Creating a blog was out of the question for a long time for me, as measuring everything in the kitchen was like biting into an eggshell. I enjoy cooking and don’t want to waste even a slightest bit of enjoyment in that small world of mine. But little did I know that everything will change, when my husband came home with the Oscar nominated film ‘Julie and Julia’( a real life story) where Julie Powell (part played by Amy Adams) challenged herself to make all the 524 recipes from Julia Child's cook book ‘Mastering the Art of French Cooking’ and blogging all her experiences (The Julie/Julia Project). It was an inspiring movie. A few days later when we were discussing this casually with a friend of ours over tea…everything changed dramatically…..” How about you making at least half of it in one year? Not French but your own. 262 recipes that will inspire others and present it as a blog?” For a minute my mind traveled faster than light… With an experience as a helper in my mother in laws kitchen for 6 years followed by a three year everyday struggle to satisfy the palate of my foodie husband, if I cannot do it then why should I cook? But on the other side with an experience in English literature extending no more than expanding outline stories in English grammar class when I was 18 and two small kids that come in handy at times, will a commitment for the next one year work? Anyway my ‘cook's ego’ didn’t allow me to say no...

So my friends …here I am opening my recipe book, trying to perfect and present 262 recipes in the coming 365 days….A Challenge that will of course tastes good. Come.. Have a walk with me along my journey.. Cheering and inspiring….Forgiving and tolerating…Testing and tasting….for ‘A Tasty Challenge’

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Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Stew Rice

Recipe No: 13
This is one of the very unique dishes that I had seen my mother in law cook. I never asked her for her recipe….as she doesn’t have one…She just cooks... no spoons or measuring cups. It comes naturally for her……  But having spend a lot of time with her in her kitchen watching her cook, helped me recreate this awesome tasting, very unique dish. I don't know whether it came out as good as hers, but still it is finger licking good.

Ingredients                                                                Serves 6 adults
For the stew
  • Chicken………………………....1/2kg (Remove the skin, cut into small pieces, wash and drain.
  • Oil………………………………….1 ½ Tablespoons
  • Whole spices………………......4 Cardamom pods, 8 Cloves and 1 one inch Cinnamon piece)
  • Onion chopped…………….......3/4 cup
  • Ginger chopped……………......1 ½ Tablespoons
  • Garlic chopped……………........1 ½ Tablespoons
  • Indian Green chilly………….... 7-8 split into halves (Depending on your taste. If you                                                              are using hotter varieties, use less)
  • Tomato sliced…………………....1/2 large
  • Thin coconut milk……………...3/4 cup (mix 1/4 cup canned thick Coconut Milk with ½ cup Water)
  • Thick coconut milk………….....3/4 cup
  • Pepper powder……………….....1/2 Teaspoon
  • Homemade Garam Masala…..3/4 Teaspoon (powder)
  • Coriander leaves chopped…....3 Tablespoons
  • Salt as per taste
  • Oil……………………………………...1 Tablespoon
  • Shallot sliced…………………....….1 Tablespoon
  • All purpose flour……………........1 Teaspoon
  • Water………………………………....1/4 cup
To make rice
  • Ghee…………………………………..2 Tablespoons
  • Whole Garam Masala…………...4 Cardamom pods, 8 Cloves, 1 one inch Cinnamon stick                                                     and a small piece of Star Anise) 
  • Rice ……………………………………2 cups
  • Boiling Water……………………..4 cups
  • Salt …………………………………….as per taste
Method of Preparation
To make the Stew
  1. To a shallow pan add 1 ½ Tablespoons of oil and add the crushed whole Garam Masala and saute till it’s fragrant
  2. Add chopped Onion, Ginger, Garlic and Green chilly and saute till everything is wilted for about3 minutes.
  3. Add the chicken and saute for 3 minutes on high heat.
  4. Add thin coconut milk, salt and half teaspoon of Garam Masala and cook till the chicken is done.
  5. Add sliced tomato when the chicken is 3/4th done.
  6. In another shallow pan add 1 Tablespoon of oil and saute the shallots till brown.
  7. Adjust the heat to medium and add 1 teaspoon of flour and saute till its raw smell is gone. This takes time, so be patient.
  8. Add ¼ cup water and mix till everything is combined well with no lumps. Add this to the already cooked stew and mix well.
  9. After a minute of boiling, add the thick coconut milk and pepper powder. Check the seasonings. Salt should be slightly higher than usual as it have to be mixed with the rice.
  10. If there is extra gravy, let it dry. This stew should be thick. When it’s almost thick, add the rest of the Garam Masala and the coriander leaves. Switch off the flame.

To make the Rice
  1. While the stew is cooking let’s make the rice.
  2. Wash and soak the rice for 15 minutes. Then let it drain.
  3. On a pan on medium high heat, add the Ghee followed by whole Garam Masala. Saute it till fragrant.
  4. Add the rice and fry it good (till the grains on the bottom of the pan start to move on its own).
  5. Add boiled water and salt (I use at least one teaspoon)
  6. Close the lid, lower the heat to minimum and let it cook till all the water is absorbed.
  7. Once done just fluff up the rice. And keep it open till assembling the rice.
Assembling the dish and baking
  1. Preheat the oven to 350˚F/180˚C
  2. I used a bunt pan. But you can use any oven proof dish. Apply a slight coating of ghee on the bottom.
  3. Line the bottom of the pan with 1/3rd of the rice, followed by whole of the chicken and then 1/3rd of the rice.
  4. Put the rest of the rice into the pan in which you made the stew and swirl it around so that it picks all the gravy left in the pan. This will add extra moisture and taste to the dish.
  5. Layer this on top of the baking dish. Push all the layers a bit so that the rice and the chicken will all stay compact.
  6. Cover the top with Aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.
  7. If you are using a bunt pan turn it over into a nice flat plate and serve it warm with spicy pickle.





Make it enjoy the deliciousness and
serve it to your family with love….

4 comments:

Unknown said...

made the stew rice...really a unique dish.tasted really good.

anilasa said...

Truly outstanding recipe Asha ! It came out really good.

Jaya said...

Asha, I made it.....Easy to make and taste really good..

Unknown said...

hey,your blog is too awesome,keep sharing more recipees with us,thanks for sharing.

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