Aromatic Braised Chicken with Fried Onions
A flavorful dish of tender braised chicken thighs cooked with aromatic spices like curry leaves, cloves, and cinnamon, topped with crispy fried onions. This fragrant dish combines Indian and Asian flavors for a delicious comfort meal.
Ingredients
- •2½ pounds chicken thighs
- •4 medium shallots
- •5 cloves garlic
- •1 tablespoon minced peeled ginger
- •2 sprigs fresh curry leaves
- •1 teaspoon cayenne
- •¼ teaspoon black peppercorns
- •10 whole cloves
- •1 piece cinnamon stick
- •1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
- •½ cup water
- •2 cups vegetable oil
- •1 medium onion
- •3 teaspoons all-purpose flour
- •divided
Cooking Instructions
- 1.
Toss all ingredients except water, oil, onion, and flour with 1 teaspoon salt in a wide heavy medium pot. Marinate chicken, covered and chilled, 1 hour.
60 min
- 2.
Add water and bring to a boil, then simmer, covered, until chicken is tender, 40 minutes to 1 hour.
50 min
- 3.
Meanwhile, heat 1 1/2 inches oil in a small heavy saucepan over medium heat until hot but not smoking.
5 min
- 4.
Toss onion with 1 teaspoon flour, then fry in 2 batches, stirring frequently (do not let burn), until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per batch. Transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels. Reserve 3 tablespoons oil.
6 min
- 5.
Remove chicken from cooking liquid, reserving liquid, and gently pat dry. 3Heat reserved oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then brown chicken all over, about 6 minutes total. Transfer to a platter.
6 min
- 6.
Add remaining 2 teaspoons flour to fat in skillet and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add chicken-cooking liquid (with aromatics and spices) and simmer, stirring, until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pour over chicken. Top with fried onions.
3 min