Oven Roasted Eggplant with Tahini

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It’s official. Tahini might just be my new favorite ingredient. If you’ve never heard of it, it’s an oily paste made from ground sesame seeds and is commonly used in Middle Eastern cooking. It’s nutty, creamy, and delicious all at once.

I also think I should rename my blog Mrs. Chatterjee, because I’ve been stealing so many of my mom’s recipes! 🙂 I can’t help it, she’s just a creative genius in the kitchen. She made us this roasted eggplant with tahini over the holidays and I’ve been craving it ever since! I finally tried it out yesterday and it’s SO easy – definitely my new go-to side dish. All you need is some eggplant, tahini, onions, garlic, and olive oil, and you have this amazing, creamy dip that you can eat with bread or even mixed in with hot rice. So good!

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Ingredients (serves 2)

1.5 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 small onion, diced
3 cloves of garlic, grated
1 large eggplant
2 teaspoons tahini
Salt and pepper, to taste

Recipe

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Rub some olive oil on the eggplant, place it in an oven proof dish, and cook for 45 minutes. Prepare your ingredients while the eggplant is roasting to save time.

Once the eggplant is done cooking, let cool for 5 minutes. Remove the skin and scrape out all the ‘meat’.

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a medium sized pan on high. Fry the onions for a few minutes till they begin to turn slightly golden. Add the garlic and stir for another minute. Add the eggplant and tahini into the onion garlic mixture and stir. The eggplant will stick to the pan, so continue stirring for several minutes until everything is nicely mixed together. Season with salt and pepper and your’e done! Told ya, easiest recipe EVER.

To Juice Or Not To Juice?

Posted in Musings by

Happy New Year, everyone! And congratulations on surviving that dreaded first week back to reality post vacation. Mine was filled with gym sessions (kickboxing and cardio dance classes FTW!), healthy meal prepping, and of course, goal setting for 2016. Here’s hoping the discipline and dedication lasts for the rest of the year!

Whether you love or hate resolutions, January is always a good time to set new intentions and reflect on what you’d like to prioritize for the year ahead. Health & wellness is always a big focus for everyone (especially after a gluttonous holiday season), and I’ve noticed a lot of people going on juice cleanses this time of the year. I’ve always been anti-juice cleanses–I don’t believe in starving myself or fad diets–but there was a point in time last month when I just felt really sluggish/bloated/heavy and needed something to reset my system and kick healthy habits into full gear. Sooo, I convinced my coworker to sign up for a Groupon and purchases the three-day Classic Cleanse from Peeled Chicago. We got the cleanse on a major discount ($75) so it seemed like a good time to give it a try.

A couple of disclaimers. 1) I’m not a doctor or a nutritionist, so make sure to consult a professional before trying a cleanse if you have any health issues. 2) I cheated a bit during my cleanse, so my experiences might not be entirely accurate. I started to cleanse on Sunday evening before dinner (you’re supposed to start the cleanse in the morning so you get the full day’s experience) and ended it before Wednesday dinner. I also let myself snack on carrot sticks when I was hungry, had some sashimi on the first night, and eggs on the second night. You’re not supposed to eat at all, but like I said, I don’t believe in starving myself completely, and I still felt like I experienced the positive side affects of juicing – increased energy, feeling lighter, etc. 3) This is not an ad, I purchased this juice cleanse on my own. 

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Now that the disclaimers are out of the way, here’s a quick recap of what the three days of cleansing looked like for me.

Sunday: I started the juice cleanse Sunday evening (again, you’re not supposed to do this, but I was just really eager to get started when I picked the juices up from Peeled) with the Maroon 5 (beet, carrot, apple, ginger, lemon), followed by the Cashew Dream (cashew, maple syrup, agave, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg). These two ended up being my favorite juices of the lot, so this was a very smooth start. I was like, wow, these juices are freakin’ amazing–the next three days are going to be a breeze! The Maroon 5 can be very polarizing (my coworker absolutely hated it), but I looove beets and sweet juices so I was a big, big fan. And the Cashew Dream was sweet and delicious. I went to bed a very happy girl.

