Pepper Chicken

Pepper chicken is a famous dish from the Chettinad cuisine and giving all justice to its name this is sure to blow your senses away.

Prep Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

Chicken (medium sized cubes): 1 cup

Onions (chopped): 1/2 cup

Tomato (pureed): 2
Pepper powder: 2 teaspoons

Chili Powder: 1 1/2 teaspoon

Turmeric Powder: 1 teaspoon
Coriander Powder: 2 teaspoon

Bay Leaves: 4-5

Curry Leaves: handful
Lemon Juice: 1 tablespoon
Ginger garlic paste: 1 tablespoon

Masala (we ground the following)

Cloves: 4-5

Pepper pods: 1 tablespoon

Dried red chili: 4-5

Cardamom: 2 pods

Nutmeg powder: 1/4 teaspoon

Jeera: 1/2 teaspoon
Saunf: 1/2 teaspoon

* Dry roast the above spices on low heat for 5 mins and then grind it into a fine powder.

Marinate the cubed chicken in salt, little turmeric, chilli powder, pepper powder and lemon juice for 20 mins. Heat about 5-6 tablespoons of oil in a deep dish. Fry the marinated chicken till about 75% cooked. Take it out and keep aside. You can use the same pan. Heat some oil. Add the bay leaves, ginger-garlic paste and saute. Add onions, curry leaves and keep frying until the onions turn slightly brown. Add turmeric powder, chilli powder and coriander powder. Keep sauteing on medium heat. Now add the spice powder. Adjust the salt. Add the tomatoes and cook until it becomes all brown. Add the cooked chicken and keep sauteing. Everything will coat up on the chicken and slowly oil should start to come out. You can adjust the spice levels to your liking.

 Absolutely delicious with hot parathas.