How to make a grumpy husband happy – Chicken Breasts with Capsicum in a dry gravy

I have a grumpy husband on my hands today. I am trying to be a good girl and go the healthy way by eating Salads, Brown Rice etc. But he wants his Indian food and no Brown Rice. Being a Maharastrian he has grown up on a diet of Rice and Chapatis (Rotis) as a part of his everyday meal. He tells me he feels he has not eaten properly if he doesn’t eat Rice with his meals. And although usually he eats everything he was no a happy bunny today.

Now the husband is a very reasonable man, very rarely does he fuss over food and eats everything I make including leftovers and mishaps in the kitchen. So when I made a lovely grilled Chicken Salad for us today, he refused to eat it. After a little prodding and probing I realized that he had a long and bad day at work and had not eaten anything all day. He wanted some comfort and food means comfort for him.

Like me he loves his food and gets grumpy when he doesn’t eat his meals on time. Hence I thought I should do something to make him happy. Thankfully I had some Chicken Breasts in the fridge and I managed to make this gorgeous Dry Capsicum Chicken for him.

The Chicken tasted great and was ready under 30 minutes. It had a lovely aroma and flavor. Not too spicy nor too bland. I served it to him with some steaming hot Rice and Dal and was rewarded with a huge smile and a thank you, which was totally worth the effort. We all have to do things to make our loved ones happy right J

Here is the recipe (Serves 2 – 4, cooking time 30 minutes)

For the Chicken:

2 medium sized Chicken Breasts (I used around 500 gms)

1 large Green Capsicum chopped into chunky pieces

2 medium sized Onions thinly sliced

6 – 7 Curry Leaves

1 tsp Cumin seeds

4 Garlic cloves thinly sliced or chopped

1 Tbsp Oil

Salt to taste

1 tsp Turmeric powder

1 tsp Red chilli powder

Juice of half a Lemon

Finely chopped Coriander for garnishing

1 cup water

For the Masala

20 Peppercorns

2 tbsp Coriander powder

1 tbsp Fennel seeds

4 Green Cardamoms

4 dry Red Chillies

1 star Anise

1 Cinnamon stick

Juice of half a Lemon

Grind all the ingredients for the masala except the Lemon Juice to a fine powder.

Wash and cut the Chicken Breasts into medium pieces. Now pat them dry and apply the ground masala to them and sprinkle Lemon juice on it. Let the Chicken rest while you get everything else ready.

Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pan and add the Cumin seeds, Curry Leaves and Garlic. Once they start to splutter add the Onion to it and cook till the Onion has become a little translucent. Now add the chopped Capsicum to the Onions and cook on a medium flame for 5 – 7 minutes.

Add the Turmeric, Red Chili powder and Salt and saute the Capsicum and Onion for 5 more minutes.  Add the Chicken and cook for 5 minutes and then add a cup of Water. Cover and cook for 10 – 15 minutes of till the Chicken is cooked and all the water has evaporated.

Turn the heat off and sprinkle the Lemon juice. Mix well and garnish with chopped Coriander.

Tags: Capsicum, Chicken