Healthy Ayam Kuzi - Creamy Spicy Chicken

Ingredients

800 gm chicken pieces

For the spice paste 1

2 big onions

4 cloves garlic

1 inch ginger

3 tbs chili paste

For the spice paste 2

2 stalks of mint leaves

2 stalks of coriander leaves including the roots

4 green chilis

14 bird’s eye chilis

For the dry spice mix

1 tbs cumin

1 tbs coriander powder

1 tbs fennel powder

½ tbs black pepper

Additional ingredients

2 stalks lemon grass, smashed

2 stalks pandan leaves

1 star anise, 1 cinnamon stick, 3 cardamom pods, 3 cloves

Home-made walnut milk

For the topping

2 tbs raisins

2 tbs roasted cashew nuts

Salt & sugar to taste

Fried onions

Method

1. Marinade chicken pieces with some salt and turmeric powder and fry. Frying is optional. For a healthier version, skip the frying.

2. Blend all the ingredients for spice paste 1.

3. Heat some oil in a pan, and add star anise, cinnamon, cardamoms, cloves, pandan leaves and lemon grass. Saute for 1 minute.

4. Add spice paste 1 and all the dry spices. Fry over medium heat for 5 minutes.

5. Stir in chicken and saute for 2 minutes before adding milk. For a healthier version, opt for walnut or almond milk. Bring to a boil and simmer for 2 minutes.

6. Blend all the ingredients for spice paste 2 and pour into the pot of simmering curry.

7. Cook until chicken is tender. Season.

8. Top with the raisins, cashew nuts and fried onion.

9. Delicious!