Marinate the Chicken

Before you get started on your chicken handi, it's important to properly marinate the meat. This will ensure that your chicken is tender and succulent when cooked.

Start by combining all the marinade ingredients, including minced garlic, ginger-garlic paste, red chili powder, garam masala, ground coriander, ground cumin, turmeric powder, and yogurt in a bowl. Mix until all the spices are evenly distributed and a thick paste has formed.

Next, add the washed and cubed chicken to the marinade mixture and coat the pieces evenly. Let this sit for at least 30 minutes (the longer you can do it the better!). Once it's done marinating, your chicken handi is ready to be cooked!

Prepare the Sauce and Spices

The next step in making a delicious Chicken Handi is to prepare the sauce and spices. To do this, you'll need to heat a pan over medium-high heat. Then, add a tablespoon of ghee or butter to the pan. Once it's melted, add two cloves of garlic that have been minced very finely along with one teaspoon of garam masala and one teaspoon of coriander powder.

Mix these together until they become fragrant while stirring continuously. Then, add one tablespoon of tomato paste to the mixture and mix until everything is completely combined. Add two cups of vegetable or chicken broth and bring the mixture to a simmer. Make sure to reduce the heat to low once boiling has started.

Next, season the sauce with salt and pepper according to taste. Let it simmer for around 15 minutes until it thickens into a gravy-like consistency. Lastly, add one cup of frozen peas or your favorite vegetables—sliced bell peppers work great—and let cook for another five minutes before turning off the heat and serving over hot steamed rice or with flatbreads.

Cook the Basmati Rice

Cooking the basmati rice perfectly every time can be tricky, but it's worth it. After all, fragrant basmati is the perfect accompaniment to any Chicken Handi recipe!

Here are some tips for getting it just right:

Measure your water carefully

It's important to get the water-to-rice ratio just right. Usually, for one cup of basmati rice, you should use two cups of water. If you don't use enough water, your rice will be too dry and hard; if you use too much water, it will be mushy and soggy.

Rinse the Rice Before Cooking

Rinsing helps get rid of extra starch in the grains and results in fluffier rice. To do this, put about one cup of uncooked basmati rice into a fine sieve and place it under running cold water until all dirt is removed. Make sure to shake off any excess moisture before transferring the rinsed rice into a pot.

Toasting the Rice

Toasting your raw basmati grains gives a nice nutty flavor and helps make the grains more firm when cooked. To do this, heat some oil or ghee in a pot over medium heat, add about one cup of drained uncooked basmati rice, and stir continuously until lightly browned (about 3 minutes). This step also helps separate any clumps that may have formed from rinsing.

Once you have prepped your rice according to these steps, simmer it with 2 cups of hot water for about 15 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed before serving alongside your Chicken Handi dish!

Sauté the Vegetables

Now it's time to sauté the veggies. For this Chicken Handi Recipe, start by heating some oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook until they turn golden brown. Then add garlic, tomatoes, ginger, and spices. Keep stirring the mixture for about 5 minutes until the veggies are tender and fragrant. Now add the chicken pieces to the skillet and cook them for 10 minutes until they are lightly browned and cooked through. Once that's done, turn off the heat and transfer the ingredients to a plate.

Assemble and Serve Your Chicken Handi

Time to put your Chicken Handi together and serve your delicious weeknight dinner! First, heat the oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add your chicken cubes and cook till they turn golden, about 8-10 minutes. Once the chicken cubes have cooked, add your ginger garlic paste and cooked onions. Give it all a good stir, and let it cook for another five minutes.

Now it's time to add your spices! Add turmeric, garam masala, and red chili powder. Give it all a good mix for about 30 seconds. Now comes the fun part - add in your chopped tomatoes and cubed potatoes. Mix everything together with a generous amount of salt until combined nicely. Turn the heat down to low-medium heat, cover the pan with a lid, and let it simmer for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are cooked through.

Once everything is cooked through, add some of your freshly chopped cilantro leaves and give it one last mix. Serve hot with some freshly made roti - yum! Enjoy!

Conclusion

With minimal prep and just a few ingredients, this Chicken Handi recipe is sure to delight your taste buds and take your weeknight dinner to the next level. From start to finish, this delicious dish can be cooked up in under an hour and can be enjoyed by the whole family. To make sure that your Chicken Handi is bursting with flavor, it's important to pay careful attention to the instructions and follow the listed measurements closely.

So, if you're looking for a hot and tasty meal that's easy to make, this Chicken Handi recipe is sure to hit the spot. And best of all, you don't have to be a master chef to whip up this savory dish. So why wait? Get your kitchen ready and prepare to tantalize your taste buds!