Tikka Massala

 

serves 4 - 6

Ingredients:

For the chicken:

• 600g chicken (thigh) filet
• 0,5 cup Greek yoghurt
• 4 garlic cloves
• 1 Thumbsize ginger
• Juice from half a lemon
• 1 teaspoon coriander powder
• 0,5 teaspoon turmeric
• 0,5 teaspoons cuminpowder
• 1 teaspoon paprika powder
• 0,5 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 0,5 teaspoon salt
• 0,5 teaspoon black pepper

For the sauce:

• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 large onion
• 5 garlic cloves
• 2 thumbsized ginger pieces
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 2 teaspoons coriander powder
• 2 teaspoons paprika powder
• 1 teaspoon cuminpowder
• 1 small can tomato puree (40g)
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 can of tomatocubes
• 120 ml water
• 3/4 cup cream
• 3 tablespoons almond slices
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• Rice/Naan bread

Preparation:

Start by preparing the chicken for marinade first. This is best done overnight, but 2-3 hours will suffice.
Finely cut the garlic and the ginger. Make a marinade of all the ingredients minus the chicken and stir well. Now add the chicken to the marinade bowl, and stir so every piece of chicken is covered. Leave to marinade.

I made the chicken in the airfryer, but originally, the chicken is grilled, or barbecued. If you do the latter, brush some oil on the chicken first.

If you are ready to start the sauce, about 30 to 45 min before the chicken is done, finely cut the garlic and ginger, slice the bell pepper, and finely chop the onion.

Add the oil and butter to a sauté pan or wok and wait for the butter to melt. Now add the onion and cook until the onions has softened. 
Now add the garlic, ginger, garam massala, coriander, paprika, cumin, cinnamon and tomatopuree. Stir well and cook on medium heat until you can smell the spices.

Add the bell pepper, tomato cubes and the water, stir well and bring to boil. When it is boiling, turn the heat to low and simmer until the sauce has thickend to your liking. If you serve this dish with rice, you can start the rice now.

Take the marinated chicken and start baking/grilling/barbecueing/airfrying/frying them. Whatever option you pick, be sure the chicken is thoroughly cooked, but not burned.

When the chicken is ready, add the cream, almonds, sugar and chicken to the sauce and cook for 5 minutes more, before it is ready to serve.

Serve with rice and/or naan bread, and garnish with cilantro, if you like.

Enjoy your meal!

Mike & Leda

Roti Massala

serves 4 - 6

Ingredients:

* 600g chicken breast

* 2 onions ( 1 onion for the beans)

* 5 garlic cloves ( 1 glove for the beans)

* 40g curry massala

* black pepper

* 1 teaspoon cumin powder

* 2 tomatoes

* 300ml chicken stock

* 4 potatoes

* 500g long beans

* 4 to 6 eggs

* 4 to 6 Caribbean wraps (Roti)

* 1 madam jeanette pepper

Preparation:

Boil the eggs before you start. The inside needs to be soft, so cook them for about 5 minutes. Set aside. Peel the potatoes.

Cut the chicken and potatoes in cubes, and finely cut the onion and garlic. Clean the long beans and cut them in  5 cm pieces.

Heat up a saute pan and fry the eggs on all sides until brown and take them out. Now add the chicken. Stir fry until brown and one onion and 4 garlic cloves, along with all the herbs. Stir fry for 3 minutes before adding the tomato cubes. Stir fry for 2 minutes more. Now add the chicken stock and bring to the boil. Add the potatoes, the whole pepper and mix, turn the heat to low and let it simmer for 45 minutes. 

Meanwhile heat up a wok and saute the remaining onion and garlic on medium heat. Once they start to colour, add the long beans. Stir fry for about 2 minutes, and then add a little bit of water. Wait for the water to dissolve while stirring. Add water and repeat the process until the beans are cooked however you prefer. If you want them soft, go on for a while longer!

Turn the heat off and wait for the chicken mix to finish. Add the eggs and mix well.
Once finished, serve with one egg, the long beans and a Caribbean wrap (Roti).

Enjoy your meal!

Mike & Leda

Hot Chicken Curry

serves 4

Ingredients:

* 1 madam jeanette chili/peper, seeds removed
* 2 medium sized onions, finely chopped
* 4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
* 500g chickenbreast, in cubes
* Curry masala powder
* Salt, to taste
* 1 spoon of ajinomoto umami seasoning
* 1 cup of water
* Rice

Preparations:

Cut the chicken and the vegetables as explained above, be sure to wear gloves when cutting the pepper because the oil will stick on your hands and spice up everything you touch for atleast the rest of the day.
Boil the rice as you wish. Heat up some oil in a wok, and stir-fry the onions for one minute. Add the garlic and the pepper and stir-fry until the onion looks glassy. Now add the chicken and stir-fry until the chicken is half done. Now add some salt, the curry powder and the ajinomoto. Mix well. Add some more salt/curry if you like, but keep in mind you will add some more curry later! Now keep stir-frying until the chicken is done. Take a cup of water and mix with some curry powder, it is easier to used boiled water as the curry mixes better that way. Stir well and add to the wok. Mix everything well and let it cook for about 1 or 2 minutes. Let it cool down a little before eating because the effect of the pepper will be more intense if you eat it when it's hot. If the whole pepper is too much for you, you can also use half of it!
This recipe is one that an old colleague of mine shared with me. He was of Hindo descent, therefor in my vocabulary this dish is also called Hindu chicken curry. I hope you enjoy your meal, and see you next time!

Yours truly,

Mike