Andhra style Pepper Chicken curry

My little brother has gone astray. We grew up in the same house breathing the same air, eating the same food, surrounded by the same things and disciplined the same way. One went astray and I am despondent.

OK enough of the melodrama. What exactly did he do? The Horrors! He is skeptical that Global Warming is the reason for Climate Change. The first time I heard him say it I was a bit taken aback. My baby brother? Really? Anyway it easy for me to listen to his reasoning than a conservative talking head on TV at whom I want to fling a really blunt heavy object.

Though I am willing to listen to his reasoning a bit (a tiny little bit) I am still not convinced that carbon emissions and other pollution by way of industrialization are somehow not responsible if not directly but indirectly. As people move farther and farther away from the sources of food and what sustains life they are unaware of how global warming is affecting them directly.

People of the industrialized western world and increasingly now the developing world are moving away from their roots and literally feeling and touching the earth. Even 20-30 years ago most children had some connection to a farm and in a way knew intimately how the vagaries of climate affected livelihood. Today a farmer is a distant figure toiling away in obscurity fighting not only with increasingly severe weather but also with giant food companies ready to do anything to see a profit and enslave the global food system to their modified seeds and scientific methods of modifying living things.

Large coastal areas are going under the sea while vast areas of Africa is reeling under severe drought. So when I saw this article in NY Times - Zambia BurningI forwarded the article to him . And here is what he had to say about it.


"This article illustrates precisely how the global warming fear mongering has reached ridiculous proportions. I am actually pleasantly surprised that so many readers of the titan of mainstream liberal media - NY Times, have actually pointed this out.

Fertile forests and grasslands turning into desert has happened throughout history. Thar desert in Rajasthan was apparently once green with streams and rivers. Even Sahara desert and Egypt were once covered with forests. Was industrialization and global warming responsible for this 2000 years ago?

And then to top it off, the favorite liberal pastime - blame the West and blame America for everything that happens in every corner of the world. First of all, cycles of severe drought and rain are a constant feature in sub-Saharan Africa - the main reason why no major civilization ever thrived there. In recent times, Zambians like people of most poor countries are clearing away forests to create agricultural land and for mining, and this further leads to failure of rain and drought. Not to mention the corruption of African governments that do not care at all about their people and resources.

Of course, why hold them responsible for their own land, blame the West and blame America. Let us see what this "honeymooning" couple will give up to reduce the so called global warming!"


I can't completely disagree with his reasoning either. I am slowly learning to look at issues impartially without being taken over by emotion.

The next in the lunch room recipe series comes this tasty and absolutely delicious pepper chicken. After tasting this in the lunch room had to try it out.

Andhra style Pepper Chicken Curry
Ingredients
1. 2 lbs of chicken thighs cut into bite sized pieces
2. 1 1/2 cups of finely chopped red onions or shallots
3. 6 garlic cloves
4 2 inch piece of ginger
5. 1 tbsp coriander seeds
6. 1 tbsp pepper corn
7. 1 tsp cumin seeds
8. 2 tbsp coconut
9. 1/2 cup tomatoes
10. 1 tbsp chicken masala powder or (1/2 inch piece of cinnamon, 3 cloves, 2 red chilies all roasted and powdered)
11. 1/2 tbsp lemon juice (optional)
12. 1-2 tsp chili powder
13. 2-3 tsp turmeric powder
11. salt to taste
12. 2-3 tsp of oil
13. seasonings: curry leaves and cumin seeds /fennel seedes
Method
1. Wash and pat dry the chicken and marinate it with the turmeric powder, chili powder and lemon juice for about an hour
2. In a small saute pan add a few drops of oil, saute the garlic and ginger, add in the tomatoes and let it get soft. Add the coconut and saute for a minute more. Cool and blend to a paste with very little water
3. Dry roast the coriander seeds, pepper corn and cumin and make a powder
4. Heat a heavy bottomed pan heat the oil and in high heat saute the chicken till they turn brown for about 8-10 minutes. Most of the water would have evaporated at this point. Set aside
5. In the same pan add a bit more oil if required, add the cumin/fennel seeds and curry leaves
6. Add in the onions and saute till they turn brown
7. Add in the sauteed chicken and the powdered coriander/pepper powder, chicken masala powder and give a good mix
8. Add the blended paste, salt and 1 1/2 cups of water and let them cook together after the mixture comes to a boil for 8-10 minutes. Turn off heat

Serve with rice or any type of bread.