This medium hot semi dry preparation of meat epitomizes South Asian home cooking and comfort food. What makes this dish special is the ‘bhuna’ part where the meat is browned in oil first, then slow cooked with spices and little water in a covered pan till it is wonderfully coated in a delicious gravy. I used mutton but this recipe can be made with lamb, chicken, or beef as well.
It is best enjoyed with bajra or jowar roti but it would also be great served with plain chapati, naan or pulao with a side of onion salad and savory lassi.
Non Vegetarian
Chicken Vindaloo
Chicken Vindaloo is the indian version of the Portuguese dish “carne de vinha d’alhos” which basically means meat marinated in wine and garlic. The dish was brought to India by explorers where the recipe was adapted using local ingredients and spices. Vindaloo is known for being extremely hot. While it does use a fair amount of chilies, that’s not its dominant feature. It is in fact a well-rounded dish, with taste ranging from sour to spicy with sweet notes.
Lahori Charga
Charga is Pakistani style fried chicken which is a three part process- marination, steaming and frying. Steaming makes the chicken tender while infusing the flavor and aroma of the spices and also shortens the frying time.
Moroccan Spiced Grilled Drumsticks
Chicken drumsticks are a classic for summer grilling and this recipe for Moroccan spiced chicken is a keeper. It is quite easy to make and delivers big flavors. Serve it with roasted vegetables or salad for a simple but elegant dinner when you’re having friends over for a summer party or for game day fun!
Sindhi Chicken Biryani
Biryani is a layered and steamed rice dish and it can include any type of meat, lentil, fish or vegetable. The cooking style and recipe of biryani differ from place to place and every biryani recipe is unique in itself. Sindhi Biryani is one of the types of biryani that is very popular in India and Pakistan and one of my favorites. It is quite spicy and zesty than other varieties of biryanis. The most prominent difference is the use of sour yogurt, dried plums, and the addition of potatoes. Tomatoes are never cooked in the gravy, rather round slices are used in between the layers of rice and meat. The aroma in this version comes from the generous use of cilantro and mint, not from rose or kewra water which is common in most Mughlai biryanis. If you have tried other biryanis you will surely find this one a little different.
Ghormeh Sabzi (Persian Herb Stew)
Ghormeh sabzi is a Persian stew made with chunks of lamb, kidney beans, and herbs with a zing of dried Persian limes, turmeric, and pepper. It is deliciously savory and very comforting! I cook it low and slow, and it fills the house with a yummy aroma.
Chilli Chicken
Chilli chicken is a lip-smacking Indo-Chinese takeout dish in which batter fried chicken is coated in a sweet, savory and spicy sauce. It is one of those dishes that no one knows the origin of but while I was growing up there was a huge craze for ‘Chinese’ food in India with restaurants and even the roadside fast food joints offering ‘spicy Chinese food’. The recipe is easy and very addictive.
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