Bindya Bedi’s chicken curry

Adapted from The Age and read at NewsELA

• 1 kilogram chicken thighs 

Ingredients for the marinade:

• 2 tablespoons of ginger garlic paste 
• 1 squeeze of lime 
• 1 teaspoon of salt 
• 1 tbsp ghee

Ingredients for the curry:

• 1/4 cup of neutral oil (coconut oil or ghee, my pref)
• 4 medium-sized brown onions, peeled and roughly chopped 
• 10 cloves of garlic, peeled 
• 2 cm piece of ginger, peeled and finely diced 
• 1 to 2 green chillies (we used 1 Jalapeño chili pepper)
• 1 tablespoon of cumin seeds 
• 2 bay leaves 
• 1/2 cinnamon stick 
• 4 to 5 cardamom pods 
• 8 to 10 peppercorns 
• 4 to 5 cloves
• 4 tomatoes, or 1/2 a cup of tomato paste
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder 
• 1 teaspoon red chili powder 
• 2 tablespoons ground coriander 
• 1 teaspoon ground garam masala 
• Salt, to taste 
• cilantro, to garnish

Directions:

1. In a large glass bowl, marinate the chicken thighs in the ginger garlic paste, lime juice and salt. Cover and set aside for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, use a mortar and pestle (or food processor?) to grind the onions, garlic, ginger and green chillies to a paste and set aside.
2. Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed pan and add the cumin seeds. Roughly pound all of the whole spices (bay leaves, cinnamon, cardamom, peppercorns and cloves) and add to the oil. Once they start to make popping sounds, add the onion paste. Heat over a low flame, stirring occasionally, until reduced to a golden-brown paste and the oil starts to separate. 
3. Next, add the tomatoes, salt to taste, turmeric, red chili powder, and ground coriander. Cook until the tomatoes just start to form a paste. Add the chicken, garam masala and 1/2 cup of water. Bring the curry to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover with a lid and continue to cook over a medium heat.
4. After 20 to 25 minutes, uncover the pan and cook for another 15 to 20 minutes until the water evaporates and the curry starts to thicken. Once the curry is ready, switch the flame off.
5. Serve with your choice of naan or basmati rice and top with fresh cilantro leaves, if desired.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

I read this in a NewsELA article, which I subscribed to as a science teacher. They offer loads of readable current news, including in science and health and social justice. Some changes from the original recipe: we used organic coconut oil, although I would have been equally happy with ghee. We speeded things up with using a garlic press and grater for the ginger for the marinade, and added a coconut oil to keep the chickens moist. I ran out of whole cloves, so I added some black mustard seed for appearances.

***Marinade reminder: we mixed ACID (lime) + SALT + OIL (ghee) + HERBS/SEASONINGS/SUGAR (ginger / garlic) + TIME (30 minutes).***

~Jessica

Chicken zucchini dumplings

Adapted from The Woks of Life

Ingredients:

• 1 medium zucchini, seeds removed and shredded
• 5 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons ginger, minced
• 1/2 pound ground chicken
• ½ teaspoon white pepper
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine
• 2 packages dumpling wrappers (see recipe from Pork dumplings)

Directions:

1. Take the shredded zucchini, put it in a clean kitchen towel, and squeeze out as much water as you can. Add it to a large mixing bowl and set aside.
2. In a wok over medium low heat, add 2 tablespoons vegetable oil and the minced ginger. Allow the ginger to fry in the oil until fragrant, 2 minutes. Add to the bowl of zucchini.
3. To the bowl, add 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, ground chicken, ½ teaspoon white pepper, 1 teaspoon sugar, 2 teaspoons sesame oil, 3 tablespoons soy sauce, and 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine. Mix well, stirring vigorously in one direction for about 5 minutes, until it resembles a paste.
4. Wrap the dumplings and place on a parchment lined baking sheet, so that the dumplings are not touching each other. You can fry them right away, or cover the dumplings with plastic wrap and freeze them on the tray. Once frozen solid, you can transfer them to freezer bags and store for up to 3 months.
5. You can boil them, steam them, or fry them. Frying tastes best, boiling is quickest (especially if you have many hungry mouths to feed), and we tried steaming with Napa cabbage leaves and sesame oil in a metal steamer.

