Coconut Chicken, Fattoush And Chocolate Muffins by Zarnak Sidhwa

Ingredients For Coconut Chicken:

• Chicken boneless  1 kg
• Lemon juice  1-1/2 tbsp
• Ginger garlic paste  1-1/2 tbsp
• Turmeric powder 1/2 tsp
• Salt  to taste
• Scraped coconut 1-1/2 cup
• Coriander seeds  1-1/2 tbsp
• Black peppercorns  15
• Fenugreek seeds  1/4 tsp
  
• Cumin seeds  1-1/2 tsp
  
• Whole dry chilies 10
  
• Olive oil  3 tbsp
  
• Onion, chopped 3 medium
  
• Mustard seeds 1/2 tsp
  
• Curry leaves  10
  
• Garlic  8 cloves
• Tamarind pulp  1-1/2 tbsp
  
• Coconut milk  3/4 cup

Method:

1. Marinate chicken with lemon juice, ginger garlic paste, turmeric powder and salt for an hour.
2. To make the masala dry roast coconut to a light brown.
3. Lightly saute coriander seeds, black peppercorns, fenugreek seeds, cumin seeds and whole red chilies in two tsp of olive oil.
4. Grind these along with roasted coconut and half the onions to a fine paste using a little water if required.
5. Heat remaining oil in a pan.
6. Add mustard seeds and curry leaves.
7. When the seeds splutter, add garlic and remaining onions and saute for five minutes on low heat.
8. Add ground masala and saute for five minutes till a nice aroma is given out add marinated chicken.
9. Stir well and add one cup of water and adjust salt.
10. Stir, cover and cook for ten minutes. Add tamarind pulp and stir well.
11. Add coconut milk and remove from heat just when it comes to a boil.
12. Serve hot.

Ingredients For Fattoush:

• Onion 1
  
• Cucumber 1
  
• Tomato 1
  
• Capsicum  1
  
• Pita breads 2
  
• Green olives 8
  
• Black olives  8
  
• Iceberg lettuce  5-6

Method:

1. Toast pita breads in non stick pan till golden from both sides.
2. Remove from heat and set aside.
3. Combine all vegetables in a bowl.
4. Add capsicum, green and black olives, torn lettuce leaves.
5. Cut toasted breads into bite size pieces and add.
6. Roughly chop parsley and add.
   
7. Add mint leaves.
8. Add salt, pepper powder, lemon juice and olive oil.
9. Toss to mix.
   
10. Serve immediately.

Ingredients For Chocolate Muffins:

• Unsalted butter  125 gm
  
• Caster sugar  3 oz
  
• Brown sugar 1 oz
  
• Eggs  2
  
• Vanilla essence 1 tsp
  
• Baking powder 1 tsp
  
• Flour  200 gm
  
• Salt  1/4 tsp
• Cocoa powder 1 tbsp
  
• Milk  150 ml
  
• Chocolate  2 oz

Method:

1. Beat butter, add caster sugar, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla essence, sift flour, cocoa powder and  baking powder and add in salt.
2. Mix dry ingredients in the butter mixture, alternating with milk.
3. Fill the cupcake cases half with batter add in chopped chocolate pieces and top with more batter, bake at 190 degree C for 20 minutes, until muffins have risen and are springy to the touch.
4. Cool and serve same day.