CHICKEN JALFREZI / How to make Restaurant style Chicken Jalfrezi under 30 minutes !!

Chicken Jalfrezi is a very popular Indian -Pakistani restaurant dish . It goes very well with naan / chappathi / white rice.

Restaurant style Chicken Jalfrezi

Learn how to make restaurant style Chicken Jalfrezi at home

Cooking time : 30 mins Serves : 6

Ingredients :

Skinless Boneless Chicken Thighs : 8 / 700 gm / 1.5 lbs , cut into cubes (Refer Notes*)

To Marinate :

Chillli powder : 1 tsp

Coriander powder : 1 tsp

Turmeric powder : 1/4 tsp

Garam masala : 1/2 tsp

Ginger garlic paste : 1/2 tsp

Lemon juice / Vinegar : 1 tsp

Salt 

For the gravy :

Cumin seeds : 1 tsp

Ginger garlic paste : 1 tsp

Kasoori Methi powder : 1/4 tsp

Garam masala : 1/2 tsp

Chilli powder : 1/2 tsp ++ (i put 1 tsp)

Coriander powder : 1 tsp

Turmeric powder :1/4 tsp

Cardamom powder : 1/4 tsp

Onion : 1, Cut into cubes

Ripe Tomatoes  : 3 , Peeled and chopped finely ( I used 8 oz can of tomato sauce) Refer notes*

Bell Peppers : 2, cut into cubes

Sugar : 1/2 tsp

Coriander leaves : 1/4 cup, finely chopped

Oil : 2 tbsp + 2 tbsp

Salt

Directions :

1. Marinate the Chicken pieces : In a bowl combine all the ingredients listed under "To marinate" along with the chicken pieces. Marinate in refrigerator for 30 minutes. 

2. Shallow fry the chicken  : Heat 2 tbsp oil in a frying pan and add the marinated chicken pieces. Stir fry well and keep aside. 

3. Fry the Spices : Heat the remaining 2 tbsp oil in the same pan. Add cumin seeds and ginger garlic paste. Fry until lightly browned. Now add the cubed onions and stir fry till they are translucent. Reduce the flame and add the remaining spices - Chili powder, Coriander powder, turmeric powder, garam masala, cardamom powder and Kasoori methi.

4. Jalfrezi Tomato gravy : When you get the roasted smell of the spices, add chopped tomatoes, bell peppers and stir well.  Cover and cook till the tomatoes break down and creates a thick Jalfrezi sauce. Add 1/2 cup water, salt, sugar and allow to cook. 

5. Add chicken to the gravy : Add the shallow fried chicken thighs and coriander leaves  into the Jalfrezi tomato gravy. Cover and cook in low flame for 15 minutes. 

6. Serve Chicken Jalfrezi hot with chappathi / naan / hot white rice.

Notes : 

1. Tomato sauce : I used 8 oz can of tomato sauce to get more color and creamier texture to my chicken Jalfrezi. Canned tomato sauce is nothing but a slow cooked tomato paste which is strained to remove the skin and seeds. You can substitute Canned tomato sauce with 4 tbsp tomato paste and 4 tbsp water. It gives the perfect color and deep flavor to the curry.

2. This recipe is the best Jalfrezi recipe to try with left over chicken tikka / grilled chicken. You can start from 'Step 3' and finish making Chicken Jalfrezi in 15 minutes.

You might also like :

• Best Tandoori Chicken Ever
• Restaurant style Butter chicken
• Kadai Chicken
• Mughlai chicken
• Peshwari Chicken
• Mint / Pudina Chicken
• Palak Chicken - Restaurant style

Happy Cooking,

Lena

PINEAPPLE PRADHAMAN - ONAM SPECIAL

Happy Onam Readers!!!

Today i am adding a payasam / Kheer recipe to my Onam recipe collection - Kerala Pineapple Pradhaman. Every year i make traditional payasams like Palada Pradhaman / Gothambu pradhaman etc for Onam. This year i thought of making a fruit payasam for a change. I have shared my pazham pradhaman recipe earlier, so 2016 onam special fruit payasam is  Pineapple pradhamn. Hope you will enjoy!!! 

