Chicken Pilau

Nawakaribisha kwa chakula kitamu cha chicken pilau. Karibuni!

Ingredients: serves 3

• 1/2 chicken
• 4 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 1 large onion(chopped)
• 2 small chilli peppers (whole)
• 2 garlic cloves( crushed to a paste)
• 1 tsp fresh minced ginger
• 5 whole cardamon
• 1 large cinnamon stick (2 medieum sized)
• 3 cloves
• 3  black peppercorns
• 1 tsp whole cumin seeds
• 1 tsp pilau masala (grounded)
• 1 tsp tomato paste
• 1 cup basmati rice
• 2 cups water
• salt to taste

Method:

1. In a cooking pot(sufuria) heat oil and add onions and chilli peppers fry until limp and aromatic
2. Meanwhile cut chicken into pieces
3. keep stirring the onions and chillis, then add garlic, ginger and stir until fragrant
4. Add all the dry whole spices and fry until the mixture is aromatic and starts to turn brown
5. Add your chicken, skin side down brown and then turn to brown the other side
6. Add the pilau masala, tomato paste,salt, rice and stir well
7. Finally add the water give it one more gentle stir and  check seasoning
8. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer(covered) for 20min or until rice is cooked
9. serve as is or with your choice of salads, chutneys or raita. Enjoy.

* Potatoes can be added if you like, which would be added at the stage of browning the chicken.