Home style Chicken Stew & Fish Stew

My mother in law prepared the chicken stew often for her two boys (and also youngest brother-in-law Tony) since they were too young and at the time my in laws lived in a joint family. Everyone had extremely spicy food in the family and her poor darlings just couldn't cope with the heat of the chilly's.

Chicken Stew

Ingredients

Chicken.,cut to pieces................................................. .........5oo grams

Tomato,Chopped(Tomato kuchi)...........................................1

Onion ,Chopped.(PeyajKuchi).............................................2

Ginger Paste)(Ada bata).........................................................1 tsp

Potato (Alu),chopped.............................................................1

Peas (Motorshuti)..................................................................2 tbsp

Carrot(Gajor),Chopped..........................................................1

French beans,Cut into 2 inch pieces...........................................8-10

Cauliflower Flowerets...............................................................6-8

Chicken stock cube...................................................................1

Butter.......................................................................................2 tbsp

Refined Oil...................................................................................1 tbsp

Freshly ground Pepper.............................................................1 tsp

Salt .......................................................................................to taste

Sugar.................................................................................

Peppercorns............................................................................6

Cloves.....................................................................................2

Green Cardamoms...................................................................2

Cinnamons..................................................................................2

Water.....................................................................................as much as required

Preparation

Chop the chicken to medium size pieces.

Heat the Butter and refined oil (Refined oil prevents the butter from burning) and when hot add the whole spices-peppercorns,cloves, cinnamons and green cardamoms. 

Let them splutter a bit and add the onion. Stir fry till the onions turn transparent.

I use the pressure cooker for this purpose but if you are using a pan, its fine.

Now add the chicken pieces and fry well .

Add salt , sugar and freshly crushed pepper.

Also, add the vegetables one by one and stir fry.

Add the chicken stock cube .

Add enough water to cover all vegetables and pressure cook. In the pressure cooker, it will take one whistle to be ready.

if you are using a pan,cover and cook on low flame .

Adjust the seasoning . I serve with hot bread toast. 

Ingredients For Fish Stew :

Pomfret or any fish you like............................................250 grams

Potato,cubed...........................................................................1,medium size

Onion,chopped...............................................................1 medium size

Carrot.,cubed...............................................................................1

French Beans..................................................................5-6

Cauliflower,cut into small florets............................................4

Tomato.............................................................................1

Oil........................................................................................1 tsp

Garlic,chopped........................................................................1 tsp

Ginger juliennes.....................................................................1 tsp

Bay Leaf.............................................................................2

Peppercorns...............................................................................10

Salt...............................................................................as per taste

Pepper Powder.............................................................as per taste

Saffron,soaked in a little water (Optional).................................1 pinch

Method of preparation:

Take any fish that is absolutely fresh and has less bone for this dish .

Also cut the vegetables into small cubes. Finely chop the onion and tomato.

Though it is a steamed fish preparation, but if you must, please feel free to fry the fish pieces lightly on both sides and remove.

Heat a non-stick pan. Heat the oil. Add the garlic first and stir fry a bit.

Add the finely chopped onion and stir fry till transparent.Then add Bay leaves and peppercorns.fry for 5-7 minutes.

Next, add ginger juliennes and all vegetables . Stir a bit and then add enough water to cover all the vegetables.When the water comes to a boil, add the fish pieces, Tomato, salt and pepper powder. Cover and  cook on low flame for 20 to 25 minutes. When all vegetables are soft add the saffron water. Turn the flame off.

Serve hot and enjoy.

This Fish Stew recipe is for those who do not like chicken and love fish.....

My mother in law herself loved this preparation as she was not fond of chicken dishes.