-20 mins or until the chicken is tender.
• Stir in the tomato, simmer for 2-3 mins, then add the spinach and turn it over in the pan to just wilt. Season with a little salt. If you want to thin down the sauce, splash in a little more water. Remove the cinnamon stick, chilli and cardamom pods, if you wish, before serving. Scatter with fresh coriander and serve with warm chapatis or basmati rice, if you like.

CHICKEN VINDALOO

Steps:

• Blend first 11 ingredients and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper in processor until paste forms. Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add paste from processor and cook until golden, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes. Add chicken and potatoes; sauté 5 minutes. Add broth; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer until potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Uncover and simmer until chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes longer. Season with more cayenne, if desired, and salt and pepper.
• *A spice mixture available at Indian markets, some specialty foods stores, and many supermarkets. To substitute, mix 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin, 3/4 teaspoon ground coriander, 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper, 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom, 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves, and 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon; use 1 teaspoon of mixture.

CHICKEN VINDALOO

Steps:

• Salt and pepper the chicken quarters. Heat a large frying pan and brown the chicken in the Ghee. You will have to do this in two batches.
• Remove the chicken to a 6-quart stove-top covered casserole, leaving the fat in the pan.
• Add the garlic and onion to the pan and sauté until golden brown.
• Add to the casserole along with the ginger, cumin, mustard seed, cinnamon, cloves, turmeric, cayenne, and paprika.
• Sauté all for a few minutes and add all the remaining ingredients except for the garnishes.
• Cover and simmer until the chicken is tender. about 45 minutes. Stir a few times during cooking; partially remove the lid during the last 10 minutes or so to thicken the sauce. Top with garnishes.
• Ghee: Butter that is cooked to separate the clear butter fat from the milk solids and moisture, an ingenious method that allows butter to keep for long periods of time.
• Tamarind: Tamarind paste and concentrate, fresh products, are available in the produce section of many ethnic markets. Both products, made from the tamarind pod, need to be reconstituted.