Mughlai Chicken

Mughlai Chicken

Ingredients:

  1. 1 (1-inch) piece ginger, peeled
  2. 4 cloves garlic, peeled
  3. 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  4. 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  5. 1/2 teaspoon dried chili flakes
  6. 4 tablespoons ground almonds
  7. 1/2 cup water
  8. 5 cardamom pods, bruised
  9. 1 cinnamon stick, broken in half
  10. 2 bay leaves
  11. 4 cloves
  12. 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  13. 3 pounds boned chicken thighs, each cut into 2
  14. 2 onions, finely chopped
  15. 1 cup Greek yogurt
  16. 1 cup chicken stock
  17. 1/2 cup heavy cream
  18. 1/2 cup sultanas (golden raisins)
  19. 1 teaspoon garam masala
  20. 1 tablespoon sugar
  21. 1 teaspoon salt
  22. 3/4 cup flaked almonds, toasted, to garnish

3/4 cup flaked almonds, toasted, to garnish
Method:

  • Put the ginger, garlic, cumin, coriander, and chili into a food processor, or into a mortar and pestle, and blend to a paste. Add the ground almonds and water and then blend again, set aside.
  • Heat the oil in a large pan and add the chicken pieces – in batches so they fry rather than stew – and cook them just long enough to seal on both sides, then remove to a dish.
  • Add the spices and turn them in the oil. Add the onions and cook them until softened and lightly browned, but keep the heat gentle and stir frequently, to avoid sticking. Pour in the blended paste, and cook everything until it begins to colour. Add the yogurt, half a cup at a time stirring it in to make a sauce, then stir in the stock, cream, and sultanas.
  • Put the browned chicken back into the pan, along with any juices that have collected under them, and sprinkle over the garam masala, sugar, and salt. Cover and cook on a gentle heat for 20 minutes, testing to make sure the meat is cooked through.
  • It’s at this stage, that I like to take the pan off the heat and leave it to cool before reheating the next day.
  • So either now, or when you’ve reheated it, pour into a serving dish and scatter with the toasted flaked almonds.