KALIJEERA RICE & CHICKEN ECONOMIC MEAL

I remember the date I cooked this family lunch, 30th November, 2019. It doesn't require much of skill or labour. The near cooked rice be taken down, strained at right time. One should not take up such projects on a day when this cook is supposed to go for a running event in evening. The man did shout at me but looking at his & also son's eating pattern that afternoon, I felt what I have done is right; as usual their plates looked squeaky clean after meal & before wash, they were nice enough to eat all of Potato & Peanut Salad served alongside. Tossed in chaat masala, with drizzle of lemon juice, it tasted great. Later in the evening, during entire period of my run I suffered from severe acidity may be because of having rice around 3pm which was cooked in good amount of ghee / clarified butter. Had I have a bowlful of that salad and a piece of chicken, no discomfort would have been caused. Even plain rice would have been fine I am sure. I know too much of ghee causes us Bengalis acidity, I have experienced it. 

Actually, it is all about what one has grown up eating. Kalijeera Rice is a fragrant, short grained rice coming from Bangladesh, I always stock it for pulao & payesh because it resembles Gobindobhog Chal of West Bengal. Here, Bangladeshi eateries use this short grain variety of rice for their Biryanis, I get to know that back in Bangladesh they use it for same. I do eat, get home meat & rice meals from these eateries occasionally but to my dissatisfaction. In Chicken Rice, chicken feels dry; in case of mutton rice, meat smells raw. These days I do any kind of meat and rice with varied combination of spices or even with the readily available spice mixes, better than getting it from eateries. Last 30th of November, I did not have time for elaborate something, I cooked one-pot chicken-rice meal KALIJEERA RICE & CHICKEN ECONOMIC MEAL.

I need finish blogpost sooner. Yesterday, I did not have time to go to market for raw produce. We are going out once done with my post, Cristine with household chores. I ain't willing to go to Indian Market but the local wet market closes by 12pm, I am unwilling to buy packaged meat, fish from local supermarket, their sea-bass is good & fresh however, I have a cauliflower lying in fridge. I am going to the Indian market for "kaikka, magur, maurala", etc. Going on a Saturday morning is good but not always possible, I am getting old man. I have told our boy to wait once back from school if we are late, I will get him sweets, we definitely will have our meal at Ananda Bhavan. No, we will not walk down to the Bangladeshi shop, the sky continues to weep, I am unwell, do not want son to wait in an empty house for long back from school. Their lunch boxes were packed with luchi-torkari. The boy's school is giving up today for winter break, he left his box wanting to have lunch outside with his friends. Mumma allowed, he has earned this allowance, further details shall be shared in public in the right time. I feel restless. The teachers, friends, son, his father are happy, only I cannot rejoice wholeheartedly; the husband has to shout, "you are such negative, stop worrying, take pride in your boy, he will manage those few marks in Mathematic, Spanish in few months." I am unstoppable, "you cannot go wrong at any step during this time boy!" He complains that his mumma is never happy with him, keeps lunch box in kitchen counter, takes snack box with apple, Dharwad Peda leaving mumma to weep alone, "byas ebar ga cherey debey aar July te kharap ekta result korbey, shob jabey amar." 

There is one Bengali couple teachers from Barasat in his school, husband is the physics teacher who definitely repents meeting me four years back. The husband refused to call me his wife post afternoon yesterday not because I almost jumped onto Sir, started complaining about our son but because I did that without valid appointment. Sir is their class teacher, does not take any of his subject, he understands me more than husband. I will pay tribute to each of his teachers in public after few months if given a chance. Now I should share a nutritious, one pot chicken and rice recipe KALIJEERA RICE & CHICKEN ECONOMIC MEAL for you to do over this weekend.

Use fresh chicken for a better taste.

INGREDIENTS :

CHICKEN : 8-10 PIECES [MEDIUM CUT, I USED LEGS & THIGHS]
KALIJEERA RICE : 11/2COFFEE MUG [A SHORT GRAINED, FRAGRANT RICE FROM BANGLADESH]
SLICED ONION : 2 SMALL TEACUP SIZED
GREEN CHILLI : 6-7
GINGER PASTE : 11/2TBSP
GARLIC PASTE : 2TBSP
CUMIN POWDER : 1TSP
CORIANDER POWDER : 1TSP
RED CHILLI POWDER : 1TSP
TURMERIC POWDER : 1TSP
LEMON JUICE : 5-6TBSP
GREEN CARDAMOM : 7-8
BLACK CARDAMOM : 2
STAR ANISE : 2
CINNAMON STICK : 6-7 TWO INCHED SIZED
CLOVE : 6-7
BAY LEAF : 6-7
MILK : 1SMALL TEA CUP [AT ROOM TEMPERATURE]
GHEE : 6TBSP +2TBSP+2TBSP
YELLOW FOOD COLOUR : 3-4DROPS
SALT : AS REQUIRED

PROCEDURE :

Wash, soak rice in enough water for 1/2 an hour. Wash chicken few times, marinate with half of turmeric+cumin+coriander+red chilli powders+lemon juice+ginger+garlic pastes+salt.

Keep marinated chicken covered for an hour. Let us cook rice.

Take a deep bottomed vessel, fill it with water, bring to boil. Add salt, half of bay leaves+cinnamon sticks+green cardamom+cloves. Let boil for 3-4 minutes.

Strain water from rice, cook until 70% done.

Strain to drain rice completely.

Spread rice on trays or newspaper to soak in last drop of water.

Rub cooked rice with 2tbsp ghee, leave like that for 1/2 an hour.

Place heavy bottomed vessel on gas oven. Pour 6 tbsp of ghee. Temper it with the remaining bay leaves, cinnamon, green cardamoms, cloves, black cardamoms, star anise.

Add washed, sliced onions; fry till golden brown.

Add remaining turmeric+ginger+garlic+salt and fry for 2 minutes. Add marinated chicken, stir at high heat for 3-4 minutes.

Lower heat to minimal, cover cook until chicken is done 80%. We have to check in between, stir to avoid any burn.

When chicken is cooking, we will prepare a mixture of 2tbsp ghee, milk, few drops of yellow food colour.

When chicken is done, take it off on a plate.

Add a layer of rice in the bottom of vessel.

Level, place some cooked chicken. Pour some ghee-milk-yellow food colour mixture+whole green chillies. Repeat process once again. The top layer would be of rice, on it the mixture.

Tie lid with a heavy towel, place close tight.

Place a pan atop gas stove, then container. Cook at low to medium heat for 40-45 minutes.

Once done, shake well before serving it fresh, hot.

Choose a heavier vessel, preferably a non stick or an earthen pot.

Do not forget to get some raita, salad alongside. I served it with a salad of boiled potato, roasted peanut, cucumber, tomato, chaat masala and lemon juice.