Chha Chicken Curry

Chha Gosht is a signature dish of Himachal Pradesh, India. This hearty dish is usually made with mutton. However I make with chicken which is marinated in yogurt and cooked in aromatic spices with roasted gram flour. So it tastes as delicious as mutton in this rich, flavorful, spicy, tangy gravy.

Ingredients~

(US customary)

2 1/2 lb. bone in chicken thigh and leg

1 tsp garlic paste
2 tsp ginger paste

1 cup chopped onion                                 

1 cup thick yogurt 

1 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp red chili powder 

1/2 tsp coriander powder 

1/4 tsp. cumin powder 

1/4 tsp turmeric powder

2 tbsp. roasted gram flour

A pinch of asafoetida

1/2 of a black cardamom, 1 small cinnamon stick, 3 green cardamoms, 2 cloves(grind them to a smooth powder)

1/2 tsp salt or to taste

1/3 cup oil(preferably mustard oil)

2 cups hot water

Method~
Marinate chicken pieces with 1/2 cup yogurt, salt, paprika, chili powder and turmeric for at least half a hour-one hour.  
Heat oil in a large heavy bottomed pan on medium heat. Add asaphoetida and bay leaf. Immediately add in chopped onion and saute until soft. Add in ginger and garlic paste. Keep sauteing until onion mixture’s raw smell goes off. Add toasted gram flour and other spices and saute for a minute. Add the chicken and stir fry on low heat for 8-10 minutes until chicken pieces are well coated. Add hot water, cover and let it simmer for 15 minutes or until cooked through. Now add  remaining half cup yogurt in the gravy. Stir well and let it simmer for another 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings. Garnish with cilantro and sliced red onion Serve hot with plain Basmati rice, or roti and salad on the side.