Aagri Chicken

 Presenting a quirky chicken dish from the 'Agri' community. This community resides in and around Mumbai, Raigad and Palghar in Maharashtra and is famous for its delicious food traditions. 

This Chicken is sautéed with onions, tomatoes and off course the 'Agri' chicken masala and finished with a special green mix or the 'vaatap'!! It tastes best when had with 'Rice Bhakri but can also be had with Rice or chapati. 

Serves 3-4

Ingredients:

Chicken (curry cut small): 500 gms

Agri-Koli masala: 3-4 tbsp( add more if you like it spicy!)

Onions: medium 3 finely chopped

Tomato: 1 big finely chopped

Coriander : 1 bunch chopped

Garlic: 5-6 petals finely chopped

Green Chilly: 1 medium

Dry coconut: grated and roasted 3 tbsp

Peppercorns: 3-4

Bay leaves:2

Big elaichi: 1

Salt to taste

Oil: 2 tbsp (you can add more if you want it floating on top!)

Method:

1.  Grind together the coriander leaves, green chilly, garlic and 1 tbsp coconut to a coarse paste and set it aside. This is the green masala or the vaatap.

2. Fry 1 chopped onion till golden brown with  remaining coconut. Blend it into a fine paste.

3. Wash chicken thoroughly with water. Drain the water from the chicken.

4. Mix the chicken with the green masala, 1 tbsp of the 'Agri' masala  and marinate it in the refrigerator for 30 mins.

5. In a pressure cooker, add oil. Once the oil heats up, add bay leaves, big elaichi, pepper corns. Add onions and sauté  till golden brown. Add the fine paste made in step2.

6. Then add tomatoes and cook them till mushy. Add remaining 'Agri' masala.

7. Add marinated chicken and fry for about 5 mins. 

8. Add salt and about 2-3 cups of warm water. 

9. cook for about 5 whistles on medium flame or until the chicken is done. 

10. Serve hot with Rice Bhakri, Rice or chapati 

Note: The Agri-Koli masala used in this recipe is easily available in Mumbai. However, if you are outside Mumbai, you can easily order it online.