Restaurant Style Chicken Changezi

Total time is not inclusive of Marination.

A delicious old recipe that has been around since the times of the Mongolian Warrior, Genghis Khan.

The Recipe Intro includes more info. Check it out↓

Ingredients:

chicken (I use bone-in chicken), cleaned, skinned and cut into small pieces		1 kg / 2.20 lbs
turmeric powder		½ tsp
lime juice		2 tsp

For Marinade:

kashmiri chilli powder ( that's the milder chilli powder with the brighter red color)		2 tsp
garam masala ( Indian Spice Mix, that comes in many variations - use your favorite one)		1 tsp
ginger paste (fresh ginger, ground to a paste without adding water)		2 tsp
garlic paste (fresh garlic, ground to a paste without adding water)		2 tsp
tomato paste (commercial)		3 tsp
yoghurt, beaten till smooth		¾ cup
fresh lime juice		3 Tbsp
salt		1 tsp

For Onion Cashew Paste:

red onions, sliced		2 medium
unprocessed cashew nuts		3 Tbsp
unprocessed almonds		1 1/2 Tbsp
ghee (clarified butter)		4 Tbsp
cup milk		½

For the masala/gravy:

ghee  plus 1 Tbsp (clarified butter)		2 Tbsp
cumin seeds		¼ tsp
ginger garlic paste ( equal amounts of fresh ginger and garlic paste)		2 Tbsp
tomato puree		1 cup
coriander powder		1 tsp
asafoetida (powdered gum, derived from a speicies of giant fennel: very common in Indian vegetarian cooking)		¼ tsp
amchur powder (dry mango powder)		¼ tsp
black salt (kala namak), a type of rock salt that comes in powdered form with a pungent smell, used as a condiment)		¼ tsp
cumin powder		¼ tsp
kashmiri red chilli powder		1 tsp
pouring cream		¼ cup
: salt		To taste
garam masala		1 tsp
mild green chilli, seeded and cut julienne		3 Tbsp
Fresh coriander/ cilantro for garnish		As required

Method:

1. Clean, skin and cut the chicken into small pieces. Rub with turmeric and lime juice.
2. Rinse the chicken after 2 minutes. This acts to remove any unpleasant chicken smells and as a disinfectant. This is often done in curries where milder spice is used.
3. Pat dry the chicken to remove all excess water.
4. Now, add all the ingredients listed under the ‘Marinade’ and rub well into the chicken.
5. Refrigerate covered for 30 minutes.
6. To make the onion-cashew paste:  Heat the ghee in a non-stick pan. Add the onion and allow to soften.
7. Add the cashew nuts and almond and stir continuously till the onions become golden brown.
8. Immediately remove from heat and allow to cool off.
9. Add the fried ingredients as well as the milk to a mixer/blender. Grind to a smooth paste.
10. To another non-stick wok/pan, add the chicken along with the marinade. Bring to a simmer on high heat.
11. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer(steam) for 5 minutes.
12. Uncover, increase heat and cook for a further 5-7 minutes, till the chicken is cooked and nicely coated with the marinade. (Stir occasionally). Set aside.
13. Wipe clean the pan used for frying the onions. Heat 2 Tbsp of ghee for the masala and add cumin seeds.
14. When the seeds have spluttered, add the ginger – garlic pastes and sauté briefly.
15. Add the tomato puree and bring to a simmer. To this, add the prepared onion-cashew paste.
16. Stir well and cook till the oil separates.
17. Add all the spices except the garam masala. Cook for about a minute.
18. Do a taste test and add regular salt as needed.
19. Next, tip in the cooked chicken and return to a simmer. Add water as needed to loosen the gravy to desired consistency.
20. Cook 2 more minutes.
21. Fry the julienne cut green chilli in remaining ghee. Strain the ghee and add over the dish. Reserve the chilli for garnish. ( This is for garnish. You could just add them in together.)
22. Pour in the cream and bring just to a simmer.
23. Garnish with the friend green chilli julienne and chopped fresh coriander leaves.
24. Serve the rich and creamy Chicken Changezi with hot buttery naans or tandoori style flatbreads.

Restaurant Style Chicken Changezi

Notes:

• Although I prefer bone-in chicken for this recipe, the boneless chicken may also be used. Just reduce the cooking times.
• Black Salt   (kala namak), a type of rock salt that comes in powdered form with a pungent smell, used as a condiment).

Key Ingredients: Chicken, Onion, Tomato, Ginger, Garlic, Cashew nuts, Spices, Ghee, Cream, Green Chilli, Fresh Coriander.

EAT AND TELL!!!

Let us know if you tried –  Restaurant Style Chicken Changezi