• 

  photo courtesy of Nina

Serves 6. Would love to whip out the bamboo steamer next time! Don’t forget some chili oil for dipping sauce (preferable over black vinegar, in my opinion).

~Jessica

Chicken broccoli Alfredo casserole

Adapted from Freezer Meals 101 and The Kitchn

Ingredients:

• 1 pound dry fusilli pasta
• 1 (14- to 16-oz) package frozen broccoli florets / 1 cup broccoli, steamed and coarsely chopped
• 6-8 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 5 cups whole milk
• 1 1/2 cups finely grated young Parmesan cheese (about 6 ounces)

Directions:

1. Bring a large Dutch oven or heavy-duty pot of heavily salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the pasta and cook until almost tender (you want some bite left in the pasta, check it one minute before the time called for on the package).
2. Turn off the heat, add the broccoli to the pot, stir to combine, and let sit for one minute (the broccoli will not be cooked all the way through). Drain well and set aside.
3. Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in the same pot over medium-high heat. Add the chicken in an even layer, season generously with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring every few minutes, until the chicken is browned and just cooked through, about 5 minutes total. Remove to a plate or bowl. Do not wash out the pot.
4. Return the pot to medium heat and add the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter. When the butter is melted, add the flour, scrape up the brown bits at the bottom of the pan, and stir constantly until the flour starts to smell toasty and darkens slightly in color, about 1 minute. While constantly whisking, add the milk until it is all incorporated and the mixture is smooth. Bring just to a boil, whisking constantly. Add the cheese and whisk until smooth. Turn off the heat.
5. Add the chicken and any accumulated juices, pasta, and broccoli, and stir to combine. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.
6. Divide the mixture between 2 (8- to 9-inch) baking dishes or disposable foil trays (try to get ones that are around 2 inches deep), or transfer all of the mixture into a 9×13-inch baking dish or disposable foil tray. Let cool completely, then wrap tightly in aluminum foil and freeze for up to 2 months.
7. Bake frozen, still covered in the foil, on the middle rack of a preheated 350°F oven until heated through, about 1 1/2 hours. Alternatively, thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then bake for only 1 hour.

• 

• 

• 

• 

“Fettuccine Alfredo or fettuccine al burro is an Italian pasta dish of fresh fettuccine tossed with butter and Parmesan cheese (pasta al burro e parmigiano)… The dish is named after Alfredo di Lelio, who featured the dish at his restaurant in Rome in the early- to mid-20th century; the “ceremony” of preparing it table-side was an integral part of the dish.” Wiki I prefer this fresher, lighter version to the heavy cream American one. I also wished there were cut chicken pieces at the deli, because chicken thighs take way longer to cook, especially if you only brown them the first time. I have to say this was only “ok” as far as freezer meals go — I think I would have liked this far more freshly made. And it was a substantial amount of work, even for two people!

~Jessica

Baked chicken shawarma and rice

Adapted from Recipe Tin Eats

Ingredients:

Spice Rub

• 1 large garlic clove, minced
• 1 1/2 tsp ground coriander
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground cardamom
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper (optional — I will omit next time)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• Black pepper
• 3 tbsp lemon juice (from 1 lemon)

• 5 chicken thigh fillets, bone in, skin on (~ 2 lbs / 1 kg)
• 1/2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small onion , finely diced
• 2 garlic cloves , minced
• 1 1/2 cups long grain rice, uncooked (I used Jasmine)
• 1 1/2 cups chicken broth (or water)
• 2 cups water
• 3/4 – 1 tsp salt
• Black pepper
• 1 1/2 tsp cardamon powder
• 2 cinnamon sticks (or 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder)
• 400g (14oz) can chickpeas , drained
• Yoghurt (plain)
• Cilantro leaves, coarsely chopped

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 180C/350F.
2. Mix the spice rub ingredients together in a small bowl. Slather onto the chicken, covering both sides. Marinate for at least 1 hour (up to 24 hours).
3. During this time, we prepped the rest of the ingredients. Mince the garlic, dice the onion, fancy up the yogurt garnish with lemon + garlic + salt + pepper, etc.
4. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the chicken, skin side down, and cook for 5 minutes on each side, or until light golden brown.
5. Add garlic and onion. Cook for 2 minutes until translucent.
6. Add rice and stir so the grains are coated in oil and become a bit translucent.
7. Add remaining ingredients. Place the chicken on top – it should be half submerged with the skin above the surface. Pour in the juices from the plate as well.
8. Bring to simmer, then place a lid on (or cover with foil) and transfer to oven.
9. Bake for 35 minutes, then remove the lid and bake for a further 10 minutes.
10. Remove from the oven. Let it rest for 5 minutes.
11. Remove chicken from the rice and mix the rice quickly (to distribute flavor).
12. Serve, garnished with cilantro and plain yoghurt.

