Stir-Fried Chicken with Whole Spices & Green Chillies
Non-vegetarian
A dry-style Rajasthani chicken fry built on whole spices, onion, tomato and green chilli. It tastes warm, savoury and aromatic, with the chicken cooking down in its own juices.
Whole spices for the oil
11 gCrushed, then fried in the oil before the onions (step 3)
Crush 4 g cassia bark, 0.4 g dried bay leaf, 2.9 g black peppercorn, 1.9 g black cardamom pod, 2.1 g cumin seed and 0.6 g clove in a pestle and mortar to a coarse, uneven mixture; leave to one side.
Blend 2 g green bird's-eye chilli, 15 g garlic, 10 g ginger and a little water to a smooth paste; leave to one side.
Heat 54 g vegetable oil or mustard oil in a large heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add the whole spices for the oil and fry for a few seconds.
Add 300 g white onion and fry for 12–14 minutes, stirring often, until it begins to soften and does not stick to the pan base.
Add the chilli-garlic-ginger paste and fry for 1–2 minutes. Add a little water, scrape the pan base and mix until the mixture turns dark and rich.
Add 150 g tomato and fry for 3–4 minutes, mashing lightly, until it starts to soften. Stir in the ground coriander for the sauce.
Add 900 g chicken and mix well. Season with salt and cook for 6 minutes, stirring so the chicken is coated in the spices.
Lower the heat, cover and cook for 25 minutes, stirring once halfway through. Add about 3 tablespoons water only if the pan becomes too dry.
Turn off the heat. Stir in the finishing garam masala and 1.5 g coriander.
Use 15% to 20% of the weight (about 1 g for every 5 to 6 g fresh cloves). Whisk into sauces; gives a savoury, toasted garlic flavour without raw pungency.
Use 20% to 25% of the weight (1 g for every 4 to 5 g fresh). Stir into the gravy; adds peppery heat and warmth, though it misses the crisp, zesty kick of raw root.
Use 40% to 50% of the fresh tomato weight mixed with a splash of water. Imparts a deeper red colour, thicker sauce, and slightly sweeter cooked flavour.
Use 50% of the weight and stir in near the end of cooking. Adds warmth and depth since it contains ground coriander, but introduces stronger spices like clove and cinnamon.
Use 50% of the weight mixed with equal parts ground coriander and a pinch of ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and ground green cardamom. Sprinkle near the end for a warming finish.
Use about a third of the weight (0.5 g ground for a 2.5 cm piece), stirred in with the ground spices rather than fried whole, since the powder burns quickly.
Use 1 g ground for 4 g whole (or 1 small pinch per 2 to 3 whole cloves). Add with spice powders; disperses intense warmth quickly, so use with restraint.
Allspice berries
Use 100% of the weight whole in tempering. Imparts a warm, clove-like aromatic profile combined with hints of nutmeg and cinnamon.