Chicken Afghani

 

Ingredients:

• Chicken – 1 kg (Preferably leg and thigh pieces)
• Onion (chopped) - 2 nobs
• Garlic Paste – 2 tsp
• Ginger Paste – 2 tsp
• Malai or Fresh Cream – 150 gms
• Hung Curd – 300 gms
• Dry Ginger Powder – 2 tsp
• Black Pepper Powder – 2 tsp
• Red Chilli Powder – ½ tsp
• Shahi Garam Masala Powder – 1 ½ tsp
• Kasuri Methi or Dry Fenugreek – 1 ½ Tbsp
• Cashew and Almond Paste – 4 Tbsp
• Ghee and Oil – 4 tbsp
• Salt – To taste
• Charcoal – 1 or 2 small pieces
• Mint Leaf – For Garnish

 Method :-

• Wash and clean the chicken pieces. Make some gashes or cut marks on the chicken pieces so that it can be cooked easily and flavor of marinade can go into it.
• Dry roast kasuri methi and keep aside.
• Take a big bowl and mix all ingredients except ghee, oil and charcoal.
• Add in roasted kasuri methi powder. Mix in very well.
• Now put the chicken pieces one by one and coat them with the marinade.
• Burn the charcoal till it turns red. Put it into a small bowl and pour 1 tsp ghee or oil in it. You will find smoke start coming immediately. Put this bowl inside the marinated chicken bowl and cover with a lid and then with a cloth. Keep as it is for 30 minutes. This process gives a very nice smokey flavor in the chicken.
• After 30 minutes remove the cover and take out the small bowl.
• Heat 2 tsp ghee and 2tbsp of oil in a kadai.
• Now start adding the chicken pieces into the wok. Arrange them in single layer. Keep the excess marinade aside.
• Cook the chicken till they are cooked and brown spot appears on all sides. You can see nice brown stripes on the chicken as we have put cut marks on them. Cook with the lid on and turn them from time to time.
• Take out the chicken pieces from the wok / kadai and keep aside.
• In the same wok / kadai add the chopped onion and saute it nicely till it become golden brown then add the marination masala and start cooking on low fire. When oil starts to separate add ½ cup of warm water in it. Let it come to a boil.
• Add the cooked chicken mix it well,then cover the lid and let it cook for 5 minutes with medium flame.
• After 5 minutes serve hot Garnish with mint leaf and red chili. Serve with any pulao / naan / kulcha /paratha/Rice.