Kuku Paka

Ingredients

• 1 chicken with slits (8 pcs) 

• 1 heaped tsp garlic paste + 2 more 

• 1 heaped tsp ginger paste + 2 more 

• 1/2 tsp salt + more

• 1/2 tsp turmeric + more 

• 2 small onions 

• 2 small tomatoes 

• 10-12 green chilies 

• 2 tbsp lemon juice 

• 2 heaped tsp coriander and cumin powder 

• 500 g fresh grated coconut or 2 cans coconut milk 

• Green chili paste to taste (optional)

• 2 tsp coconut powder

Preparation

Start by boiling the chicken with enough water that the chicken is completely covered. Add 1 tsp each of garlic, ginger paste, and salt and 1/2 a tsp of turmeric. Cook the chicken for about 1/2 an hour until cooked through. Drain and save the water for later use. Let the chicken cool. Simultaneously, in a frying pan, heat up some oil and start to cook the tomato, onions and green chilies until they are completely soft (for about 30 mins). Let it cool. While the chicken and veggies are cooling, make the chicken masala. In a bowl mix together 2 heaping tsps of garlic paste, ginger paste, red chili powder, coriander and cumin powder and salt. Also mix 1/2 tsp of turmeric, 2 tbsp of lemon juice and 5-7 tbsp of oil. Once the chicken has cooled, marinate the chicken with the masala mixture. You either BBQ it, grill it on a gas stove, or bake it in the oven until there is a nice char on the chicken. When it’s done set it aside. To make the coconut milk, blend the grated coconut with the chicken stock from boiling the chicken. Do little at a time. Make sure to drain the coconut pieces out. Then you take a little bit of the coconut milk and blend the softened veggies. Drain out the veggies and mix the milk back into the rest of the milk. Mix in the coconut powder thicken the milk. If you are using canned coconut milk, then mix in 1.5 cup of chicken stock! Add this milk into a big pot and season it with some salt and 1-2 tsp of turmeric. Taste it and see if you need more chilly, add in some green chilli paste. When it’s come to a boil, add in the chicken. Give it a good mix. Turn the stove off when it’s come to a boil. Serve with some basmati rice.