Recipe: Chicken Qorma - Suhel Johar

Recipe: Chicken Qorma

Ingredients
•1Kg Chicken 
•1 tbsp Cumin Seeds
•4 tbsp Coriander Seeds
•1-2 tsp Red Chilli Powder
•6 tbsp Ghee
•2 middle-sized Onions, chopped
•5 Black Cardamom pods/ Cinnamon sticks
•4 Cloves
•3 Bay leaves
•1 Fresh Ginger, grated
•4 Garlic Cloves (minced)
•1 cup fresh Yogurt

Method
•Grind the cumin and coriander seeds in a spice mill, combine with the red chilli powder and place near the stove.
•Heat the ghee or clarified butter in a large, shallow pan or a wok.
•Stir in the onions, cardamom pods, cinnamon, cloves and bay leaves. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the onions begin to turn reddish brown, about 15 minutes.
•Add the ginger and garlic and cook, stirring constantly and scraping the bottom of the pan, until the onions are reddish brown.
•Mix in the ground spices and cook, stirring constantly, for about 10 seconds, or until the spices release their fragrance.
•Dry the chicken with paper towels and stir half of it into the spice mixture.
•Increase the heat to medium high and cook, stirring constantly, for a few minutes, making sure all the chicken is coated with the spices.
•Stir in the remaining chicken, and cook as before, scraping the bottom of the pan. If the mixture gets too dry, splash in a little water.
•Turn the heat to medium. Start adding the yogurt, 1 tbsp at a time, stirring constantly and incorporating it into the mixture before adding the next tablespoonful.
•Turn the heat to low. Cover the pan and simmer the meat for about 1 and 1/2 hours, or until the meat is very tender. If necessary, splash in a little water from time to time. When the meat is tender, add salt to taste.
•Serve the Chicken Qorma hot, garnished with the coriander leaves and/or Ginger Juliennes and/or Green Chillies. .