20 February 2008

The You-Name-It Recipe

This is a simple, leave it on the stove and forget it, yet yummy recipe! Try it! This recipe is in small quantities as I usually just have to cook for two. However, you can go ahead and try a larger quantity. Just make sure you increase all the ingredients proportionately!



What you need is:

¼ kg chicken cut into manageable pieces


1 large potato, cut into bite-sized pieces


1 tablespoon coriander powder


1 tablespoon red chilli powder (or more, if you want it really spicy)


1 teaspoon turmeric powder


Salt to taste


Half cup water




For the garnish:

1 tablespoon oil


1 large onion cut in really thin slices


Ginger-garlic paste*


Green pepper (capsicum) cut into very thin slices. This is optional but I strongly recommend it!


Coriander leaves


*Make this paste beforehand by grinding equal quantities of ginger and garlic to a fine paste. I like to have a container of it stocked up in my fridge always so that I can use it now and then. It’s great for digestion and does something wonderful for the taste too! You can always get packed ones from the market, but that doesn’t taste as good.



Right! Now that’s done, the method is as simple as ever. Just get a non-stick pan that will hold all the chicken and potatoes. Put in the chicken, potato, water, coriander powder, red chilli powder, turmeric powder and the salt. Put the pan on the stove and close it with a lid. Leave it on simmer for a while. See I told you it was simple. After, maybe ten minutes, take a peep to see how it’s coming along. You may want to stir it a little.


Make sure you have a book to read or something else to do since this does not require you to stand guard throughout!


After some time, after quite a long time really, check to see if the chicken is well cooked and the water is almost gone. If the chicken is tender and juicy and has the flavor of all the spices, you know you have a winner! Easy as that!


The chicken, to all effect, is now done and you just have to garnish it. You may want to put your reading on hold for a few minutes here. Heat the oil in a wok. Drop in the onions and the ginger –garlic paste. Keep stirring and sautéing so that your onions get to a really dark-brown color because that’s when they taste really great. After this, add the green pepper and some salt and stir it till it is sautéed well.


Our chicken, forgotten for a while, can now take its place in a serving dish. Finally, just pour the sautéed onions and green peppers on the chicken. Garnish with coriander leaves. Voila! You can name it whatever you like. I’ll just call it the easiest and yummiest way to make chicken!


Prawns make a great alternative for chicken in this dish. Vegetarians, you can just make it with the potatoes or (you may not believe this!) brinjals. It tastes just as good!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's interesting !!

Neethu said...

hai eh.....i dont know how to address u as i know that u r a teacher...but i will call u chechi....i hope its fine 4 u!!!i am neethu,hami sirs x-student 1st year in grd collge(vis com)..the recip sounds so simple n really i feel like tasting it...i wld really tel my mom to prepare it ....thanku!!!!

Jane Hamilton said...

neethu,
good for you! but the idea for posting a 'simple' recipe, i think, was to encourage you to make it yourself! anyway, bon appetite.

Anish Premson said...

do i need to have a book while i eat it, too??

Jane Hamilton said...

Anish,
I'm no one to advice but I've heard that reading while eating distracts you from the joy of eating as your taste buds doze off while your eyes do all the work. The chewing is incidental! So, if you want to enjoy your cooking, I would advice against a book. On the other hand, if you are a better judge of your cooking skills, well...good reading!

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