Tuesday

Is it Indian or Chinese or rather Indian Chinese? Its Chilly chicken




Chilly chicken..........................
What can I tell you about this dish? It is in the menu of a street hawker (Thatukadakaran) as well as in the posh five star hotels. There are as many variations of this recipe as there are cooks. Those of you familiar with Kochi, would have surely tasted Chilly chicken and Idiappam of the famous
Ceylon Bake House in MG Road. Oh Boy, the place used to packed with customers ordering take home parcels of thin lacy idiappams, porrotas and their unique variation of Chilly chicken.
Growing up this was one of my favorite dishes. But the version, I liked the most was my mom's Chilly Chicken. I have had rave reviews, whenever I have served this dish to my guests. So my friends strap on the seat belts, we are off to mom's kitchen to make some yummy chilly chicken
.

Ingredients

  • Chicken -1 1/2 Kg
  • Flour - 100gms
  • Egg -2
  • Chilly sauce -75 ml(3tbs)
  • Red color (I prefer the Jalebi color you get in India, or mixing Yellow & Red food color)
  • Minced Onion - 1 (50gms)
  • Cut Chillies - 15 gms
  • Cornstarch - 2 dsp (Double if you use Maida)
  • Ajinomoto 1/4 tsp (optional)
  • Soy sauce- 2tbs
  • Chicken stock - 4 Cup
  • Sugar - a pinch
  • Salt as required
  • Scallions for decorations

Cut chicken into 16 pieces. Take the wings , skin and bones to make a stock. Coat chicken pieces with maida , egg and 1tbs cornflour.Deep fry the chicken pieces and keep it
aside.
Saute Onions & chillies in 2 tbs of oil for 3 mins. Onions needn't change its
colors.(Approx 3 mins).
Add chicken stock.Put the remaining ingredients except cornflour .When the gravy starts bubbling add cornflour mixed with 1 tbs water . Wait for the chicken to thicken (Wow, that rhymes)Add scallions and voila your chicken is ready.

Sunday

Open seas , Coconut Palms and the beautiful Orange sunset



As I look at the setting sun in the Gulf of Mexico, I realize the sun has just risen in my life as a blogger. It has been 10 years since I moved from God's own country (Kerala) to the Land of opportunities. I still remember the early days, when I couldn't differentiate between a cumin powder and coriander powder. Clinging on to my mom's handwritten recipes and the Internet as my guide, I entered the mysterious yet magical world of spices. Many years and many disasters later, here I am today ready to pay my dues back to cyber world for the numerous recipes and numerous articles that helped me through this ordeal.
I feel that I have graduated from freshman cook to a sophomore cook. I have long ways to go before my graduation. I would like to continue this beautiful journey online, honoring those cooks who have posted their recipes in the magical world of Internet and unknowingly helping millions helpless people to cook like pro.
I would like to dedicate this blog to all the fellow bloggers
PS I am dedicating this blog to a veteran blogger SHN, who inspired me to do this. Thanks SHN , hope you know who I am by now.