Savvy Chef: Indian

Friday, November 14, 2008

Slow Cooker Masala Chicken

This has been one of the most searched and viewed recipes on my blog...and for good reason! It's ridiculously simple to throw together and the flavor will blow your mind. Tender chicken breast, soft veggies, caramelized onions and a creamy spiced sauce make this the ultimate comfort meal on a busy weeknight or as the star of a dinner party! Like many slow cooked meals, this tastes even BETTER the next day, so leftovers are a plus :)

If preparing in advance, you can place everything in your pot to marinate until the next day and cook fresh for your meal. Alternatively, you can cook it all the day before and reheat in your slow cooker. Of course you can also make this on a stove and it will be ready in about 30 minutes (perfect for those of us who don't always plan ahead!). Customize the flavors to your preference. For a strong flavor of Indian spices, use less (or none) of the half and half. For a creamier sauce and subtle spice flavor, use more!

A huge thank you to my sister Hanna for taking all these beautiful photos :) She's recently become quite the talented chef and photographer...just look at her plated presentation of this dish!

Serves 4-5 adults

Ingredients

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-2 large onions, cut into thin strips
-1/4 cup olive oil (or vegetable oil)

-2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into cubes

-3 or 4 medium sized potatoes, cubed (peeled or not, I chose to peel)

-1/2 cup chopped carrots

-1 jar (15 oz) Masala simmer sauce (I got mine from Trader Joe's, but it is available in different markets)

-1 cup water

-1 tablespoon fresh minced ginger (or 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons dried ginger)

-2 tablespoons fresh minced garlic

-salt to taste

-1 cup chopped fresh cilantro (1 bunch)

-1/2-1 cup half and half (or heavy cream). If using heavy cream use less. The more half+half/cream you use, the more it will dilute the flavor of the spices, but it tastes really delicious!

To make
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-Saute your sliced onions in oil until they are soft and browned. Set aside 1/2 of the onions for garnish at the end. Do NOT skip sauteing the onions, they add a lot of flavor!

-Place the other 1/2 of the sauteed onions, chicken, chopped potatoes, chopped carrots, Masala simmer sauce, water, ginger, garlic and a dash of salt into your slow cooker. Cover and cook for 5 hours on low, or 3 hours on high. (Stovetop cooking time is about 30-40 minutes on medium high heat, until the chicken is tender and the veggies are soft).

-In the last 30 minutes of cooking, uncover lid and taste the salt, adjust to your liking. Add the chopped cilantro, and half +half.
-When ready to serve, plate and garnish with reserved sauteed onions and additional cilantro.
-Serve with Pea Ginger Rice
-Enjoy!

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