Chicken Ghee Roast

Chicken Ghee Roast is a fiery and aromatic dish that hails from the Mangalorean cuisine of Karnataka, India. It’s known for its robust flavors and the generous use of ghee (clarified butter).

Here’s an overview of the Chicken Ghee Roast recipe:

Ingredients:

For Marination:

• 750 grams chicken, cut into pieces
• 2 tablespoons ginger-garlic paste
• 2 tablespoons red chili powder (adjust to taste)
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon coriander powder
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Salt to taste

For Masala Paste:

• 2 tablespoons ghee
• 1 tablespoon coriander seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon peppercorns
• 1/4 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
• 5-6 dried red chilies (adjust to spice preference)
• 8-10 cloves garlic
• 1-inch piece of ginger
• 1 small onion, roughly chopped
• 1 small tomato, chopped
• 1 tablespoon tamarind paste or lemon-sized tamarind soaked in water

Other Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons ghee
• Curry leaves (a few)
• Fresh coriander leaves for garnish

Instructions:

Marinating the Chicken:

1. In a bowl, mix chicken pieces with ginger-garlic paste, red chili powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, lemon juice, and salt. Marinate for at least 30 minutes.

Making the Masala Paste:

1. Heat 2 tablespoons of ghee in a pan. Add coriander seeds, cumin seeds, peppercorns, fenugreek seeds, dried red chilies, garlic, ginger, chopped onion, and tomato. Sauté until the onions and tomatoes are soft. Let it cool.
2. Blend the cooled mixture along with tamarind paste into a smooth paste using a blender or food processor. Set aside.

Cooking Chicken Ghee Roast:

1. Heat 3 tablespoons of ghee in a pan. Add curry leaves and let them splutter.
2. Add the marinated chicken pieces to the pan. Cook on medium-high heat until the chicken is almost cooked and slightly browned.
3. Add the prepared masala paste to the chicken. Mix well to coat the chicken evenly with the masala.
4. Cook the chicken on medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until it’s fully cooked and the masala coats the chicken pieces well. The ghee will start to separate from the masala.
5. Garnish Chicken Ghee Roast with fresh coriander leaves.

Serving:

Serve Chicken Ghee Roast hot with rice, roti, or any Indian bread of your choice.

Enjoy the spicy, aromatic flavors of Chicken Ghee Roast, infused with the richness of ghee and a blend of tantalizing spices!