Non-vegetarian●●●Origin HyderabadPrep 1 hour, plus marinating timeCook 30 minutes
Chicken breasts are stuffed with a piquant mixture of mushrooms, chillies, and fresh mint, then gently braised in a velvety yoghurt sauce sharpened with fresh lemon juice.
Marinade aromatics
42 gMixed with lemon juice and salt for the chicken marinade (step 2)
Using a sharp knife, slice a deep horizontal cavity along the thick side of each of the 8 large, skinless boneless chicken breasts, taking care not to pierce through the opposite edge, and set them in a shallow dish.
Combine the marinade aromatics (26 g garlic paste and 15.6 g ginger paste) with 15.3 g lemon juice and salt to taste. Rub this mixture evenly over the chicken, cover, and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
Toss together 150 g button mushrooms (cut into rounds), 12 g peeled and grated ginger, 24 g de-seeded and finely chopped green chillies, 16 mint leaves, and the filling spices (2 g black cumin seeds). Divide into 8 equal portions, stuff each pocket with a portion, and gently press the edges together with the flat tip of a knife to seal without puncturing the meat.
In a wide bowl, whisk together 180 g yoghurt, 45 g of the single cream, 2 tbsp oil, 2.5 tsp ground coriander, 1 tsp ground cumin, the sauce spices (2 g ground green cardamom), and salt to taste. Turn the stuffed chicken breasts through this mixture until thoroughly coated, keeping any extra yoghurt mixture to one side.
Lay the breasts in a single layer in a large non-stick frying pan along with any resting juices, pour over the reserved yoghurt coating, and scatter 1.5 tbsp unsalted butter in small knobs over the surface. Cover the pan tightly with foil and cook over medium heat for 20 to 25 minutes until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
Lift the chicken breasts out of the pan and rest on a warm plate. Strain the remaining pan juices through a fine sieve into a clean saucepan.
Place the strained juices over medium heat, pour in the remaining 45 g single cream, and bring just below a simmer. Stir continuously until the liquid thickens into a glossy sauce, then finish by stirring in 15.3 g lemon juice and adjusting the salt before serving over the chicken.
Use about 30% of the weight of fresh mint. Rub between your palms to crush before stirring in; the flavour will be more intensely herbal and less bright.