Chicken Salna Recipe

 Ingredients

• Chicken - 1 kg, cut into bite sized pieces, washed and drained
• Onion - 2 large, finely chopped
• Tomato - 1, medium, chopped (optional)
• Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp
• Red chili powder - 1 1/2 to 2 tsps (adjust)
• Curry leaves - 1 sprig
• Oil - 4 tbsps
• Salt to taste
• Fresh coriander leaves - for garnish
• Shallots - 5 (optional)
• Green chilies - 2 (optional)
• Fresh coconut - 1/4 cup
• Roasted chick peas - 2 tbsps (dalia/putnala pappu) OR roasted peanuts OR cashew nuts - 6-7
• Roast for 3-4 mts on low flame:
• Cloves - 3
• Cinnamon stick - 1/2"
• Cardamom - 1
• Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
• Poppy seeds - 1/2 tsp
• Fennel seeds - 1 tsp
• Black pepper corns - 1 tsp

Method

1. Grind the dry roasted ingredients along with the shallots, green chilis, roasted chickpeas and fresh coconut to a fine paste adding little water. Set aside.
2. Heat oil in a heavy bottomed vessel, once hot, add the chopped onions and curry leaves and saute for 7-8 mts or till they turn lightly brown. Add ginger garlic paste and saute for 5 mts.
3. Add the red chili powder and chicken pieces and mix. Cook on high flame for 4 mts, mixing once in a while.
4. Reduce flame, place lid and cook for 15 mts. Add chopped tomatoes and cook with lid for 10 mts on medium flame, mixing once in a while.
5. Add the ground spice paste and mix well. Cook on medium flame for 3 to 4 mts and add two cups of water and salt. Increase flame and bring to a boil. Now reduce flame, place lid and simmer till the chicken is done. Salna is a watery gravy dish so ensure there is enough liquid. Add more water if required.
6. Once the chicken is cooked, turn off flame. Remove to a serving bowl and garnish with fresh coriander leaves.
7. Serve with parotta, biryani, pulao, chapati, appam, dosa or naan.

Tips

• If you do not have roasted chickpeas, use peanuts or cashew nuts.
• Another version of the salna calls for roasting 2 tbsps coriander seeds and 6-7 red chilis along with rest of the ingredients. In that case, green chilis and red chili powder can be omitted.
• You can add cubed potatoes (2 medium sized potato) at step 4.
• You can also roast fresh coconut along with other spices.