Pulao with Chicken Curry

Sunday is a day for special dishes. And usually meat dishes. In those olden days, before kids, I used to make some special breakfast as well as something special for lunch. But with kids now I only have time to make one special thing either for breakfast or for lunch. This time it was lunch and I went back to my basics.
         I made the very basic pulao and Chicken curry. Yet again this chicken curry has a million variations and this is my version. Hope you will make it and like it too

Pulao
Chicken Curry (Chicken curry with Indian spices)

Bone-in Chicken Curry

Chicken Curry Azeema Style

Ingredients:

1. 1 whole chicken cut into 12 pieces
2. 1 large onion sliced fine
3. 2-3 green chillies sliced
4. 1 cup plain yogurt
5. 3 tablespoons oil
6. 1 teaspoon each of salt, chilly powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, ginger-garlic paste
7. 3 cloves and an inch of cinnamon pounded a bit
8. 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
9. Cilantro for garnish

In a pan heat the oil and fry the onions till golden brown. Add green chillies, cloves and cinnamon and ginger garlic paste and fry for 3-4 minutes. Add the chicken pieces and fry for 3-4 minutes and flip. Add the rest of the ingredients into yogurt and beat well. Add this to chicken and stir to combine. Add 1/2 cup water, cover and cook for 20 minutes or till chicken gets cooked. Garnish with cilantro and serve.

Use leftover to make Lima Beans and Chicken Pulao

Bagara Khana, Aalu Gosht aur Tomato ka Khatta

Today was one of those auspicious days when I make special dishes and give offerings (FATEHA) to God. It used to feel so good on such days back home when I was with my parents. But now that I am the head of the house hold it just creates more work for me. Not that I am complaining but I am just saying.
                This Bagara Khana  or Pulao  as it was known in my household is pretty simple and delicious rice dish. And I also made Gulab Jamun today of which Ras Gul hogaya tha - the sugar syrup in which these balls of milk powder are supposed to be floating was totally absorbed by the balls. So the Ras i.e the syrup Gul hogaya i.e disappeared. There is this particular hindi song which is coming to my mind. Enjoy it here

Bagara Khana (Indian style spicy rice)



Simple Pulao

Ingredients:

1. 1 medium small red onion sliced thin
2. 2 cups basmati rice
3. 3 tablespoons oil
4. 2 cloves, 1 inch cinnamon
5. 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
6. 3/4 teaspoon salt
7. 2 big or 4 green chillies sliced

In a heavy bottomed deep pan heat the oil and fry the onions till they turn brown. Add sliced green chillies, cloves and cinnamon and ginger-garlic paste and fry for a couple of more minutes. Add 3-31/2 cups of water and salt and bring it to a boil. Add washed basmati rice and 1/4 cup chopped cilantro and set the heat to medium low and cook covered for 20 minutes or until rice is done. Stir occasionally. Enjoy hot with Aalu gosht and Tomato ka khatta

Aalu Gosht (Spicy Potato and lamb curry)

Aalu gosht (Potato lamb)

Ingredients:

1. 1/2 lb lamb with bones cut into cubes
2. 2 large potatos peeled and cubed into 1 inch
3. 1/2 teaspoon salt, chilly powder, turmeric, ginger-garlic paste
4. 2 tablespoons oil
5. 1 medium onion sliced
6. 2 green chillies sliced

In the pressure cooker, add the oil and fry the onions till they change color. Now add green chillies and ginger-garlic paste and fry for a couple of minutes. Add Gosht i.e the lamb pieces and fry for 5 minutes. Add all the ingredients except potatoes and 1/2 cup water and cook for 2 whistles. Once the steam escapes open the cooker add the potato pieces and cook for 1 more whistle. After the steam escapes, open the cooker and simmer till all the excess water evaporates. garnish with cilantro and enjoy

Tamatar ka Khatta (Tomato and tamarind soup)

Tamatar ka Khatta

Ingredients:

1. 2 large tomatoes sliced
2. 2 cups juice from a small lemon sized tamarind
3. 1/2 teaspoon salt, chilly powder, turmeric, and sugar
4. 2 tablespoons oil
5. 1 small onion sliced
6. 1 large or 2 small green chillies

In a pan heat the oil and fry the onions till they become translucent. Add sliced chillies and fry couple of minutes more. Add tomato pieces and fry for 5 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer for 15 minutes. Garnish with cilantro and enjoy

Gulab Jamun (Balls made of milk, fried and soaked in sugar syrup)

Gulab Jamun