Shahi Chicken Kofta

Ingredients

• 400 gms ground chicken mince
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 onion chopped finely
• 5-6 garlic cloves minced
• 1 tsp ginger grated
• 1/2 tsp coriander powder
• 1/2 tsp garam masala powder
• 1/2 tsp red chilli powder
• 1/4 tsp black pepper powder
• 1 tbsp vinegar
• 3-4 green chillies chopped finely
• 1/2 tsp salt or to taste
• 2 fresh bread crumbs
• 1.5 tbsp roasted gram flour
• 1 tsp ghee (clarified butter)
• 1 tbsp cilantro chopped finely
• 4 tbsp oil
• 1.5 tsp ghee
• 1 onion boiled
• 2 onions chopped finely
• 1 tsp garlic paste
• 1 tsp ginger paste
• 1 tbsp Korma Masala
• 1 tsp Kashmiri Red Chilli Powder
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
• 5-6 cashewnuts
• 8 almonds
• 1 tbsp sesame seeds
• 1 tbsp tomato puree
• 2 tbsp thick yogurt
• 1 tbsp fresh cream
• 1/2 tsp roasted homemade garam masala
• 1 tsp crushed kasoori methi
• 1 tbsp fresh cilantro chopped finely
• 3 green cardamoms
• 4 cloves
• 1 inch cinnamon stick
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 tsp Shah Jeera

Steps

1. In a mixer grinder, grind 2 bread slices into crumbs. Next grind the boneless chicken breast. In a mixing bowl pour the ground chicken. Combine it with chopped onion, grated ginger and minced garlic. turmeric and red chilli powder,salt to taste,green chillies, kasoori methi, garam masala and black pepper powder.
2. Meanwhile boil onion, cashewnuts and almonds with 1/4 cup water. Cool and make a paste of the boiled onion and nuts along with 1 tbsp sesame seeds, 1 dry red chilli,2 tbsp curd and 1 tsp malai or fresh cream. Set aside.
3. Add crushed breadcrumbs, gram flour and 1 tsp ghee to the combined chicken mince.Mix well to form a smooth dough.Refrigerate for half hour before forming the chicken koftas.
4. Make balls of the mixture.Heat oil in a pan and fry the koftas in batches stirring lightly till golden brown on all sides.
5. For making the kofta gravy: Remove excess oil.In 2 tbsp oil, add 1 tsp ghee and heat it. Sprinkle Shah Jeera,half crushed whole garam masala.When they sizzle, add chopped onion and fry till translucent. Once the onions have softened, add ginger garlic paste,and fry till aromatic.Add the ground onion, sesame, cashewnuts and almonds paste, tomato puree, salt to taste,korma masala, turmeric and Kashmiri Red Chilli Powder. Add kasoori methi and stir well till oil leaves sides.
6. Add the chicken kofta balls and toss lightly.Add 1 cup water or as needed and simmer the gravy in low to medium flame for 5 minutes until the chicken kofta is cooked well.Adjust consistency of the curry according to need.Once done, stir in 1/4 tsp sugar,and fresh cream or malai.
7. Transfer the Chicken Kofta Curry into a serving bowl.Sprinkle chopped cilantro and serve hot with Garlic Naan or any Indian flatbread or pulao for a special weekend dinner or at parties.