Recipe:

Chicken Curry

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Serves 8

Secret Ingredient: Muchi Curry

This vibrant chicken curry, courtesy of Todd Coleman, Food Editor for Saveur magazine, is well worth the effort. Its outstanding flavor comes from the use of a "tarka", a traditional flavoring of spices that are first fried in oil to release and heighten their flavor. To learn how to make this recipe, watch the Secret Ingredient cooking show.

Ingredients

8 cloves garlic, peeled
1 jalapeño, sliced
1 (3-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and sliced into coins
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon muchi curry powder
1/4 cup ghee
1 cinnamon stick
1 bay leaf
2 dried chiles de arbol
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 tablespoon coriander seeds
6 green cardamom pods
1/4 teaspoon whole cloves
2 red onions, sliced
Kosher salt to taste
1 (28-ounce) can whole, peeled tomatoes, drained
2 1/2 pounds bone-in, skinless chicken thighs
1 (13 1/2-ounce) can coconut milk
6 small to medium waxy potatoes
Chopped cilantro
Julienned ginger

Method

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Put garlic, jalapeño, sliced ginger, water and 1 tablespoon of the curry powder into a blender and process, scraping the sides down from time to time, until it forms a slushy paste; set aside.

Melt ghee in a Dutch oven over high heat. Add cinnamon, bay leaf, chiles, cumin, coriander, cardamom and cloves and cook, stirring often, until spices are very aromatic and start to brown, about 30 seconds. Immediately add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned; season with salt.

Add reserved garlic paste and cook, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pot, until caramelized. (If you feel that it's getting away from you and starting to burn, just add a little water.) Add tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly parched. Add chicken and cook, stirring and sloshing it around the pot occasionally, until the oil separates out of the mass and the edges around the pot begin clear and crackle a bit.

Add coconut milk and potatoes, stir well and bring to a boil. Cover and transfer to oven. Cook until the chicken is cooked through and tender, about 45 minutes. Stir in remaining 1 teaspoon curry powder and salt, then transfer to a platter and top with cilantro and julienned ginger.

Nutrition

Per serving (about 18oz/497g-wt.): 590 calories (300 from fat), 33g total fat, 21g saturated fat, 105mg cholesterol, 530mg sodium, 45g total carbohydrate (7g dietary fiber, 8g sugar), 29g protein

Tags: Entertaining, Indian, Dairy Free, Wheat Free, Gluten Free

Note: We've provided special diet and nutritional information for educational purposes. But remember — we're cooks, not doctors! You should follow the advice of your health-care provider. And since product formulations change, check product labels for the most recent ingredient information. See our Terms of Service.