My chicken curry

Back in 2002, I fried an egg. Big deal? Let me explain:

I didn't know how to cook. But I wanted to cook. As an university student, I would like to cook by myself rather than spending the money in some restaurant to feed my tummy. And of course with the money, I could buy some books, pencils... hahaha. More to jeans and shoes I would say! Anyway, back in 2002, I fried an egg. It was horrible. You may wonder, what could have gone wrong, it was frying an egg after all! I on the stove, put the wok, pour some oil and I fried an egg... without waiting the oil to be hot first! hahaha. To make things worst, I took the egg out without cooking it well! Gosh how silly I was back then.

Back in 2006, I cooked sardine 'sambal'. After eating it, my husband said, 'please do not cook again!'. lol.

All these years, I wanted to cook and learn to be a good cook as my aunt. She is good! I can still feel all the food I have tasted when I was growing up with her. All the joy I had when I was in her kitchen, cutting the onions, tears falling from my eyes and yet I kept on cutting and listening to her secret recipes. My favorite of all.. the chicken curry.

Last year, 2010 that was, I cooked chicken curry. And I have to say, hmmmm yum yum yum! I call it my chicken curry because it is not exactly 100 percent the same as my aunt's, but this is good. Ladies and gentlemen, I have finally learned the art of cooking. I have finally entered the world of wok and fire and I am rocking! hahaha

I think a good cook must not only know how to cook, but a good cook should also know how to 'repair' his or her mistake during the cooking! So this is my secret. As clumsy as I am, now I know that accidents happen, but don't worry be happy! Just get ready some important items like tomato puree, creams and etc!

I am from Malaysia. I am Malaysian Indian and I loveeee spicy food. Now I am in France, married to a French man who loves to eat as much as I am and oh yes he eats spicy food as well! But then again, not all appreciate chili as we the asians, so that is why I sometimes 'modify' my cooking according to my 'victims'! haha

Now lets cook my chicken curry, enough with the bla bla!

What you need:

3 tablespoons of oil
2 medium onions (grated)
2 medium tomatoes (cut into small pieces, size doesn't matter, it will melt anyway)
1 cinnamon stick (turn your knife around and give the cinnamon stick a bang but don't smash it!)
2 cardamoms
2 star anise
2 cloves
2 tablespoons of garlic and 1 teaspoon of ginger paste
2 medium potatos (cut into 4)
Chicken for 2 (4 drumsticks or thighs or cut into smaller pieces but use chicken with bones.
*3 tablespoons of 'Babas' chicken curry powder
Water
Salt
Fresh coriander leaves to garnish


How you cook:

Heat up the pot, pour the oil.

Fry onions for 1 min and add the spices : cinnamon, cardamom, star anise and cloves.

Add tomatoes, potatos and cook till they melt well with the onions.

Add the pieces of chicken and the garlic and ginger paste. Some salt.

You can cook cover so that the chicken and the potato will be cooked.

After around ten minutes, add chicken curry powder. Stir well the ingredients.

Add water. Not too much, just nice to cover the chicken and according to your taste, some like it thick.

Reduce fire and let it simmer. Just check now and then the potatos.

Taste and add salt.

Let the curry to cook for about 15 mins.

If it is spicy, add some cream or some coconut milk.

Garnish with the fresh coriander leaves and attack it with some basmati rice or even plain bread!

*I bought the babas curry powder back home from malaysia and I have managed to find them in Paris too. If you don't have any idea of this, well try this instead.

1 teaspoon of red chili powder
2 teaspoon of coriander powder
1 teaspoon of cumin powder
Dash of turmeric powder
1 teaspoon of any curry powder or hot garam masala mix

A good chicken curry is ;
when the onions are cooked well with the tomatoes,
cooked more than 30 minutes till you see the oil floating,
and of course, the chicken and the potatos are cooked!

Good Luck!