Chicken Vindaloo Ingredients:

2 teaspoons whole cumin seeds;

2-3 hot, dried red chilies;

1 teaspoon cardamom seeds;

A 2 cm (3") stick of cinnamon;

1.5 teaspoons whole black mustard seeds;

5 tablespoons white wine vinegar;

1.5 teaspoons salt;

1 teaspoon light brown sugar;

10 tablespoons vegetable oil;

190 g (6.5 oz) onions, peeled and sliced;

5 tablespoons plus 225 ml (8 fl oz) water;

900 g (2 lb) boneless chicken cut into small chunks;

A 2.5 cm (1") cube of fresh ginger, peeled and chopped;

A small, whole head of garlic, separated & peeled;

1 tablespoon ground coriander seeds;

1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric.

Chicken Vindaloo Preparation:

Grind cumin seeds, red chilies, peppercorns, cardamom seeds, cinnamon and black mustard seeds in a grinder. Put the ground spices in a bowl. Add the vinegar, salt and sugar. Mix and set aside. Heat the oil in a wide, heavy pot over a medium flame. Put in the onions.fry, stirring frequently, until the onions turn brown and crisp. Remove the onions with a slotted spoon and put them into the container of an electric blender or food processor. (Turn the heat off). Add 2-3 table- spoons oaf water to the blender and puree the onions. Add this puree to the ground spices in the bowl. (This is the vindaloo paste.

It may be made ahead of time and frozen.)Dry off the chicken chunks with a paper towel and remove large pieces of fat, if any. Put the ginger and garlic into the container of an electric blender or food processor. Add 2-3 tablespoons of water and blend until you have a smooth paste. Heat the oil remaining in the pot once again over a medium-high flame.  

When hot, put in the chicken chunks, a few at a time, and brown them lightly on all sides. Remove each batch with a slotted spoon and keep in a bowl. When all the chicken has been removed from the pot put the ginger-garlic paste in the same pot. Turn down the heat to medium. Stir the paste for another few seconds. Add the coriander and turmeric. Stir for another few seconds. Add the chicken, any juices that may have accumulated as well as the vindaloo paste and 225 ml (8 fl oz) water. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer gently for an hour or so, until the chicken is tender. Stir occasionally meanwhile.