Thursday, October 1, 2009

Chicken roast with potatoes


Green Earth
I felt guilty when I read that our demand for the softest tissue to wipe our behinds is the reason behind cutting down of decades or century old trees. Unlike in Europe where mostly recycled paper is used for making toilet paper, Americans demand for the softest of soft tissues has resulted in clear cutting of virgin forests. Only 5% of the toilet paper sold in the US is made from recycled paper. If you are curious Seventh Generation and Marcel Small Steps are the companies that manufacture toilet paper from mostly recycled fiber. Read the full article The Unkindest Flush.

Newsweek released the list of the Greenest Companies in the US. Would a higher green ranking encourage you to buy more of the company's products compared to a competitor?



I had a packet of chicken thighs sitting in the freezer for quite some time. If it sat there any longer it had to make its way to the dumpster pretty soon. Before that happened I glanced at this recipe and that saved the chicken and my conscience.

The recipe is adapted from Will-O'-the Wisp.






Ingredients
1. 1 1/2 lbs of chicken cut into bite sized pieces (I used the thighs with bones)
2. 4 Medium sized potatoes cut into slices - 1 1/2 cups worth
3. 1 Large Red Onion - 1 1/2 Cups sliced thin
4. 6-8 garlic cloves chopped fine
5. 2 inch piece of ginger grated
6. 2 1/2 tomatoes chopped fine - 1 cup
7. 4 red chilies broken
8. 1 tbsp sambhar powder or red chili powder + 2 tsp pepper powder
9. seasonings - cinnamon, cloves, fennel seeds and curry leaves - 2 sprigs
10. 1/2 tbsp lemon juice

To Powder
1. 1 1/2 tbsp coriander seeds
2. 2 tsp cumin seeds
3. 1/2 tbsp pepper
4. 5 red chilies
5. 2 tsp turmeric powder
6. 1 tbsp yogurt
dry roast the spices 1-4 and powder and mix it with the chicken along with the yogurt and set aside for an hour.

Method
1. In a pan heat oil and add the whole spices and curry leaves. Add the minced garlic and ginger and sliced onions and saute till they turn brown.
2. Add the tomato and saute till it turns soft.
3. Now add the potatoes and mix it well.
4. Add the marinating chicken and mix it well. Saute for a few minutes, add salt, close the lid and let the it cook about 8-10 minutes.
5. Open the lid add the sambhar powder and pepper powder and cook in open flame in medium heat for another 10 minutes.


Cooking the chicken for too long makes it tough, so once the chicken is cooked fish it out and add them back in once the gravy has become thick.

We enjoyed this very tasty chicken with rice, chapathis and idlis.






The peppers have just started growing.





Guess what they are going to be cooked into.

10 comments:

  1. Here i try to use mostly recycle paper too.
    I have neve rhad NV dishes with idlies, i think that is a delicous idea to have this super yumm chicken roast with idlies.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Indo this is high time they start using water to clean their backs instead of wiping. That would be the chapest solution I could imagine and you people can get warm water all day long right ? I don't meant to be harsh but the Americans who tlak about Green earth are the most using paper towels everywhere. The chicken roast looks adorable. I would like it with rice and rasam. Ha...divine!

    ReplyDelete
  3. HC, I have been caught up in the American excess. Have to start looking for recycled toilet papers.

    Nirmala, I am not sure if water is a better solution either, it is a limited natural resource too. But using paper responsibly is the only viable solution.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What should be started is water for the behind:-) in a more technologically advanced way than the mug! or recycled paper.

    it is 8 in the morning & I am already salivating just reading the chicken.. exp. now since my kitchen is close closed:-(

    Indhu I picked 20 bell peppers so far!! & there are so many more & they smell so much better than the ones in stores.. I am bubbling with excitement & every morning I go peek thru the window to see them ( & the hot chili peppers.. the tomatoes have slowed down:-( ) even before i brush my teeth.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Soma I have seen "behind water" sprays in some of the toilets in India and Egypt. Automatic water sprays that shut off :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. As soma & Nirmala said, use a Bidet !!! At least private homes should come with a bidet, what is so difficult about it, except a little re-design of huge baths.

    The chicken is making me extremely hungry

    ReplyDelete
  7. The recipe is simple & convincing. I can even experience the delectable with Idlis, in my mind & mouth.

    Why use paper, when u can get a clean back with water "FOR SURE"? Use paper for writing on, instead...

    Love,
    Ash....
    (http://asha-oceanichope.blogspot.com/)

    ReplyDelete
  8. recycling has become a big thing in the US and hope they do some good out of it.
    Chicken looks yummy and to eat it with idli's would love to try it that way.Interesting post.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Have tried this recipe from Varsha's blog as well. Love the spices that go into it!

    ReplyDelete
  10. That recipe had caught my eye too ... yet to try it. Your plateful looks delicious! :-)

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by. Appreciate you taking the time.
Comments embedded with links, spam and in poor taste will not be published.