• 

• 

• 

• 

This popped up because I was looking for a one skillet pan, to try my new Dutch oven my sister had recommended! I recommend omitting the cayenne / red pepper flakes unless you really really like spicy. The other spices already added so much variety and aroma.. Jesse really liked this one — so much that he went and made it for his family ASAP. Highly recommend!

~Jessica

Mom’s baked chicken

Adapted from somewhere…

Ingredients:

• 6 chicken drumsticks, skin-on
• garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt
• 1/4 stick of butter
• a twig of fresh thyme (if dried thyme, about 1/2 teaspoon)

Directions:

1. Put 10″ cast iron pan into oven @ 450 degrees F.
2. Mix garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt in a small bowl. Taste.
3. Cover 6 chicken drumsticks with this spice mix.
4. Take cast iron pan out of oven (leave oven on!) and put hot cast iron pan on the stovetop.
5. Melt the 1/4 stick of butter (no need to light the stove because the pan is still extremely hot).
6. Put a twig of fresh thyme (I use dried thyme, about 1/2 teaspoon that’s enough to cover the pan).
7. Add the chicken into pan, coat the chicken with this butter-thyme sauce.
8. Put the pan back into the hot oven, bake it for 15 minutes (no need to cover them), take the pan out and flip the chickens, then back into the oven for another 10-15 minutes.
9. Take it out of oven and let it cool in the pan for 5 minutes or so.
10. Plate the chicken, then pour the pan sauce over and serve.

You won’t believe how juicy it is, and very tasty. I used smoked paprika because that is all I have. It’s really good, people who tried my chicken later on asked me for the recipe.  Good luck!

~Kailing

Chicken stew

Adapted from Recipe Tin Eats

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1.5 kg / 3 lbs bone in, skin on chicken thighs and drumsticks (6 to 8 pieces)
• Salt and pepper
• 2 onions, halved and cut into wedges
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 large carrots, cut thick end into 1.5cm / 3/5″ pieces, thin end 2.5cm/1″
• 4 celery stalks, cut into 2cm / 4/5″ chunks
• 1/2 cup (125 ml) white wine (or water)
• 3 tbsp (35g) flour
• 3 cups (750 ml) chicken broth
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 3 sprigs thyme, or 1 tsp dried thyme (or other herb)
• 2 bay leaves (dried or fresh)
• 600 g / 1.2 lbs baby potatoes, halved (quarter large ones)
• Warm crusty bread (homemade garlic bread!!)
• OPTIONAL: Fresh thyme or parsley (chopped)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 180C/350F.
2. Heat oil in a large pot over high heat. Brown chicken on both sides until light golden, sprinkling with salt and pepper. Remove from pot. (Do in 2 batches if pot not big enough).
3. If there’s too much oil in the pot, discard some. Add onion and garlic. Cook for 2 minutes until onion is translucent.
4. Add carrots and celery, cook for 1 minute.
5. Add wine. Stir, scraping the bottom of the pan to dissolve the brown bits into the liquid. Cook for 1 minute until liquid is mostly gone.
6. Sprinkle flour across surface, stir.
7. Add broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme and bay leaves. Stir to dissolve tomato paste.
8. Place chicken on top, keeping the skin above the liquid level as much as you can.
9. Bring to simmer then cover. Bake for 45 minutes.
10. Remove from oven, remove lid. Add potatoes, pushing them into the liquid and rearranging chicken so they sit on top (for lovely crispy skin).
11. Return to oven without the lid for a further 40 minutes until the chicken skin is deep golden and super crispy, the potatoes are soft and the sauce is thickened.
12. Taste sauce and adjust salt and pepper to taste.
13. Serve with warm crusty bread on the side to dunk in the sauce – or go all the way with Garlic Bread! Optional: garnish with extra fresh thyme leaves or parsley.