Monday: Started the day with the Green Lantern (apple, spinach, kale, celery, ginger, cucumber, parsley, lemon, lime), which I didn’t mind, followed by the Haute Lemonade (lemon, maple syrup, ginger, cayenne, salt) which was incredibly difficult for me to finish. My coworker on the other hand, absolutely loved it. I don’t know why, but I just hated how sour this juice was. I started feeling woozy around noon, felt better after downing the Maroon 5 and Green Lantern but had some chills all day and felt incredibly sleepy by 4 pm. I was major struggling (and shivering) when I got home and allowed myself to eat some salmon sashimi for dinner. Skipped the Maroon 5 and Cashew Dream since I had a light dinner and went to bed by 9:30 pm. Overall, it was a rough day and I was hating myself for ever thinking this was a good idea.

Tuesday: This day was much, much better and I woke up with so much energy! I did the same routine of juices during the day, and didn’t start getting hungry till 2 pm. My coworker and I actually swapped our Haute Lemonade and Maroon 5 juices, so I was much happier being able to skip my least favorite juice. Snacked on some carrot sticks and felt a little woozy, but nothing as bad as the day before. I started getting more fever chills at night, so I decided to let myself eat some eggs and skipped out on the Maroon 5 and Cashew Dream before bedtime.

Wednesday: I’ve read that the third day is the easiest, and that was definitely the case for me as well. I woke up with a ton of energy and felt great all day (my coworker and I swapped our Haute Lemonade and Maroon 5 juices once again). I didn’t start feeling hungry till 3 pm, but that was probably in anticipation of my dinner plans, since I was scheduled to end the juice right before dinner. I didn’t have any fever chills on the last day and was really enjoying how refreshed the juices made me feel. By 6 pm, I was done, and ready to enjoy a REAL meal! I eased back into a regular diet with some fish for dinner.

Overall, I had a good experience with the three day cleanse from Peeled. I know I cheated (a LOT), but it’s important to listen to your body and not do anything too drastic or harmful. I’ve never even skipped a meal prior to this juice cleanse, so I knew I needed to give my body some raw food to survive the cleanse. I don’t think I would do a full cleanse again, but I’m a big fan of incorporating at least one juice a day now. I’ve been picking up beet and kale juices from Trader Joe’s (only five bucks!) and they’re such a great way to start the morning. A lot of people cleanse for the quick drop in pounds, and I think this is the wrong mentality to have. I did the juice cleanse because I wanted to reset my system and incorporate healthier habits into my diet. Can this be done without a cleanse? Probably. But I needed the kick in the butt, and am grateful to the cleanse for showing me how much more energy I can have when I cut out shitty foods. I definitely don’t have a perfect diet today (I love food too much!), but I’m trying to make healthier decisions every day, and I do think this cleanse put me on the right path.

Let me know if you’ve ever done a cleanse, I’d love to hear from you! Please remember that I’m not an expert or a nutritionist, this was just a very honest take on my experiences and I’d love to hear yours too. xoxo.

Coconut Shrimp Curry (Malai Chingri)

Posted in All Things Indian, Cooking by

My mom’s coconut shrimp curry (or ‘malai chingri’ as the Bengalis call it) is hands down my favorite dish, ever. No joke. Every time I visit my parents, it’s the #1 item on my list of dishes that my mom must cook for me on my first day back. I’m kind of a brat about it, which is why I was so surprised to learn just how easy and quick it is to make! It’s now my go-to recipe whenever I have guests over for Indian food, and it’s always such a crowd favorite. I’ve been asked for this recipe a million times after guests have tried it, so I’m so excited to finally be able to share it with you after verifying all the ingredients and steps with my mom. I sometimes simplify it and skip the cumin and whole garam masala if I’m out, but those spices really make it that much better. Enjoy this creamy, coconut-y, delicious goodness!

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Ingredients (serves 4) 

15-20 shrimp, deveined
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp whole garam masala (cardamom, cinnamon, clove, cardamom)
1 medium sized onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, grated
1 tsp ginger paste
1/2 tomato, diced
1 tsp turmeric powder (haldi)
1 tsp cumin and coriander powder
1 tsp garam masala powder
Kashmiri chili powder, to taste
Salt and pepper, to taste
Pinch of sugar
1 small can of coconut milk
Cilantro, for garnish

Recipe

Heat oil on a medium sized saucepan. Once the oil is heated, add the cumin and whole garam masala. Fry the onions till they begin to brown. Add in the garlic, ginger paste, and tomatoes and stir together till the oil begins to separate. Stir in the shrimp and fry till fully cooked. Add in haldi, cumin and coriander powder, garam masala powder, chili powder, salt and pepper, and a pinch of sugar. Stir in the coconut milk and let boil. Add in more garam masala or chili powder, depending on your taste. Once the shrimp is fully cooked and mixed with the coconut milk, remove from heat and garnish with cilantro. Serve with hot rice.

