Pepper Chicken

Pepper Chicken is loved by my family. In this intense summer heat we should avoid packing lunch boxes with cooked or raw tomatoes as they might get spoiled and spoil the entire food. But this is a very good option and it's yummy too, kids love this!  Even while  traveling you can carry this chicken dish and eat them with Parathas or bread :)
 

INGREDIENTS:

• Boneless chicken - 500 gm (cut into bite size pieces)
• Lemon - 1
• Ground pepper pods -1Tsp for marination ,+3 teaspoon for preparation
• Mustard oil - 1 Tbsp of mustard oil for marination purpose
• Garlic Paste - 2Tsp for marination
• 4 tsp of white oil
• Poppy seeds- 1 Tablespoon
• Onions -2 (cut into small pieces)
• Tomatoes- 2 (cut into small pieces)
• Green-chilly Paste-5-6
• Curry leaves- 10-12 leaves
• Cinnamon - 1 inch stick
• Ginger Garlic Paste- 1 Tbsp

PROCEDURE:

Step 1: Marinate 500 gm of boneless chicken (cut into bite size pieces) with lemon juice, salt, 1Tsp of pepper powder. garlic paste and mustard oil. Preferably keep it marinated in the refrigerator overnight otherwise at least for 6-7 hours.

 

Mustard oil is used for good binding. In the absence of  this oil you can use butter also.

Step 2: 

             >Take 3 - 4 tsp of white oil in a frying pan and fry the curry leaves and the cinnamon stick.

             >Then add the poppy seeds and fry it for a while.

             >Now fry the cut onions till golden brown.

             >Then add 1 Tsp of the chilly paste ( you can use chilly sauce instead too )

Step 3:

> Now add 1 Tsp of Ginger - garlic paste & Fry till its raw smell goes away. It takes around 10     minutes on medium flame.

>At this point add the tomato pieces and fry them till they get soft and properly cooked.

Step 4: 

When you see that oil is separating at the sides of the pan. Only then add the marinated chicken. 

            

NOTE: Those who do not like their curry leaves to be crispy can add the leaves now instead of frying them in the beginning along with the cinnamon.

          

Do not add any water. Cook in medium flame till the chicken is completely cooked and all the water evaporates. It takes around 20 -25 minutes to get dry.

                    

Last  Step: Switch off the stove and add 3 tsp of pepper powder and mix it properly. 

YOUR PEPPER CHICKEN IS  READY !!!