Goan Chicken Cafreal

This is the traditional Goan version of masala chicken. It can be either fried or grilled on the BBQ.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 20 mins
• Total Time: 40 mins
• Calories: 372 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
• salt to taste
• 8 whole cloves
• ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1 (2 to 3 pound) whole chicken
• 1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
• 2 cups vegetable oil for frying, or as needed
• 1 medium lime, juiced
• 1 (1 inch) piece fresh ginger, chopped
• 6 peppercorns
• 1 tablespoon tamarind paste
• 6 peppers fresh green chile peppers, chopped
• 15 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
• 1 (1 inch) piece cinnamon stick, broken into pieces

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Wash the chicken and cut it into large pieces. Rub with salt and set to aside.

Step 2

Combine chile peppers, cilantro, garlic, ginger, tamarind, poppy seeds, cumin seeds, cinnamon, cloves, peppercorns, and turmeric in a large mortar. Crush into a paste with a pestle.

Step 3

Rub chicken with the paste on all sides until completely covered. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, or 8 hours to overnight for best results.

Step 4

Add enough oil to generously cover the entire bottom of a large skillet; heat until a thermometer registers 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Fry chicken pieces in batches until golden brown on the outside and no longer pink at the bone, about 15 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

Step 5

Drizzle with lime juice before serving.