A Classic Kochi Kutchi-Memon Chicken Recipe

This easy and delicious chicken recipe by Zuleikha Usman was shared by her granddaughter, Tasneem  Arif. Read more about the Kutchi Memons of Kochi, and their unique cuisine here.

Recipe: Zuleikha Usman’s Chicken

Ingredients
1.25 kg chicken, cut into 16 pieces
500 g shallots
30 g ginger
30 g garlic 
30 g green chillies
200 g tomatoes 
1 tbsp fennel seeds (saunf)
2 tbs red chilli powder 
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
Juice from 2 large limes
1/4 cup coriander leaves, chopped finely
1/2 cup vegetable oil
Salt 

For the garnish
200 g onions, sliced finely and fried crisp
25 cashews, chopped and lightly fried
25 raisins, lightly fried
2 hard-boiled eggs, sliced

Method
Add the shallots, ginger, garlic, green chillies, tomatoes, fennel seeds, red chilli powder, turmeric and juice of one lime into  the jar of a blender and grind till smooth. Add salt and marinate the chicken with it for a couple of hours, or overnight in the fridge.
Put the chicken into a pan, cover and cook  on a medium flame till there is very little liquid left.
Now pour in the oil and a tablespoon of lime juice. Keep stirring till all the masala turns a shade darker and coats the chicken well.
Take off the fire and stir in half  the fried onions, nuts and raisins. 
Garnish with the sliced boiled egg and the remaining fried onions, nuts and raisins.

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