Chicken in Green Chilli-Date Sauce

THE RECIPE for a date night when you are trying your best to woo someone. You can always claim, it's a recipe from faraway Oman, originally created for the Imam at Nizwa. ;). The most enchanting part of this recipe, besides it's novel taste, is it's simplicity. The sweet tidbits of date contrast well with the pungent chili, all of it brought out on the foil of uncomplicated chicken.

Ingredients:

Chicken- 100 gm, diced
Dates- 1 handful, preferably just ripening.
Green chili- 3 large
Red Chills- 3
Cumin seeds- 1 tbsp
Cardamom- 3 small
Ghee- 3 tbsp
Sugar- 2 tsp
Salt- To taste


Preparation:

Grind cumin seeds, red chili, cardamoms, sugar into fine powder. keep aside. Now, de-pip the dates, chop into small pieces. Add to green chills and grind into smooth paste with a little water. Add the chili-cumin powder and a little salt to the mix. Keep processing for 2 minutes more.

Marinate the chicken overnight in this sauce.

Heat ghee in frying pan, fry the chicken till tender. Lower flame and stir in the marinade. Once the fat leaves the sides, add water, and simmer for 2o minutes.

Serve piping hot with rice.

Tips:

• As usual, I recommend a chilled white wine, preferably dry to go with this one.
• And of course, I almost forgot the most important ingredient. Make sure your 'date' is there.