Curating Our Annual Christmas Feast!

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MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE! I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling the Christmas cheer like crazy this year. I’m spending ten blissful days in Calgary, Canada with my parents and big brother where it’s actually a white Christmas, unlike the Midwest and East Coast this year. I can’t remember the last time I’ve spent so long at home with my family, so I’m making sure to soak up every minute lounging in front of the fireplace, enjoying my favorite homemade Bengali dishes, drinking wine in the evenings, and catching up on every Bollywood movie that I’ve missed this year. It’s been a crazy December (hence the massive delay in updating my blog), so this period of unwinding is pure BLISS! All that’s missing is the mister, who will be joining us right before NYE festivities 🙂

Anyways – on to the purpose of this post: food! Every year since my parents migrated to Canada, my brother and I curate and prepare a Christmas feast to give my mom a much-deserved break. We both love cooking, so it’s something we really look forward to every year, and spend the weeks leading up to Christmas perusing the interwebs for the most interesting recipes. We like to mix up the classics (mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, etc.) with some unique new additions. I’m excited to share this year’s menu, with links to the recipes for you guys to try on your own! The bread pudding was by far everyone’s favorite – highly recommend for an easy fall or winter dish. Absolutely delicious!

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  1. Brussels Sprouts with Pomegranate and Hazelnuts from the Food Network: We replaced the hazelnuts with leftover toasted pecans from the chocolate pecan pie. Still delicious!
  2. Roast Chicken with Cumin, Honey and Orange from NY Times Cooking: I still think Thomas Keller’s Roast Chicken is the best roast chicken of ALL time, but I’m so glad we experimented and tried something fusion this year! The combination of cumin, honey and orange was fingerlickin’ delicious and we couldn’t stop trying the gravy! Basted this baby every ten minutes for a total of four times. So juicy.
  3. Garlic Mashed Potatoes from Martha Stewart: We added extra butter, grated emmental, and topped with parsley. A+.
  4. Orange-Scented Cranberry Sauce from Martha Stewart: Can’t go wrong with a classic cranberry sauce!
  5. Caramelized Butternut Squash, Kale & Gruyere Bread Pudding: This was hands down the family favorite from the entire Christmas meal! My coworker brought this in for Workgiving, and I just had to try it for our Christmas feast. We replaced the gruyere with emmental cheese, but stuck to the recipe otherwise. Definitely repeating this for Thanksgiving next year.
  6. Chocolate Pecan Pie from NY Times Cooking: We cheated with the crust and brought it from the store, but so what? Still a fantastic end to a fantastic meal!

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The chefs! If you have any questions about any of these recipes, don’t hesitate to give me a shout. In the meantime, follow me on Instagram @mrsgcg or Facebook for more foodventures. xo!  

Sweet & Spicy Shrimp Curry

Posted in All Things Indian, Cooking by

Ugh, is it seriously Sunday already? I can’t believe how quickly the Thanksgiving long weekend flew by! This year we celebrated “Thanksgivmas” with my in-laws, with Christmas presents & jammies on Thursday morning, followed by a more formal turkey dinner in the evening. It was so nice to get into the Christmas spirit a little earlier this year, and even though we felt a bit sad after the family festivities were over, we realized that the official holiday countdown has only just begin! I still have a full week of Christmas celebrates with my side of the family to look forward to in Canada. I seriously cannot wait to gorge on my mom’s amazing food and steal–I mean, learn–more of her delicious recipes :). SO. EXCITED.

Anyways, we’re battling some serious Sunday blues here in the Gupta household, so we decided to whip up some homemade Indian food to cleanse our palate from all the decadent eating we’ve been doing over the long weekend. If you follow me on Instagram, you know what I’m talking about! Also, my husband bought me these amazing kadhai dishes as part of my early Christmas gift, and I was just really excited to test them out.

