METHI/FENUGREEK CHICKEN

CHICKEN METHI/FENUGREEK

Boneless Chicken - 1 ½ lb (around ¾ kg) cut into medium sized pieces

Onions - 3 medium sized (about 2 cups) - finely chopped

2 medium sized tomatoes - finely chopped & grind to a smooth paste

Cooking oil - 4 to 5 tbsps

shahi jeera (Black cumin seeds) - 1 tsp

10-12 fresh curry leaves

Salt to taste

Turmeric (pasupu) - 1 tsp

Ginger & Garlic Paste - 2 ½ tsps

Cumin powder - 1 ½ tsp

Coriander powder - 1 ½ tsp

Red chilli powder - 3 tsps (Adjust according to your taste)

1 cup of water (add more if required)

2 tbsps yoghurt - whisk it with a fork smoothly and set aside

Fresh methi leaves (fenugreek leaves) - 2 cups tightly packed (roughly chopped)

Garam masala powder - 2 tsps

2 tbsps or few freshly chopped coriander leaves for garnish

Directions:

In a wide bottomed vessel, heat oil. On low heat, add shahi jeera and fry for a few seconds. Add curry leaves, toss them and then add chopped onions, salt and turmeric. Increase the flame to medium and fry till the onions turn golden brown (around 8 mts).
Add ginger & garlic paste and fry for 1-2 mts till the raw small disappears. Add chicken add cumin powder, coriander powder, chilli powder, mix well, cover and cook for 4-5 mts stirring in between. Add tomato paste, water and bring it to boil on high flame. When the gravy starts boiling reduce the flame to medium, cover and cook for around 10 - 15 mts or till the chicken is tender and the gravy starts turning thick. By this time the oil starts floating on top of the gravy.
Add whisked yoghurt, gently mix, add freshly chopped methi leaves, gently mix so the chicken pieces do not break. Lower the flame and allow to cook uncovered for 5 mts. Just before turning off the heat, add garam masala powder, mix well, adjust salt and chilli powder if required. Garnish with freshly chopped coriander leaves.
Serve hot with steamed basmati rice, rotis or naan.