Bhuna Chicken

"Namaste", "Sat-Sri-Akal", "As-salamu Alaykum", "Hello"!!

A very warm welcome again to Comfort Food Creator (FC). To all my readers we are back again to brighten up your day. A new day always gives me a chance to create and share a new recipe with my readers. Valentines Day is near, so hope my readers have planned something to impress their other half. If not, you know food is the best way to shower love on your life partner. Comfort FC is just a text away and is always there to help my budding chefs.

Today's recipe has his heart with the state of West Bengal. A state where century old traditions of cooking is followed, with ingredients coming from every part of the world. The state of West Bengal is marked by impeccable heritage and culture. They have given us visionary leaders like Rabindranath Tagore and Swami Vivekananda. Apart from its heritage, this state takes food as its pride. The cuisine of the state of West Bengal is termed as "Bengali Cuisine." Every morning starts with a cup of "Adrak Waali Chai" (Ginger Tea). As the sound of birds chirping are heard, the tummy calls for Luchi & Alur Dom(Deep fried wheat bread with Potato Curry). The lunch time has to be a fish curry with rice. Popular fish dishes like Machcher Jhol, Doi Machch and Bhappa Chingri are the main hero of this Bengali Drama. As the day passes by, the tummy thinks about what to cook for dinner. Dinner means a chicken or a mutton dish is in the menu.

One such chicken dish which is loved by everyone is "Bhuna Chicken". "Bhuna" is a traditional cooking method, mostly followed in India and Pakistan. This cooking technique involves roasting onion, spices and tomatoes in oil, till the time it imparts its flavour to the dish.

The name of the recipe as you know is -"Bhuna Chicken."

This recipe has been one of the most loved in my family. During my childhood days, when all the cousins used to gather together: Grandma used to make this feast for us with rice. Sitting altogether in the same table, giggling & laughing and enjoying our summer vacation. Those were the days to remember. One thing Grandma taught me during those days was, whenever you cook your curry make sure you cook it at a lower flame for a longer period of time. This helps the curry to soak the maximum flavour from the spices.

Moving forward, let us see how we make Bhuna Chicken.

Ingredients Required:

• 250 grams diced boneless chicken 
• 2 red onions sliced
• 2 potatoes diced
• 2 tomatoes chopped
• 1 dried red chilli
• 2 slit green chilli
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 garlic pods chopped
• 2tbsp ginger garlic paste
• 1tsp crushed chilli flakes
• 1tsp red chilli powder
• 1tsp turmeric powder
• 1tsp cumin powder
• 1tsp coriander powder
• 2tsp garam masala powder
• 1tsp black pepper
• 1tsp lime juice
• Salt as required
• 8tbsp oil
• 10 grass fresh coriander chopped (Garnish)

Steps to make it:

1. Add 4tbsp of oil in a pot and keep it at a lower flame. As the oil turns hot, add half of the chopped red onion and sauté it. When the colour of the onion turns golden brown, add the chopped garlic. Cook for 3-4 minutes and take it out in a bowl. Will use the same pot with oil to make our curry.
2. Now add the chicken in a bowl. Add the fried onion and garlic to the chicken. Add 1tsp red chilli powder, 1tsp garam masala powder, 1tsp crushed chilli flakes, 1 tsp salt, 1tbsp ginger garlic paste and 1tsp lime juice. Mix it nicely and keep the marinated chicken aside for 1 hour.
3. Now take the pot in which we fried the onion and garlic. Add 2tbsp of oil and keep it at a medium flame. As the oil turns hot, fry our diced potato. Fry it for 3-4 minutes. After that, take it out in a bowl.
4. Now again add 2tbsp of oil in the same pot. The oil is hot so we don't have to wait. Remember to keep it at a medium flame. Add 1 red dried red chilli (cut into two halves), 2 bay leaves and the rest of the sliced red onion. Sauté it for 5 minutes. 
5. Now add 1tbsp of ginger-garlic paste and mix it. Add 1tsp turmeric, 1tsp coriander and 1tsp cumin powder respectively. Sauté it for 2-3 minutes. Let the aroma of the spices brighten up your mood.
6. Add the chopped tomatoes now and cook for another 5-7 minutes, till the mixtures starts leaving oil. Add 1/4 cup of water and cover it for 2-3 minutes.
7. Take the marinated chicken and add it to the gravy. Coat the chicken with the gravy nicely. Add 1tsp sugar and the slit green chilli to the chicken. Mix it nicely. Add the fried potatoes and mix it nicely. Add 1/4 cup of water again and cover it. Cook for another 3-4 minutes till the texture of the gravy seems dry.
8. Add 1tsp of the garam masala powder and sauté it. Cook till the chicken is tender and potatoes are cooked. 

For Garnish:

• Add freshly chopped coriander. 
• Your Bhuna Chicken is ready to be served. Serve plain white Rice or Phulka on side.

Try it and let me know how it turns up. Comfort FC is always there to help our comfort food makers.
Enjoy your food and stay tuned as Comfort FC has a lot to offer to our readers. 

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