I’ve been making a lot of fish and chicken lately, and wanted to try out a new shrimp recipe tonight. My go-to recipe for shrimp curry involves heavy coconut milk, and I was in the mood for something lighter. I drew some inspiration from this Prawn Patia dish but added some Bengali spices and simplified a few of the steps. I was shocked by how delicious this dish ended up tasting! I love love love adding some sweetness to my curry (true Bengali) and I couldn’t get enough of the sweet and spicy combination. So good, I just had to share with you guys. Enjoy!

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Full spread from tonight’s dinner – bhindi masala, baingan bharta, and sweet & spicy shrimp curry!

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This might be my new go-to shrimp recipe…

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How cute are my new kadhai dishes?!

Ingredients (serves 2)

1/2 tsp kalo jeere (black cumin)
15-20 shrimp, deveined
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1/2 onion, sliced into long slender pieces
1/2 tomato, diced into small pieces and ketchup, to taste
3 garlic cloves, grated
1/2 tsp ginger paste
1 tsp red chilli powder
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp cumin and coriander powder
1 sugar cube (or 1 tsp sugar)
1 tsp vinegar
1 tbsp water
Salt, to taste
Cilantro, for garnishing

Recipe

Heat the oil on a large saucepan. Once heated, drop in the kalo jeere for a few seconds. Then fry the onions until they begin to brown slightly. Add the grated garlic and ginger paste and mix together with the onions and kalo jeere. Add the tomatoes and stir continuously until the oil begins to separate. Add salt and the remaining spices (red chilli powder, turmeric powder, cumin and coriander powder) and keep mixing for another few minutes.

Add the sugar cube and stir until it mixes with the onions and spices. Add water and vinegar and cook until the tomatoes are fully cooked with the spices. Drop in the shrimps and cook for a few minutes with the onions and spice mixture. Stir continuously until the shrimp is fully cooked through (around five minutes). Garnish with cilantro and enjoy with hot rice!

Five Non-Traditional Thanksgiving Sides and Desserts

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Happy almost Thanksgiving, all! I am so excited for the upcoming week – only 2.5 days of work, followed by some major R&R and eating to my heart’s content with all sorts of amazing comfort food. Thanksgiving. is. the. best. We’ll be celebrating with my husband’s family this year and have been trying to brainstorm a unique, non-traditional side dish that we can bring. After doing some research, and taste testing (in the form of my office’s “Worksgiving” last week), I thought it would be fun to put together a quick list of the five non-traditional Thanksgiving sides and desserts you can bring to your Friendsgiving, Worksgiving, or family Thanksgiving. These are all very Thanksgiving appropriate, just a little different from your standard mashed potatoes and green bean casseroles. Enjoy, and let me know if there’s anything else you would want to add to this list!

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  1. Bacon Parmesan Stuffed Mushrooms. Source: Center Cut Cook. I’ve made these ridiculously easy but decadent stuffed mushrooms a few times now, and they’re always such a hit. I brought them in for my company’s Worksgiving last week, and everyone was raving about them and asking me for the recipe. I love these mushrooms because they can be made in less than an hour and satisfies even the pickiest eater. I mean, how can you go wrong with cream cheese, parmesan, and bacon? You really can’t! I like to get a little heavy handed with the red chilli pepper flakes for an extra kick that people just can’t get enough of. Foolproof for any Thanksgiving potluck.
  2. Butternut Squash, Kale, Gruyere Bread Pudding. Source: The Gourmet Monster. My coworker made this kick ass bread pudding with butternut squash, kale, and gruyere last week and I can’t stop thinking about it! The ingredients are perfect for fall, but the dish is unique enough to make sure that no one else will be bringing the same thing to your Thanksgiving potluck. Every bite was so delicious, creamy and packed with wholesome flavors–we’re strongly considering making this for our family Thanksgiving!
  3. Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese and Apple Cider Glaze. Source: Whitney Bond. This was another dish that a coworker brought in for Worksgiving, and I’m completely obsessed. Whitney Bond’s recipe calls for blue cheese, but you can easily replace it with goat cheese (because why would you ever pick blue cheese over goat cheese?!). The apple cider glaze perfectly enhances the already pretty-perfect salty and sweet mixture of bacon and dates. So yum, and great for appetizers before digging into all that turkey!
  4. Pear Butterscotch Pie. Source: Epicurious. Instead of your standard pecan or pumpkin pie, why not surprise your guests with a pear butterscotch pie? My girlfriends and I tried this recipe yesterday while we were snowed in, and it was absolutely delicious. I’m not much of a baker (I hate having to be precise with my ingredients), but this recipe was really easy and we loved the way the flavors turned out. Not too sweet, but the combination of pears and brown sugar was just delightful.
  5. Molten Chocolate Cake with Caramel Filling. Source: Food & Wine. I always was convinced that there should be more chocolate desserts incorporated into Thanksgiving meals. I mean, chocolate is NOT just for Valentine’s Day, am I right?! This is hands down my favorite dessert recipe for entertaining guests. People are obsessed with the gooey warm, melt in your mouth deliciousness of this molten chocolate cake, and the sea salt + caramel mixture elevates this dish into something more elegant than your standard chocolate cake. Perfect for pleasing those who are sick of pumpkin pie. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.

