My aunty, whom I call Mamoni, prepares her Sunday Chicken er Jhol in her own way. It was the Chicken curry that we grew up feeding on. But now, that we stay so far apart, having that kind of a Jhol has become a luxury.So, recently when Jethu and Mamoni came to our place, I wanted to have her own version of Chicken er jhol. Actually we had an invitation in the afternoon – but I skipped most of the menus so that I could enjoy the Chicken curry at night, back home. Food is Chemistry of the ingredients and the time you allot – and her years of experience has refined dishes to such a level that the Chicken Curry or the Katla macher jhol will taste the same everywhere.
My Mamoni’s Chicken Curry is low on onion, ginger and garlic but high on oil, dry red chilies and bursting with flavours.
My Mamoni’s Chicken Curry is low on onion, ginger and garlic but high on oil, dry red chilies and bursting with flavours.
Here lies the secret, as narrated by her.
For a Kilo of Chicken, use:
- 125 gms of onion.
- Crushed ginger – a half inch piece.
- Garlic: 3 cloves.Crushed.
- One whole garlic.
- Tomato: 1 large(70 gms).Roughly cut.
- Green Chilies: 5-6.Slit.
- Dry Red Chili Paste: 2 tbsp
- Cumin seed Paste: 1.5 tbsp
- Turmeric powder: 1 tsp
- Sugar: 1 tbsp
- Salt: as per taste
- Mustard oil: 10 tbsp.
- Green Cardamon: 2.Crushed.To be added at the end.
- Cinnamon stick: A 1 inch piece.
Procedure:
- In a pressure cooker, heat 10 tbsp of mustard oil.
- Once the oil gets hot, add the onion,ginger and crushed garlic cloves at the same time.
- Stir till the point the onion turns golden brown.
- Then add the tomato slices and the spices – Dry Red Chili Paste,Cumin seed Paste and turmeric powder.
- Continue stirring for 5-6 mins.
- Then add the chicken pieces and halved potatoes.
- Sprinkle some salt and sugar, the green chilies and the whole garlic.
- Increase the heat to high and stir briskly for 20 mins.
- Then add water – depending upon the amount of jhol required – and adjust the level of salt.
- When the water comes to a boil, add the crushed green cardamons and cinnamon stick.
- Turn the heat to medium and seal the pressure cooker.
- Let the chicken cook until soft.
Remove from the pressure cooker and serve with steamed rice.
