Spicy Pomegranate Chicken

Spicy Pomegranate Chicken

This recipe is inspired by the Persian pomegranate chicken stew,Fesengen, which is chicken or duck cooked in a rich sauce of walnut paste and pomegranate molasses. This curry has an Indian touch.Pomegranate juice is readily available in supermarkets or you can squeeze your own from fresh pomegranate. Here I have used the fresh ones. The sauce is sweet and slightly tart and is a really satisfying dish and the flavors is exotic.

Ingredients
Chicken- 1 1/2 lb
Onions finely chopped- 2 medium
Garlic cloves-6-8

Potato- 1 small (optional)
Green chilly finely chopped-2
Turmeric powder-a pinch
Chilly powder- 1/2
Coriander powder-3/4 tsp
salt and pepper to taste

Pomegranate juice- 3/4 cup
Sugar- 2 tsp
Lemon juice- a few drops

Walnut roasted and powdered- 2 tbs
Cinnamon powder- 1/2 tsp
Nutmeg powder- 1/3 tsp
Cardamon powder- 1/3 tsp
Coriander leaves for garnish

Clean chicken and remove the skin. Pat dry and marinate with turmeric powder, chilly powder, coriander powder, salt and pepper and keep aside for half an hour.

In a saucepan mix pomegranate juice and sugar and bring it to a boil. Reduce flame and allow to simmer and thicken a bit. Add a few drops of lemon juice and keep aside.( You can use pomegranate molasses or just add the juice without boiling to the curry)

Roast walnut in a low flame for 2-3 minutes and using a mixer blend into a coarse powder. ( You can add more of this if you like up-to half cup to make the curry richer and creamier)

Heat oil in a pan and  add onions and saute till golden brown. Add chopped garlic, chilly and after a minute add the marinated chicken along with potatoes( if you are adding) and stir and fry till the chicken changes color and the masala is well coated. Add the roasted walnut powder and the spices- cardamon,cinnamon and nutmeg and the pomegranate juice. Cover and cook till the meat is tender. Garnish with coriander leaves.

Try this
Hope you will all enjoy.