The Valentine Chicken

Its Valentine's Day and love is in the air. Flowers and Diamonds are being shared with loved one. Its celebration time. At 60+ why should we be left behind. We decide to celebrate. Shall we go out? He asks me. No I will cook you something we both like. Off to the market to buy a fresh chicken. We both have lost taste of the broiler unless its cooked the Chinese or Continental way. "Ek Deshi Kombdi" I shout over a large group of people struggling to buy the chicken first. The Shop Keeper shouted back Madam Original ya Duplicate. What did I hear right there was a huge margin in the two options. I decided to go for the Original, After all it was my Valentine Special. At a Steep price of Rs. 340 I purchased the bird and came home. I was going to cook it with all the love and special spices that were before me. I will cook it in pure ghee, I announced. Do you have a specific recipe? He asked. Not really then add some shallots or sambar onions as they are called. I will clean them for you. He offered to participate and thus started the cooking .

Ingredients:

• 1 Desi Chicken about 800 gms after its cleaned.
• 2 large onions plus 5 tbsp chopped shallots.
• 2 inch piece of dry coconut plus 4 tbsp of fresh grated coconut.
• 2 tbsp Goda masala.
• Green masala paste of 1 green chilli, 1 inch ginger, 6 large petals of garlic and 3 tbsp of coriander leaves.
• 1 big tomato chopped.
• 1 tbs red chilli powder.
• 1/2 tbsp haldi powder.
• 2 tbsp kashmiri mirchi powder soaked in 1/4 cup water and kept aside.
• Garam masala, whole 1 inch cinnamon, 4 cloves, 1 tsp peppercorns, 1/2 star anise
• 1 ladle pure ghee.
• 1 coal for smoking the gravy. 
• Marinate chicken with haldi, red chilli powder and Goda masala for 15 mins.

Method:

• Take a handi or pressure pan add the ghee when hot add 1 chopped onion, plus the shallots finely chopped, saute till onions turn brown, now add one chopped tomato and salt to taste.
• When the tomato is cooked add the green masala and the marinated chicken, saute for 10 mins.
• Add water according to the gravy you need. I added 2 cups and let it cook till tender.
• The desi chicken takes time to get tender, then pressure cook for 2 whistles.
• While the chicken is cooking, place one whole onion on the gas flame and roast till skin is black also roast the dry coconut on the flame till black.
• In a pan add 1tsp ghee and roast the fresh coconut along with the garam  masala.
• Make a paste of the roasted onions and coconuts with the garam masala.
• When the chicken is tender and comes to room temp, in the cooker add the garam masala paste and the kashmiri chilli powder soaked in water. 
• Now take a katori and place a live coal, pour 1 tsp ghee over the coal place it on the chicken gravy cover with lid, and smoke it for 5 mins.
• Garnish with lime juice and chopped coriander leaves.
• Serve with bhakri or chappati or a bread of your choice.

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