A Tasty Indian Meal

I cook dinner, usually for about 6 people. I do not have a dishwasher. My mother used to joke that she had one, me! I really hate it because my kitchen is small and it seems like the never ending chore - like laundry.

Dinners that use a minimum of pots and pans are ideal. I also struggle with diners who don't like spice, and those who like it extra spicy.

I am going to give you an easy meal. It will feed six people with generous left overs.

           Chicken Tandoori

Chicken Tandoori is a nice little one casserole dish (plus one dirty skillet) meal that is perfect for a pot luck.

Shopping list:

1 purple onion

1 cup of shredded carrot

1 red pepper

1 Anaheim chile

Butter, 

1 zucchini

Garlic cloves

1 can of chicken broth

1 can of tomato paste

brown rice - in the bag, not the instant kind

Tandoori spice

1 cup of cubed chicken

Saute in a generous amount of butter:

1/2 of the onion chopped kind of fine, the shredded carrot, 1/c cup of the red pepper, diced and 1/2 Anaheim chile diced fine.

Cook these, stirring so they are all tossed in the butter. Maybe for 10 minutes on medium. The different colors look beautiful in the skillet.

Stir in:

1 cup of chopped zucchini and two thinly sliced garlic cloves. Cook a few more minutes

Add:

1 can of chicken broth, 2/3 cup of uncooked brown rice, 1/2 cup of water, the tomato paste and 1 Tablespoon of Tandoori spice.

Bring all this to a nice good boil. While you are waiting grease a large casserole dish. Pour in the rice mixture and cover

Bake:

350 degrees for 45 minutes.

In the meantime:

Using your same skillet, melt a few tablespoons of butter and add a generous Tablespoon of Tandoori spice. Brown the cup of chicken cubes in this. Set it aside until your oven timer goes off.

When the 45 minutes are up, add the chicken to the casserole. No need to stir it in, you can just pile it on top. Recover it and bake for another 25 minutes.

How not to: Do not chop up the Anaheim pepper and touch any part of your face.

Tip: If you open both ends of the tomato paste can you can use the lid to push it all out the bottom.

You can make your own Tandoori spice. I suggest serving this with a cooler dish such as a salad, and perhaps some Pita bread. 

Trivia Question: What is the only state capitol without a McDonald's? By the way, no prize for knowing.

                                      Side Dish

I learned the fancy name for this dish is Tzatziki, however, where I am from it is just called That Cucumber salad in the white stuff.

There are a lot of variations on this but I am going to give you my quick go-to version. It is good with something spicy to cool the mouth down.

That Cucumber Salad Thing

Shopping list:

2 cucumbers (for four people)

Small container of plain Greek yogurt

fresh mint, or dill if you have to,

I want to suggest using English cucumbers for this, however if you are a cheapskate like me and use the regular dark ones make sure you taste them in advance. If they are bitter you will need to soak them in salt water for at least a half hour or possibly an hour. Also, buy a really good quality of yogurt. The cheap is just too runny.

I like to peel mine - personal preference. Cut them lengthwise and then across to make kind of cubes.

Stir your chopped mint or dill into the yogurt. Then gently fold in the cukes. You might want to add salt and pepper. I find that the mint or the dill are enough flavor for me. 

There are some misguided people (and you know who you are) who add fresh tomato to this dish.  I don't know what in the world they are thinking...

Instead of a side dish, if you want to make it more of a dip you can grate the cucumber, salt it and let it sit. You will need to squeeze out all the liquid that results in a cheese cloth. Then proceed with the rest of the recipe as above.

You can also dip Pita bread in this dish.

I will get you that recipe for the Tandoori spice, but trust me, it has so many things in it you should just go get a can.

Trivia answer: Montpelier, VT