What would a report on India be without a section on the food? Anyone that knows anything about history knows that a good portion of it was spent trying to find the fastest way to the world's spice cupboard, i.e. India. Having been there, I know why the effort was made. I hope you enjoy this. I'm gonna share a recipe, but first a couple of facts.
North Indian food is way different from south Indian food. For example, a lot of southern Indian food involves fish and Kerala food (where John is from) includes a lot of coconut (name means land of coconuts). Have you ever had a Chicken "Curry" Salad? Maybe you thought "curry" was a spice? Curry is not a spice, it's just anything with a gravy, in India. The sweet, spicey, taste of the Chicken "Curry" Salad, however, originates from the north.
Another thing that is sort of interesting is that Fort Kochin in Kerala still has a "Pepper Exchange". That's right, "I'll give you my cow, for such and such amount of that pepper." I didn't actually get to see this sort of transaction take place, but I did see this cool building, above.
A huge part of Indian hopitality involves food. Remember "20 Dishes"? This is Mom John's helper in her kitchen. Mom has 2 kitchens, count 'em, two. Jaqueline was helping out for a dinner that Dad and Mom John were hosting.
If you are going to go about making Indian food, find yourself an international foods store, first. I'll give you a simple way to start. Stock up on fresh garlic, ginger, curry leaves and onion. These items are staples. Watch this video of John.
Chicken Curry
Serves about 4
Serves about 4
4 Chicken breasts cut into chunks
2-3 red onions (med. to small)
2 T diced ginger
3 cloves garlic diced
Tomatos (or John likes a thick tomato sauce with some herbs)
Chicken Masala (only found in an Asian food store, in a box)
2/3 can of coconut milk
Mustard seeds
Palm full of curry leaves
Olive oil
Salt/Pepper
Cinnamon/Cloves/Cardamom (optional)
Fry the onion, garlic, and ginger until the onion is good and brown. An the side, put about 1/3 cup chicken masala in a pan and roasted dry (optional). Add the masala to the onion mix, cook a little and then add tomatoes, wait for awhile and then add chicken. Add salt and cook on low flame to wait for the water to come out of the chicken. Let cook for about 10 minutes after water comes out.
Add coconut milk and take it off the flame. Season by frying 1 T mustard seeds with curry leaves in a separate pan and adding to chicken curry.
There you have it! Serve it with rice (we use basmati) or Indian bread (nan, roti, chapatti, etc.). Also it is nice with plain yogurt and a little side salad of cucumber, onion, tomato, salt and vinegar.
It ALWAYS tastes better the next day!
Hope you get to try it, and I hope you like it, or this was all in vain. You could also try to eat it with your hands. No, no, no, this is not a time to play with your food. There's an etiquette to it. Never use your left hand (that's the toilet hand), keep the food off the palm of your hand (just use the tips of your fingers), and NEVER lick your fingers. Sometimes I give my husband an evil eye when he tries to pull a fast one with the licking bit. ENJOY!
2-3 red onions (med. to small)
2 T diced ginger
3 cloves garlic diced
Tomatos (or John likes a thick tomato sauce with some herbs)
Chicken Masala (only found in an Asian food store, in a box)
2/3 can of coconut milk
Mustard seeds
Palm full of curry leaves
Olive oil
Salt/Pepper
Cinnamon/Cloves/Cardamom (optional)
Fry the onion, garlic, and ginger until the onion is good and brown. An the side, put about 1/3 cup chicken masala in a pan and roasted dry (optional). Add the masala to the onion mix, cook a little and then add tomatoes, wait for awhile and then add chicken. Add salt and cook on low flame to wait for the water to come out of the chicken. Let cook for about 10 minutes after water comes out.
Add coconut milk and take it off the flame. Season by frying 1 T mustard seeds with curry leaves in a separate pan and adding to chicken curry.
There you have it! Serve it with rice (we use basmati) or Indian bread (nan, roti, chapatti, etc.). Also it is nice with plain yogurt and a little side salad of cucumber, onion, tomato, salt and vinegar.
It ALWAYS tastes better the next day!
Hope you get to try it, and I hope you like it, or this was all in vain. You could also try to eat it with your hands. No, no, no, this is not a time to play with your food. There's an etiquette to it. Never use your left hand (that's the toilet hand), keep the food off the palm of your hand (just use the tips of your fingers), and NEVER lick your fingers. Sometimes I give my husband an evil eye when he tries to pull a fast one with the licking bit. ENJOY!
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