An Indian meal from Sabrina!

The following is from my dear friend, Sabrina, who was my accomplice in so many things in Paris, including many, many meals of delicious Indian food. I was usually in charge of the Saag/Palak Paneer and chai.

She just sent me the following--her first addition to the blog! Have fun!

Welcome to the Sidhu household where the food is normally very healthy, not spicy and relatively easy to make. Not the typical Indian story right...but ours is not the typical Indian household. We have travelled all over India and lived in so many different states that one loses count. We constantly had to move, pack, unpack, and had little time for details. Plus some healthy food was always required since we were subjected to changing cuisines, which were often greasy and spicy. Our stomachs needed an anchor! So food had to be easy, quick and healthy. The Curd Chiken curry is a signature dish from the Sidhu household, one that my mom taught me before I left for Paris. She also taught me Aloo Zeera since I insisted that I needed to know more "easy" dishes if I had to play host and invite people over. So if I could do this, so can you.

Here are some easy recipes and you can thank my mother for them!

Curd Chicken
Chicken 1 kg
Garlic    11/2 pods
Ginger    1 piece
Curd/ Yogurt  1/2 kg; 2i/2 cups
Salt 1 heaped tsp
Pepper , turmeric 1/2 tsp each
Coriander powder 1 tsp
Red chilly powder  1/2 tsp

Mix the chicken with curd ( beat the curd so it is smooth) and add the following: oil or butter; ginger/ garlic (in paste or pieces), ; turmeric; salt; nutmeg; pepper; red chill powder( if you want it spicy)  coriander (powder or whole), cardamon (powder or  whole), cinnamon (powder or whole)

Leave this to marinate for about 4 hours in the fridge or even overnight. The longer you marinate it , the better. Make sure you make small cuts in the chicken pieces so the marinade can soak in. The chicken could be boneless or with bones but should be in small pieces.

Cooking: Heat some oil in a pan, and add the marinade and cook till the chicken is tender and the water has evaporated. Voila! Curd Chicken  is ready :)

Eat the curry with some basmati rice.

If you really want to be fancy, then you can add a third dish : Raita-  Take some curd, beat it and add chopped tomatoes , salt and pepper. The curd normally has a cooling effect if the chicken is spicy.

If you want to show off, then you can make Zeera Aloo or Cumin Potato which is also very easy to do. Boil potatoes, peel the skin, and cut into small square pieces. Then in another dish, heat some oil, and add cumin and garlic. Let that cook, and then add onions and cook. Add turmeric and salt and pepper. Then add the potatoes and mix. Garnish with coriander.

You don't need any special ingredients except the turmeric & coriander powder ...which should be readily available at the local grocer. The others (cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg) should be readily available anywhere. If you cant find coriander powder, you can use fresh coriander.

So now your meal is: CURD CHICKEN; BASMATI RICE; RAITA; ALOO ZEERA


Enjoy cooking! Hope it turns out well :) Send me some photos!