Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Coconut Chicken and White Wine Curry





Feeling the need of pulling warms clothes out of the wardrobe as winter is slowly setting in in Bangalore. With winter comes a range of problems including rough skin, dandruff and the constant shivery feeling. Fortunately and genetically I am blessed with good skin and never had to bother about pimples or acnes. Even during my adolescence when most of my friends suffered from recurring pimples and acnes as reaction to sudden changes of puberty, I could hardly recollect a day worrying on this. However, my skin is a bit sensitive to change of weather. After spending dry winter in Pune when suddenly I moved to humid Kolkata, I developed rashes all over my face. Sometimes during summer in Kolkata, I used to develop blisters on my face. It would all start from a simple scratch mark as if someone has scratched my face with nails. Then the scratch would swell up into red blisters. In USA once when I applied winter care lotion of an internationally reputed brand, my skin suffered eruptions to a degree I have never seen before. I remember attending an invitation of my hubby's friend and feeling embarrassed due to my dreadful skin condition. The winter care lotion reacted badly after one or two application leaving my face with a burning sensation and red scaly patch. Looking literally roasted in oven, I was worried sick if I was to have any permanent scar due to that allergic reaction. But thanks to the almighty, it got healed on its own once I quit the use of that winter care cream and from then on no matter how reputed that brand is, I don’t touch its skin-care products.

One or two such aberrations apart, my skin hardly gave me any problem. For me, dandruff has been a constant headache and it aggravates every time in winter. I have undergone treatments in beauty parlours, applied dandruff shampoo three times a week and plenty of other things meant to cure me of white scales, but in vain. Dandruff would be gone for a week or two and return happily again. Somewhat out of desperation and annoyance at spending thousands upon futile treatments in beauty parlours, I scouted the cyber world in quest of a home remedy which is easily applicable with long-standing effect.
For last two months, I have been dedicatedly using two remedies with a fruitful result. One is application of henna mixed with fresh yogurt and another is egg yolks mixed with dollops of honey. I must confess these two home-based remedies are bringing forth positive outcome. My hair fall has reduced drastically over last two months.

Now back to the recipe, Coconut chicken and white wine curry is good to be rounded up for dinner if you want to eat and cook something different from the traditional Indian chicken curries. I have used pudina powder in my preparation, but you can use curry powder also.
Ingredients:                               Cooking time:40 minutes
ü  1 kg boneless chicken
ü  1 large sized onion (chopped)
ü  1 tomato (turned into paste)
ü  1 cup of white wine
ü  1 cup of coconut cream
ü  2 tbs of whipping cream
ü  2 cups of chicken stock
ü  5-6 green chillies (optional) (turned into paste)
ü  3 tsp pudina powder
ü  2 cloves of garlic (finely chopped)
ü  1 tsp ginger paste
ü  2 tsp black pepper powder
ü  salt to taste
ü  White oil for cooking
Method:
1) Rub salt and black pepper powder on chicken pieces. Heat oil in a non-sticky cooking pan. When oil becomes piping hot, brown the chicken. Use a slotted spoon to remove the chicken and keep them aside.
2) Now into the same oil, add onions & chopped garlic. When onions turn translucent, add tomato and green chillies paste. Sauté for 1 minute. Add ginger paste, pudina powder. Sauté for few minutes.
3) Add wine. Sauté for a while before adding coconut cream, whipping cream and chicken stock.
4) When the mixture comes to a boil, slide in the chicken pieces. Cook covered on medium heat till chicken is cooked through and gravy thickens. Check salt.  
5) Serve hot with steamed rice. Enjoy!

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