Guest Post – Achari Murgh

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Debjani is a very active contributor to our Cook Like a Bong Facebook page. She has also contributed to the recently published authentic Bengali recipe cookbook, Sharadiyar Rannabati. Debjani posted about her signature dish, Achari Murgh in the Facebook page. I have heard and tasted alu achari before, but achari murg was an absolute different preparation. So, I tried it out at home and it was marvelous. So, I thought of sharing this wonderful recipe as a guest post from Debjani Chaudhuri.

Bengali chicken or mutton curries are mostly include potatoes with a thick and spicy gravy. Whether it’s chicken-do-peyaja or the kasha mutton potatoes are a must. But, unlike the age old dishes, this special chicken curry from Debjani’s kitchen didn’t have those potatoes neither does it have that pinch of garam masala to add the extra flavor. According to Debjani, as garam masala as its own smell and taste it would have killed the scent and tangy taste of the pickle oil.

Ingredients:

• Chicken , cut into small pieces
• 8 whole dry red chilies
• 1 teaspoon Mustard seeds
• ½  teaspoon Fenugreek seeds (methi dana)
• ½  teaspoon  Cumin seeds / jeere
• 1 teaspoon Fennel seeds (saunf / mouri)
• 1 teaspoon Onion seeds (kalonji)
• 1 teaspoon Thymol/ carom seeds (ajwain)
• 2- 3 Bay leaves
• Mustard oil (must to use shorshe tel)
• 4 medium Onions, chopped
• 2 inch piece Ginger, chopped
• 15-20 cloves Garlic, chopped
• 1 teaspoon Turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon Red chilli powder
• 4 medium Tomatoes, chopped
• 1 tablespoon Lemon juice
• Fresh coriander leaves, chopped ( for garnishing – optional)
• 3 – 4 tablespoon of pickle oil
• Salt to taste

Preparation:

• Heat oil in a wok (kadai) and add all the seeds ( paanch phoron n ajwain) for tempering
• Let the seeds splutter a bit, add bay leaves and whole red chilies
• Add onion and garlic, ginger and tomatoes
• Put in the turmeric powder, red chili powder, and salt
• Add the chicken pieces and fry with the spices a bit
• When the oil separates, pour in little water and cook covered
• Cook it on a slow fire and let the chicken become tender and cooked in its own juice, without adding too much water
• When nearly done add lemon juice and ad pickle oil, mix and cover
• Put off the flame, and serve with chapatis and salad.

Hot Tips – Debjani did not use garam masala for the preparation as it will spoil the taste of pickle. She used garlic pickle oil for this preparation, but you can also use pickle oil of chili pickle or mixed pickle, for added punch.

Panch Phoron is a concoction of 5 different spices – fenugreek, mustard, cumin, fennel and onion seeds/ nigella.

Don’t forget to have a copy of our Festive recipe e-book and the October calendar. And do send in your entries to the ongoing event Cooking with Seeds – Poppy, a brain child of Priya from Priya’s Easy and Tasty Recipes, just 2 more days to go before the event ends.

Preeti of ISing Cakes was kind enough to share the “One Lovely Blog” award with us. Thanks a lot Preeti.

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