GOALONDO STEAMER CHICKEN..... BOATMEN STYLE

Goalondo used to be a hamlet at the confluence of the Padma and Brahmaputra in the pre-Independent India. Bengal was undivided at the time. The Eastern Bengal Express would run to and fro between Goalondo and Sealdah. The steamer would take passengers from the Goalondo Ghat to Narayangunj in Dacca, thereafter to different destinations. The story and recipe is about the boatmen in the steamer who cooked a rustic country chicken curry. It's taste was great, became a legend sort of. It had been documented by various Bengali writers. It  earned similar fame like Dak Bungalow Chicken Curry, Railway Mutton Curry, etc. Goalondo Chicken Curry used  minimal ingredients. Those who travelled the route spoke highly about it. It holds true  for generations inspiring us to cook it. The curry doesn't use lemon juice or yogurt or vinegar, neither garam masala nor other ground spices, yet tastes great.

Information Source : A Times of India Article by Pritha Sen

Recipe Source : Pritha Sen and few other blog recipes.

Sources reveal the boatmen used prawn paste in the Goalondo style chicken curry, I did not, neither eggs and potatoes.

INGREDIENTS :

Chicken : 1kg
Onion : 2
Garlic : 8-9 cloves
Ginger : 2 inch
Dry Red Chilli Powder : 2 tbsp [ Authentically dry red chilli paste is used]
Mustard Oil : 5tbsp + 1tbsp
Salt : As required
Turmeric : 1tsp

Bayleaf : 1 [Do not know if the boatmen used it or not]

Oil : 5-6 tbsp

METHOD :

Wash the chicken pieces thoroughly.

Soak the dry red chillies in hot water for an hour, grind into a paste. I used red chilli powder.

Peel and wash the onion, garlic and ginger.

Roughly chop or pound the onion, garlic and ginger. I minced them in a manual mincer.

Marinate the chicken with 1tbsp of oil and the rest of the ingredients.

Heat the rest of the oil in a wok, temper with the bayleaf.

Add the marinated chicken, stir fry at high heat for 4-5 minutes. Reduce heat to minimal.

Cover cook at minimal heat for 15-20 minutes, stir occasionally. After sometime water would start releasing and would dry up too.

Add 2-3 coffee mugs of warm water, cook at minimal heat for 15-16 minutes. They say the boatmen did not use water, I did.