Dahiwali Chicken Curry

source: Mothering Magazine Jan/Feb 2009

2 tbsp light cooking oil
3-4 cardamom pods, bruised
4-5 whole black peppercorns
1-2 dried bay leaves
1 cinnamon stick
3-4 whole cloves
1 large onion, finely chopped
2-3 medium green chillis, finely chopped (i wasn't sure what to get so i skipped this!)
1 tsp ginger, finely chopped
1 tsp garlic, finely chopped (I used like 6 cloves - way more than 1 tsp...)
1/2 tsp red chilli powder (another thing I couldn't find)
1/4 tsp cumin powder
1/4 tsp tumeric powder
1 tsp ground coriander
1/4 tsp garam masala powder
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
a few cups baby spinach (my addition)
salt to taste
1/2 cup plain yogurt, beaten
2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced to 1 inch cubes
1 handful fresh coriader (cilantro) chopped for garnish

Heat oil in thick-bottomed pan and saute cardamom, peppercorns, bay leaves, cinnamon, and cloves until they begin to sizzle.

Add onions, green chillis, and fry 3-5 minutes on medium high heat, until onions turn pink(??? I never saw pink, but was missing a few ingredients...) and tender. Add ginger and garlic and saute 1-2 minutes until mixture begins to express oil.

Add red chilli powder, cumin, tumeric, coriander and garam masala, and fry 1 minute. Mix in tomatoes and salt, and cook a few minutes until tomatoes pulp and release oil around sides of pan. Slowly stir in yogurt to form a smooth gravy base.

Add chicken pieces and cook covered 10-15 minutes on medium low heat until done. If using spinach - toss in spinach at the end - last few minutes so it has time to wilt.

Garnish with coriander leaves (cilantro) and serve hot with a side of rotis bread or rice and a salad.

Rotis - is a traditional Indian flatbread. I used whole wheat flour and added enough water to make a dough and rolled out small circles and cooked it in a cast iron skillet.

Prep - 15 minutes (i think this is a bit short - took me a little longer while juggling the antics of a toddler and preschooler)

Cooking - 30 minutes

Serves 2 (main dish) or 4 (side dish) - this served 2 easily with enough to give Maddie and have a whole serving left over.