Sunday 29 July 2012

Coconut Chicken

That Mr.Tiwari becomes a father at 86 is heartening news indeed. Especially for couples who want to get into the family way. TOI aptly carried yesterday's contrapunto as "children are born in hospitals, fathers in court." Rohit Shekhar, Tiwari Jr, gave another memorable one-liner when he said, "I am not his illegitimate son. He is my illegitimate father." One can only imagine how hardened this young man must have become carrying the stigma of  bastardization for his 32 odd years. What will become of the family only time will unravel. Whether the son will take on the father's surname or be the heir apparent, whether the politician will ever openly acknowledge his paternity or whether the mother's stoicism will ever turn to hope, who can ever predict.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        What the news has done to our sensation-starved, socially-networked nation is evident. One young man sees hope for himself,  'if at 86 he can, at 25 I can!' Another attributes such 'power' to ayurveda and the shudh bhojan people ate thirty three years ago! The jibes are endless and won't abate any time soon, going by the mass hysteria. The only two events that gave us such fodder lately is Kaka's passing and the mystery lady in red in the London Olympics who took away India's blink-and-miss global coverage, in the opening ceremony. If we thought it happens only in India, we missed the bull's eye. It happens in Queen's land too, with all their security and civility. Nobody knows for now who that stranger in the red track-top is who took away the vibrance of the Indian contingent's bright yellow. 

If bright yellow is what you want to recreate, you could turn to your kitchen too. That coconut that is lying around can be put to some good use. Just half of it should suffice. Leena's trip to Goa egged me to try this one. Since I couldn't tag along, I tried creating a coastal platter at home. The cloudy skies only helped; the sea of flats that can be seen from my sixth-floor balcony are being viewed as the sea (minus the concrete) and just for now, deceiving oneself doesn't feel all that treacherous. Coconut Chicken for a sultry Sunday, pals. Give it a go(a).
                                                                                                Ingredients: 
1. 1kg chicken- deskinned & cut into medium-sized pieces
2. 1 large onion- cubed
3. 1 large tomato- cubed
4. 1/4 bottle gourd(lauki) - cubed (optional)
5. 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
For Coconut paste:[Grind 1-5]
1. 1/2 a coconut-grated (use dessicated coconut if you want)
2. 1 tsp coriander seeds
3. 2-3 green chillies - roughly chopped
4. 1 cube ginger- roughly chopped
5. 1/4 cup fresh cilantro(dhania patta)
For seasoning
1. 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
2. 1 tsp whole garam masala
3. 2-3 dry red chillies
4. 2 stems fresh curry leaves
5. 1- 2 tsp white oil
Salt to taste

Method:
1. Heat oil. Allow seasoning ingredients to splutter.
2. Saute onion for 2-3 minutes. Add bottle gourd(if using), tomato & turmeric powder and fry for 5 mins.

3. Add the chicken pieces and fry on high flame for 3-4 mins.


4. Add the cocunut paste, mix well, add salt, close the cooker and give it 2 whistles on high flame.  








 Tips:
 1. You can make this in the wok if you are not using bottle gourd. Cover the wok and let chicken cook on sim for 15 mins, in that case.
2. DO NOT use water. The coconut, the chicken, the bottle gourd- all release water!                                                                                        


   


Oops:
Please don't go by the kalonji seeds in pic 2. 
hurried case of masala-dabba cleaning made some wanton kalonji land in the dhania compartment!

Serve coconut chicken with steaming plain  rice. Tastes delectable. The coconut gives the chicken able companionship; the lauki reminds them that its health over taste. As the ingredients battle it out, you go, enjoy the finger-licking experience....

As this goes public, I am told Madhura Honey is the Lady in Red. The gate-crasher at the London Olympics gets maximum Fb clicks today ;)

                                                                                             





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