Chicken Jalfrezi: A Spicy and Flavorful South Asian Stir-Fry Delight
Chicken Jalfrezi is a popular South Asian dish known for its vibrant and spicy flavors. This stir-fry dish is a perfect combination of tender chicken pieces cooked with bell peppers, onions, and a blend of aromatic spices. It can be served with rice or flatbreads like naan or roti. The dish is characterized by its thick, tangy tomato-based sauce and its distinguishable spicy kick.
Ingredients:
– 500g boneless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
– 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
– 1 large onion, chopped
– 2 bell peppers (any color), sliced
– 2 tomatoes, chopped
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 1-inch piece ginger, grated
– 2-3 green chilies, sliced (optional, adjust to taste)
– 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
– 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
– 1 teaspoon ground coriander
– 1 teaspoon ground cumin
– 1 teaspoon garam masala
– 1 teaspoon chili powder (optional, adjust to taste)
– 200ml tomato passata (or tomato puree)
– Salt to taste
– Fresh coriander leaves, chopped (for garnish)
– Juice of half a lemon
Instructions:
1. **Marinate the Chicken:**
– In a bowl, combine the chicken pieces with ground turmeric, ground coriander, and a pinch of salt. Let it marinate for at least 15 minutes.
2. **Cook the Chicken:**
– Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large pan or wok over medium-high heat. Add the marinated chicken pieces and cook until they are browned on all sides and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside.
3. **Prepare the Jalfrezi Base:**
– In the same pan, add another tablespoon of vegetable oil. Once hot, add the cumin seeds and let them splutter for a few seconds.
– Add the chopped onions and cook until they become translucent.
– Add the minced garlic, grated ginger, and sliced green chilies. Sauté for an additional 2 minutes until fragrant.
4. **Add Vegetables and Spices:**
– Add the sliced bell peppers and chopped tomatoes to the pan. Cook for about 5 minutes until the vegetables start to soften.
– Stir in the ground cumin, garam masala, and chili powder (if using). Cook for another minute to let the spices release their aroma.
5. **Combine and Simmer:**
– Return the cooked chicken to the pan. Pour in the tomato passata and stir everything together.
– Season with salt to taste. Allow the mixture to simmer on low heat for about 10-15 minutes, until the sauce thickens and all the flavors meld together.
6. **Finish and Serve:**
– Squeeze the juice of half a lemon over the Chicken Jalfrezi and stir well.
– Garnish with fresh coriander leaves before serving.
– Serve hot with steamed rice, naan, or roti.
Enjoy your delicious and spicy Chicken Jalfrezi!
The source of the article is from the blog regiozottegem.be