Safed Chicken

Ingredients

• 2 whole chickens, cut into 16 pcs, washed thoroughly

• 2-3 tsbp oil

• 4-5 star anise

• 8-10 cloves

• 2 cinnamon sticks

• 4 onions, made into a paste

• 4 tbsp ginger-garlic paste

• 4 tbsp each magaz (melon seeds) & khus khus (poppy seeds), soaked together in warm water for 10 minutes.

• salt to taste

• white pepper powder to taste

Method

Marinate the chicken with some salt, white pepper and 1 tbsp of ginger-garlic paste, ideally the night before.

When ready to make, heat oil in a heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat.

Add all the whole spices and sauté for a few seconds till fragrant.

Add the onion paste to the pan and cook, stirring constantly on low flame till golden brown.

Then add the remaining ginger-garlic paste and sauté till its raw smell disappears.

Now add the marinated chicken to the pan. Cook on high heat for 2-3 minutes to seal in the juices of the chicken.

Meantime, in a blender, make a smooth paste of the soaked poppy & melon seeds along with the water it is soaked in. Add more water if needed.

Once the chicken is halfway cooked, add the prepared paste to the pan. Mix well and cook for a few minutes.

Season with salt and white pepper.

Lower the heat and cover the pan. Cook the chicken until it is tender and cooked through, stirring occasionally. Be careful as the paste starts sticking to the pan easily, so keep stirring at occasional intervals; however, do this carefully as you don’t want to break the pieces of chicken.

Once the chicken is cooked, transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with freshly chopped coriander leaves.

Enjoy your delicious Safed Chicken!