Course: Main
Serves: 4-5
Difficulty Level: Skilled
Ingredients:
- 3 lb chicken quarters or 3 lb chicken breast cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 tbsp ginger and garlic paste (or garlic powder)
- ½ cup kaju masala
- 1 cup heavy cream (or substitute with 1 cup yogurt for a lighter option)
- ¼ cup oil
- 1 tbsp ghee (optional)
- 1.5 cups diced onions
- 3 chopped serrano peppers
- 2 tsp cardamom powder
- ½ cup freshly chopped cilantro (or basil if using Expedition Spice Blend)
- 2 cups water
- ½ tsp salt
Directions:
- Clean and drain the chicken quarters thoroughly. If using chicken breast cubes, wash and then cut them to avoid excess moisture.
- Once dry, marinate the chicken with ginger and garlic paste for 30 minutes to 2 hours, if time permits.
- For chicken quarters, heat a non-stick pan and sear the legs on both sides until medium brown, then set aside. Skip this step for chicken breasts.
- In the same pan, add the diced onions to the hot oil and sauté until they start to brown.
- Add 2 cups of water and the chopped serrano peppers, mixing well. Bring to a boil, then add the chicken (either the legs or the breasts).
- The following steps are the same for both types of chicken. Add the heavy cream (or yogurt) and the kaju masala.
- Be careful when adding the kaju masala, as it can stick and burn easily. Adjust the stove to medium heat to prevent this.
- Cook for approximately 30 minutes, stirring gently and frequently, until the chicken is fully cooked.
- Add the ghee, cardamom powder, and cilantro, mixing well. Allow it to simmer for a few minutes.
- Taste and adjust the salt as needed.
- Serve with rice or naan. I often prepare cashew rice to complement the dish.
Note:
This recipe can work for both Authentic Indian Spice Blends and Expedition Spice Blends. The only difference is that I used basil instead of cilantro in the Expedition Spice Blend at my son’s request, which was a pleasant surprise. Due to the delicate nature of this spice blend, I haven’t tried many other dishes with it. My family enjoys this recipe, but it may be a bit complicated to prepare for a large gathering, so I haven’t attempted it for larger groups yet.