Goan Chicken Cafreal
This aromatic goan chicken recipe has warmth, subtle heat from chillies and freshness of coriander. It is best enjoyed with dinner rolls or traditional Goan buns, but its so good that you can indulge on its own. And don’t forget to serve fried potatoes along with it, they taste delectable with cafreal masala.
Ingredients
- 800 gms chicken curry cuts
- 3 cups fresh coriander
- 2 nos large potatoes
- 4 nos green chillies adjust as per heat
- 4-5 nos garlic cloves
- 2 nos bay leaves
- 5-6 nos cloves
- 1/2 nos lime juice
- 2 inch cinnamon stick
- 2 inch ginger
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1/2 tsp whole black peppers
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tbsp oil
- salt as per taste
- water as required
Instructions
- Wash chicken pieces and if required give gashes to bigger pieces. Preferably, use chicken with bones, it tastes best in the recipe.
- Season with salt.
- Start with preparing cafreal masala – Add coriander leaves, chilies, garlic, ginger, cumin seeds, cloves, cinnamon, bay leaves, lime juice to blender jar and form a thick, fine paste.
- Marinate the chicken with thick cafreal paste. Overnight marination is preferred otherwise marinate for 45-60 minutes.
- Once enough marinated, warm the oil in a large frying pan over a high heat.
- Fry the marinated chicken pieces in hot oil over medium heat.
- Meanwhile, slice the washed potatoes. I use potatoes with skin but if liked, you can de-skin the potato. You can either slice them or make wedges.
- Transfer the sliced potatoes to hot pan.
- Season with salt and fry them on medium heat. Add oil as required.
- When chicken is almost 80% cooked, add about 1 cup of water and cook it further.
- Allow to cook for another 8-10 minutes or until chicken is completely cooked.
- Once chicken is ready, colour of the gravy also changes to dark green.
- You can adjust the consistency of gravy and add water accordingly. I like to keep thick gravy or dry.
- Check seasoning and add salt if required.
- Also check our potatoes, cook them golden brown from both sides.
- Spicy- juicy chicken cafreal is ready, serve it with potatoes. It tastes delicious with some crusty bread.
Notes
- Preferably use chicken with bone, it adds wonderful flavours.
- Overnight marination is preferred otherwise allow to marinate for at least 1 hour.
- It's a spicy dish but you can adjust the heat as required.
- Adjust the consistency of gravy as desired.