Chicken & Sun-Dried Tomatoes in a Garlic Cream Sauce

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‘Tis the season for turkey, but I have to admit, I’m always going to favor chicken over turkey. I didn’t grow up celebrating Thanksgiving, but after my family migrated to Canada, we always chose roasting a chicken over trying to handle a big bird. Chicken is just so much more juicy and flavorful! Anyone else with me?!

Anyways, today’s recipe is one of my favorite chicken dishes that would make an excellent non-traditional side for a Turkey Day meal. Or an entree for after Thanksgiving, when you’re sick of all the leftover turkey and craving something new.

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I first discovered this recipe on Damn Delicious, and simplified it even further for the lazy (or time pressed!) cook. My version is really really ridiculously simple, but impressive enough for guests and still damn delicious. Trust me, you won’t be able to stop licking your plate. My husband doesn’t even like sun-dried tomatoes, but he loves everything about this chicken and always asks for it.

Keep reading for the recipe!

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Ingredients (serves 2-4)

6 chicken thighs
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 an onion (or 1/2 small onion), chopped
6 cloves of garlic, diced
1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil, chopped
Parsley flakes, to taste
1.5 tablespoons heavy cream
1 cup chicken broth
Salt and pepper, to taste
Red chili flakes, to taste
Thyme leaves, for garnishing

Recipe

Marinate the chicken in salt and pepper, to taste. Melt the butter on a large saucepan on high heat. Once heated, fry the onions and garlic till the mixture becomes slightly translucent. Add the chicken thighs, fry on each side for a few minutes until they begin to brown. Add the sun-dried tomatoes and allow the thighs to fry a little longer in the olive oil. Lower the heat to medium and add the chicken broth, cream, and parsley flakes. Stir everything together and add more salt if necessary. Cover until the chicken is fully cooked, then garnish with thyme leaves.

Best served with pasta, or just a side salad and some garlic bread to soak up all that delicious gravy. Yum!

Let me know if you guys try out the recipe and don’t forget to subscribe by email (to the right) so you can get immediate updates. You can also like me on Facebook. Happy almost Turkey week!

Autumn at Chicago Botanic Garden

Posted in Musings by

“An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.” 

I spent my Sunday taking a stroll through Chicago’s beautiful Botanic Garden, appreciating the stillness of nature, feeling immense gratitude for every single moment, and praying hard for those who haven’t been as lucky around the world. Here’s to restoring peace & beauty for all, and an end to the insanity that’s tearing it all apart.

The gardens, through an autumn-colored lens:

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Fancy Date Night: Les Nomades

Posted in Restaurants by

Last night, my husband and I had the pleasure of trying the prix fixe menu at Les Nomades, one of Chicago’s most classic French restaurants. The dinner was a generous wedding gift from our family, so we were incredibly excited to get dressed up in our finest threads and celebrate our anniversary (yet again) with some fancy French cuisine, wine, and chocolate.

The entire dining experience was top notch from start to finish. The interiors are cozy and romantic, resembling an authentic French living room with beautiful artwork everywhere. I especially loved the fireplaces at the entrance and dining area, artfully decorated with fall knick-knacks. I opted for the four course meal (my husband did five, which was definitely more food than anyone needs) and our server made sure our glasses were full throughout the meal with different wine pairings. My favorite dishes were the langoustine ravioli with seared scallop, my husband’s slow-roasted veal and lamb loin, and the hazelnut souffle with hot chocolate sauce. The souffle might be the most amazing dessert I’ve ever had – so rich and decadent, I savored every last bite of that deliciousness. The whole experience was just lovely – self-indulgent, but lovely.