Thank you for this beautiful copper vessel Saranya :)

Pineapple Pradhaman / Kerala sadya style Pineapple payasam / Pineapple Sago Kheer

Recipe for Kerala sadya style Pineapple Pradhaman / Pineapple sabudana Payasam/ Pineapple sago Kheer/ Pineapple Kerala Recipes

Cooking Time : 25 min, Preparation time : 10min , Serves : 6

Ingredients :

Pineapple : 1/2 of a medium pineapple ,finely chopped

Jaggery : 3/4 Cup to 1 Cup (i used 3/4 cup yellow jaggery)

Sabudana / Sago / Chowwari : 1/2 Cup

Coconut milk  : 1/2 of a can (2nd and 3rd Extract : 2 cups and 1 Cup Thick 1st extract of coconut milk )

Cashews : 10, halved

Raisins : 20

Cardamom Powder / Elakka podi : 1/2 tsp

Dry ginger Powder / Chukku podi : 1/2 tsp

Ghee : 2 tbsp

Pineapple Pradhaman / Kerala sadhya style Pineapple payasam / Pineapple Sago Kheer

Directions to make Pineapple payasam / Pineapple Pradhaman Kerala style :

1. Make jaggery syrup : Add 1/2 cup water and jaggery in to a sauce pan and heat in low- medium flame till you get a golden syrup, Strain and keep aside.

2. Cook Sabudana / Chowwari / Sago : Heat 2 Cups water in a sauce pan. When it boils, add Sabudana / Chowwari and cook till they are soft. 

3. Cashews and Raisins :  In a medium sized heavy bottom vessel / Uruli, heat 1 tbsp ghee and fry cashews and raisins until light golden in color.

4. Roasting Pineapple in Ghee : In the same vessel, add the remaining 1 tbsp ghee and saute the finely chopped pineapples till they are soft. Now add the melted jaggery syrup and combine everything. Keep Stirring.

5. Adding Sabudana and Coconut milk : Add the 2nd and 3rd extract of coconut milk along with the sabudana, stir well. When it starts to thick, Add the  first extract of coconut milk, cardamom powder and dry ginger powder.

6. Allow to boil for a minute and turn off the flame. Add the ghee roasted cashews and Raisins. Kerala Pineapple payasam / Kerala Pineapple Pradhaman / Pineapple Sabudana Kheer is ready to serve. 

Pineapple Pradhaman / Kerala sadya style Pineapple payasam / Pineapple Sago Kheer

You might also like,

• Pazham Pradhaman
• Palada Pradhaman
• Paal Payasam
• Gothambu Payasam
• Semiya payasam

Enjoy,

Lena

ULLI VADA / KERALA STYLE ONION VADA RECIPE STEP BY STEP

Eating outdoors is special for kids, so today i made these ulli vada / Onion Pakoda for an after-school picnic in park.

Kerala Ulli vada / Onion Pakoda / Tea shop special ulli vada / Onion Fritters

Preparation time : 15min, Makes 25 Ulli vada, Serves : 

Ingredients :

Onion : 3 large / 1.5lbs / 725g

Besan / Chick Pea Flour / Kadala Mavu : 2 1/2 Cups

Rice Flour / Arippodi : 1/2 Cup

Baking Soda : 3/4 Tsp

Salt : 2 Tsp (Add according to your taste)

Chilly powder / Mulaku podi : 2 tsp

Turmeric powder : 1 tsp

Ginger paste / Grated Ginger : 1 tsp

Green Chilli : 2, Thinly sliced

Curry leaves : 2 Springs, finely chopped

Oil for deep frying

Method:

1. Combine all the dry ingredients - Besan / Chick pea flour, Rice flour, Baking Soda, salt, chilli powder and Turmeric powder in a large mixing bowl.

2. Add enough water to make a thick batter.

3. Slice the onion as thinly as possible. Add the onion to the batter.

 4. Add the chopped curry leaves, green chillies and grated ginger to the batter.

5. Combine everything well. Adjust the salt.

6. Heat enough oil in a cast iron skillet / frying pan. Add spoonful of batter to the hot oil and fry ulli vada till its golden brown. 

7. Serve hot with coconut chutney / Tomato sauce.

You might also like,

• Parippu Vada
• Uzhunnu Vada
• Kozhukkatta
• Pazham pori
• Sukhiyan

Enjoy,

Lena