The Spice Tales: DESI ALL THE WAY!

(Chicken Malai Handi)

I know we all are huge and I mean huuuugee fans of burgers, pizzas, enchiladas and other words that are too difficult to pronounce – but I think everyone will agree that at the end of the day we want our desi comfort food with hot and fresh rotissss!

Agree?

I happen to know a couple of people who say take everything we have, but touch our chicken and biryani and heads will roll. In fact they are willing to go all Game of Thrones on you if you touch their food – their argument to support this behavior is that we have been sent to Earth just because of food – I however tend to think otherwise.

The purpose of this recipe is threefold :-

1- You are too lazy to whip up an elaborated meal.

2- You have ‘emergency’ guests – the ones that show up unannounced at the time of dinner.

3- Just for the sake of it – you don’t owe anyone any explanation.

Well people presenting to you all a total hassle free Chicken Malai Handi. No onions or tomatoes, just pure, rich creamy goodness that even a 5 year old can’t go wrong with.

I served it with this really chilled Onion chutney - totally yum!

Ingredients

1 kg boneless chicken cut into bite sized cubes.

Sesame seeds 2 tbsp

Cashew nuts 12 to 15

Thick yogurt 3/4^th cup

Salt 1 and a half tsp

Black pepper 1 tsp

Ginger and Garlic paste 3 tbsp – please ensure this is fresh and not the one stored in the fridge, trust me it makes hell of a difference.

Cream 4 tbsp

Butter 2tbsp.

Grind very finely sesame seeds and cashew nuts, mix with yogurt, salt and pepper, ginger garlic paste, cream and leave it to marinate the chicken for as long as you can. Heat the butter and oil on low flame, put marinated chicken in for 20 mins till done, add water 1/4^th cup if needed.