Ingredients for Garlic Bread:

• 1 French stick / baguette , ~ 60cm / 2ft long (I use half a loaf of Whole Foods peasant bread)
• 125 g / 1 US stick unsalted butter, softened
• 2 tsp fresh garlic , minced (~3 – 4 cloves, pack the teaspoon)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp finely chopped parsley (optional)

Directions for Garlic Bread:

1. Preheat oven. I left it at the same temperature as the chicken stew.
2. Cut the French stick in half. Then cut the bread almost all the way through into 2cm / 4/5″ thick slices.
3. Mix together the butter, garlic, salt and parsley. Taste to see if it’s salty / garlicky enough for your taste.
4. Smear garlic butter over cut side of bread.
5. Bake for 15 minutes until the crust is crispy (check through foil).

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

I wanted a Dutch oven for a long time, and my sister Jennifer recommended the affordable Lodge cast iron 6 quart. She also recommended this chef’s blog! This came out super tasty — and every reheated leftover tasted better and better. HIGHLY recommend. Perfect for cold winter’s days to heat up your whole apartment.

~ Jessie

Pan roasted chicken and vegetables

Adapted from Natasha’s Kitchen and Taste of Home

Ingredients:

• 2-3 medium yellow potatoes, unpeeled and sliced into 3/4″ to 1″ thick pieces
• 1 large onion, coarsely chopped
• 2 carrots, sliced into 1/2″ thick rounds
• 4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
• 1 large zucchini, sliced into 3/4″ thick rounds
• 2 red, yellow or orange bell peppers, cut into 1″ pieces
• 1.5 Tbsp garlic salt, or to taste
• Freshly grated black pepper, to taste
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 2 tbsp. Canola or olive oil
• 4 skin-on chicken thighs

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425° F. In a large bowl, combine potatoes, carrots, onion, oil, garlic, 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon rosemary and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; toss to coat.
2. In a small bowl, mix paprika and the remaining salt, rosemary and pepper. Sprinkle chicken with paprika mixture; arrange over potatoes and carrots. Transfer to a Dutch oven or baking pan coated with olive oil, roast uncovered at 450˚F for 10 minutes. The chicken will roast until a thermometer inserted in chicken reads 170°-175° and vegetables are just tender (about 35-40 minutes total).
3. Combine the zucchini, bell peppers, and 1/2 the garlic. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove roasting pans from the oven and quickly place the rest of the vegetables evenly over the top. Return to the oven and roast an additional 20-25 minutes or until potatoes and carrots are tender and easily pierced with a fork.
4. Remove chicken to a serving platter; keep warm. Roast until vegetables are tender, 8-10 minutes longer. Stir vegetables to combine; serve with chicken.

• 

• 

• 

• 

I had the vegetables I wanted for my classic vegetable soup dish, but no pot or Dutch oven big enough to hand blend it. So I thought to try out the glass Pyrex baking pan I just acquired and bake some this cold weekend for dinner. The vegetables (especially the potatoes) took a decent extra time to cook through, but the Staub Enameled Cast Iron Fry Pan cooked considerably more than the Pyrex Glass Baking Dish. THIS TASTES SO GOOD.. I never got tired of reheating leftovers. In fact, it tasted better each time.

~Jessica

Murgh makhani (Indian butter chicken)

Adapted from Little Spice Jar and Urvashi Pitre

Chicken Marinade Ingredients:

• 1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes (we used tomatoes on the vine)
• 5 or 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon minced ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground paprika
• 2 teaspoons garam masala, divided
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken (breasts or thighs)
• 4 ounces butter, cut into cubes, or ½ cup coconut oil
• ½ cup yogurt (original: full-fat coconut milk)
• ¼ to ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, combine the tandoori masala, ginger, garlic, and yogurt. Whisk until smooth, adjust seasonings to preference. Add the chicken and allow to marinate for at least 20 minutes and ideally for 12-24 hours, covered in the refrigerator. We marinated overnight.
2. Heat the ghee (we used butter) in a heavy bottom pot over medium heat. Add the onions and sauté until they turn translucent and start to sweat, about 5-7 minutes — don’t allow the onions to brown! Add ginger and garlic paste and let cook for 30 seconds, stirring so it doesn’t burn. Add the crushed tomatoes along with the chili powder, coriander powder, and cumin powder and continue to cook for 5 minutes, if the mixture starts bubbling rapidly, add about ¼ cup of water and continue to cook.
3. Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in the dutch oven over medium heat. Add the marinated chicken (discard any excess marinade) and cook for about 5-6 minutes, stirring as required to brown all sides.
4. Add the butter chicken sauce to the pot and heat everything through. Once it starts to bubble, add the cream (we used whole plain yogurt) and garam masala. When the sauce regains a simmer, add the crushed fenugreek leaves (we didn’t have! Darn COVID-19 pandemic). Serve over basmati rice or with naan.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