Enjoy some images from our meal!

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Langoustine ravioli and seared scallop, langoustine sauce. This was my absolute favorite dish. 

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Seared foie gras, strawberry balsamic reduction, caramel foam. Rich and flavorful, just like foie gras should be! 

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My warm lobster and shrimp salad with mango dressing 

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Dover sole with quinoa, saffron pomme macaire, citrus sauce

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Slow-roasted veal and lamb loin. I wish I had more room in my belly to try more of this! It was absolutely amazing. 

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I don’t think we got enough dessert. The hazelnut souffle with chocolate sauce, a surprise chocolate mousse cake for our anniversary, a plate of macarons and chocolate truffles, and a generous cheese plate. Happiness on a table right here. 

Mastering My Mom’s Classic Chicken Curry

Posted in All Things Indian, Cooking by

Happy belated Halloween, all! The last few weeks have been so busy, I didn’t even realize it’s been 12 whole days since my last post. Ahem, clearly I need to do a better job of posting regularly, but I’m not going to be too hard on myself. I want blogging to continue feeling like a hobby rather than a chore.

Anyways, life has been keeping me busy lately with work, amazing fall weather, and the usual fun fall festivities. I just love this time of the year! Two weekends ago, my husband and I celebrated Durga Puja (a Hindu festival honoring the Goddess Durga) by getting decked out in our Indian clothes, attending a Bengali community gathering at UIC, and then cooking up a Bengali feast at home. I feel like I’m finally mastering my mom’s classic chicken curry and wanted to share the recipe with you guys. It’s incredibly simple to make, but always hits the spot when I’m craving homemade Indian food. It really is the best comfort food and I love how Bengalis add a little bit of sugar to their chicken curries. It makes all the difference.

Enjoy the recipe and give me a shout if you have any questions!

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Ingredients (serves 4-6)

6 chicken drumsticks, 6 chicken thighs
1 tbsp Greek yogurt
1 tbsp milk
1/2 large onion, sliced into long slender pieces
4 garlic gloves, grated
1/2 teaspoon ginger paste
Optional: 3 green chilis, 2 bay leaves, 1 tsp cumin powder, 1 tsp coriander powder, 1/2 tsp peppercorn
1.5 tsp haldi (turmeric powder)
1/2 tomato, finely diced
1/2 tsp sugar
1 tsp garam masala
1 tsp Kashmiri chili powder
Salt, to taste
2 tbsp vegetable oil
Cilantro leaves, for garnish

Recipe 

In a large bowl, marinate the drumsticks and thighs in the Greek yogurt,  1/2 teaspoon of haldi and a sprinkling of salt. Don’t go overboard with the yogurt, because it can easily curdle while cooking! I’ve learned that the hard way.

While the chicken is marinating, prep the onion, garlic, ginger, and tomatoes. Heat the oil on a large pan. Once the oil is hot, drop in the sugar until it becomes to caramelize. Stir the sugar around the pan so it doesn’t stick to the pan – this is what will give the curry a darker color. Fry the onions, garlic, and ginger in the sugar until the mixture becomes a little brown. Throw in the tomatoes, remaining haldi, garam masala, chili powder, optional spices, and stir for a few minutes. Drop in the chicken pieces (get rid of the watery yogurt mixture that’s remaining in the bowl – this will curdle!) and fry on each side for a few minutes till they start browning slightly. Pour the milk over the mixture to help tenderize the chicken. Season the curry generously with salt and continue stirring so that all the chicken is coated in the onion and spice mixture. Add half a cup of water, lower the heat, and cover the pan. Let the curry simmer on low for 20-30 minutes – note that the thighs will cook first (after 15-20 minutes), so remove them into a separate platter to avoid overcooking. The drumsticks will take slightly longer to cook. Once the drumsticks are done, taste the curry to make sure it’s seasoned to your liking (this is there stage where I usually add more garam masala or chili powder!).

Finally, garnish the curry with fresh cilantro leaves and serve with a steaming hot plate of rice and a side of Greek yogurt. Best enjoyed on a rainy, homesick sorta day.