Kadahi Chicken

Kadahi Chicken

Dave DeWitt Recipes Leave a Comment

This wonderful curry is from the Mighty Spice cookbook by John Gregory-Smith, available on Amazon.com here. Read a full review of his book on the Burn! Blog here.

Ingredients

2 tbsp. vegetable oil
2 tsp. cumin seeds
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 green chilli, deseeded and finely chopped
2.5 cm/ 1-inch piece root ginger, peeled and finely chopped
4 tomatoes, roughly chopped
1 tsp. garam masala
1/2 tsp. turmeric
1 1/2 tsp. salt
500 g/1 lb. 2 oz. boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into thin strips
1 green pepper, deseeded and cut into thin strips
juice of 1/2 lemon
rice, to serve (optional)

Instructions

1. Heat a wok over a medium heat and add the oil. Chuck in the cumin seeds, allow them to crackle for 10 seconds, then add the onion. Stir-fry for 3-4 minutes, or until the onion starts turning golden, then add the green chilli, ginger, tomatoes, garam masala, turmeric and salt. Mix well and stir-fry for 5-6 minutes, or until the tomatoes have started to break down and form a sauce.

2. Add the chicken and green pepper, reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 12-15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Add the lemon juice and give it one last mix. Serve immediately with rice, if liked.

Red Chile & Lime Shortbread Cookies (275x183)

Red Chile & Lime Shortbread Cookies

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This traditional butter shortbread has a bit of Red Chile Rub added, giving these cookies a sublte hint of heat. Scoring the dough into wedges before it is baked makes it very easy to break into individual cookies. Once cooled, gently break the cookies along the lines. This dough may also be rolled out and cut with a cookie cutter, if you prefer.

Equipment: Plate Setter, 9-inch round cake pan
Set the EGG for indirect cooking with the Plate Setter, legs down.
Preheat the EGG to 300 degrees F.

Ingredients

Ingredients
8 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon table salt
2 teaspoons lime zest (1 to 2 limes)
1 teaspoon Red Chile Rub (see recipe)
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Instructions

In a large bowl using an electric mixer, beat the butter, sugar, salt, lime zest, and Red Chile Rub on low speed until the butter is creamed but not completely smooth. Scrape the butter off the sides of the bowl. With the mixer on low, gradually add the flour until the dough forms a ball.

Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough 1/4 inch thick. Place the dough in the cake pan. Spread the dough evenly with your fingers, pressing the dough into the edges of the pan. Using a paring knife, score the dough into 8 to 12 equal wedges. Do not cut all the way through the dough.

Place the cake pan on the Plate Setter. Close the lid of the EGG and bake for 7 to 8 minutes, or until light brown. Let the shortbread cool.

Break the shortbread into wedges and serve.

Cassoulet de Fruits de Mer (Curried Seafood Stew)

Cassoulet de Fruits de Mer (Curried Seafood Stew)

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This Pondicherry favorite is Chef Mody’s southern Indian version of bouillabaisse. You can use any combination of available seafood, but I recommend that mussels and shrimp should always be included. This dish is very quick to make—about 15 minutes. Serve it with or over the Lime Rice recipe included here, or with your favorite version of saffron rice.

Ingredients


The Spice Paste:
4 small hot red chiles, such as santaka or cayenne, stems and seeds removed
1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and chopped fine
4 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
2 teaspoons coriander seeds
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/2 teaspoon powdered turmeric
6 black peppercorns
1 tablespoon malt vinegar

The Cassoulet:
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 sprig fresh curry leaves, or dried curry leaves that have been rehydrated and patted dry
1/2 mild onion, chopped
1 one-pound assortment of seafood, including shrimp, cooked mussels (removed from the shells), scallops, crab meat, lobster meat, and fish of choice
1 cup coconut milk (not sweet coconut cream)
2 teaspoons lemon or lime juice
Salt to taste
Cilantro leaves for garnish

Instructions

To make the paste, combine all the ingredients in a blender or food processor and grind to a fine paste.  Set aside.

To make the Cassoulet, heat the oil in a large, deep frying pan and add the curry leaves and the onion; stir-fry until the onion is soft. Add the spice paste and sauté for 2 minutes.

Add the seafood except for the fish, lower the heat, and simmer for 2 minutes. Add coconut milk, bring to a boil, add the fish and lower the heat and simmer for 5 to 7 minutes or until you can flake the fish.

Season with the lemon juice and salt, stir gently and serve garnished with the cilantro leaves along with rice.

Heat Scale: Medium

Chicken in a Creamy Red Sauce

Poulet Rouge (Chicken in a Creamy Red Sauce)

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Chef Mody calls this easy-to-prepare dish “mild and sinfully rich,” and it’s one of the top sellers at La Porte des Indes. Serve it with naan bread and your favorite chutney.

Ingredients

5 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespooons masala powder
1/4 cup yogurt, Greek preferred
1 cup Onion Sauce (see recipe below)
1 cup whipping cream
4 legs roasted young chicken, meat cut from the bone in strips
Salt to taste

Instructions

Crush the garlic in a mortar with a little water to make a paste. Melt the butter in a large frying pan and lightly brown the garlic paste in it.

Add the masala powder and sauté for a few seconds, then lower the heat and add the yogurt. Simmer the mixture for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally and add the onion sauce, mixing it well. Add the cream, bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

Add the chicken strips and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until the meat is heated through. Adjust the salt if needed and serve.

Heat Scale: Mild

Onion Sauce (225x225)

Onion Sauce

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Ingredients

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 bay leaves
4 cloves
1 one-inch piece of cinnamon stick
1 black cardamom pod
3 large Spanish or mild onions, thinly sliced
1 1/2 cups water

Instructions

Heat the oil in a saucepan, add the bay leaves, cloves, cinnamon stick, and cardamom pod and cook for 1 minute over medium heat. Add the onion slices, lower the heat, and simmer until they are soft.

Add the water and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

Remove from the heat and cool, then puree the sauce in a blender.