(Hindi: मुर्ग़ मक्खनी) according to Wiki. “The subtle difference between Paneer Butter Masala and Shahi paneer is that more of whole spices are used in Paneer Butter Masala whereas Shahi paneer has a sweeter taste when compared to Paneer Butter Masala.” (Wiki) Pitre’s recipe was even featured in The New Yorker! Jesse cooked this really well, and even set timers and things. We did not have an Instant Pot.

~Jessica

Kaeng phet (aka Thai red curry)

Adapted from Damn Delicious and Recipe Tin Eats

• 

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups basmati rice
• 1 tablespoon canola/peanut oil
• 1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch chunks
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 onion, minced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced fine
• 3 tablespoons red curry paste
• 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
• 1 (13.5-ounce) can coconut milk
• 1 bunch broccolini, cut into 3-inch pieces
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice

Directions:

1. In a large rice cooker, cook rice. Set aside.
2. Heat canola oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper, to taste. Add chicken, onion to the stockpot and cook until golden, about 3-5 minutes.
3. Stir in red curry paste and garlic, ginger until fragrant, about 1 minute.
4. Stir in coconut milk. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until reduced and thickened, about 10-15 minutes.
5. Stir in broccolini until just tender, about 3 minutes.
6. Remove from heat; stir in green onions, cilantro and lime juice; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
7. Serve immediately with rice.

Kaeng phet literally means spicy curry, but it is known as “red curry” in the West (Wiki). This is a class Thai dish: red curry. The paste I picked up at the local grocery packs a real punch! Apparently Panang curry differs in that it’s sweeter rather than spicier, creamier, and contains peanuts. I would like to try to make Phanaeng curry (possibly refers to the Malaysian island state of Penang) next time. I used green bell pepper instead of the broccolini, subbed mushrooms for the chicken, and added diced turnip because I had it. Unfortunately did not have cilantro or lime on hand, of course, but did have scallions! Somehow missed the garlic, but did add garlic powder (not remotely the same, I know). Spicy, but I can eat it with more rice to balance that out.

~Jessica

Chicken katsudon

Adapted from my favorite The Woks of Life

Plated

Ingredients:

• 2x Applegate Farms chicken patty – sub for the typical pork katsu
• 1/2 cup dashi stock or chicken stock (I used Better Than Bouillon vegetable base)
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons Mirin (didn’t have, subbed with rice wine)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
• 2 servings steamed white rice (I wanted Taiwan noodles instead)
• 1 scallion, chopped (wish I had)

Directions:

1. Carefully lay the chicken patty in the hot oil and cook for 5-6 minutes on one side, until golden brown. Flip and cook the other side for another 5-6 minutes. Drain on a plate lined with a paper towel.
2. While the pork is resting, add the stock, sugar, soy sauce, and Mirin to a small bowl. In another bowl, lightly beat 2 eggs. Add a tablespoon of oil to a pan over medium heat, and add the sliced onion. Fry the onions until they’re translucent and slightly caramelized.
3. Pour the stock mixture over the onions. Slice your tonkatsu into pieces and place on top of the onions.
4. Drizzle the eggs over everything.
5. Cook over medium low heat until the egg is just set. Serve over bowls of steamed rice, and garnish with scallions.

• 

• 

• 

I added some cherry tomatoes and mushrooms for more veg.

COVID-19 shopping has been wack, so I randomly picked up the not-on-sale chicken patties, because why not live a little. Chicken Katsu (チキンカツ) is probably not the same, but beggars can’t be choosers, and everywhere is closing down, or running out of supplies. I made this last week, but have been so busy with work I’m posting it now (when I’m ready to cook something new tonight!)

-Jessica