Chicken Balti with dhal, coconut rice and papadums

Its a mouthfull isnt it? The title I mean.
This is and has been my favorite dinner for months. You are getting the recipe now thanks to Mr. Blab who scrubbed the stove top today and inspired me to be useful.

So, here it goes

Coconut Rice

2 cups of paraboiled basmati rice
half or so can of coconut cream
water

Wash the rice well, until the water runs clear. Then mix in the cream.
The mixture fills about half of my pan and the rest I fill with water.
Stir well and put on a low heat covered until cooked (about 30min).

Dhal

1/3 of your pan full of red lentils
1tsp of turmeric
1/2 tsp of ground cumin
salt to taste
2 garlic cloves, 1/2 tsp of cumin seeds and chili if desired (later)

Wash lentils until water is clear. Fill pan with water and put on a medium low heat, as
you add the turmeric, cumin and salt. Cook until mushy. If you like it more liquid,
add less lentils and vice versa.

Now you have two pans going and feel like the bees knees ;)

But wait, thats not all.

Now to the curry.

Chicken Balti

2 chicken breasts or your choice of cut, cut in cubes
Balti curry paste (I use this one)
1 onion, chopped
can of chopped tomatoes
2tbs of yoghurt
1/2 cup of cream

Saute onion in some oil until well fragrant and a bit caramelised.
Add paste and stir until fragrant and add chicken.
Brown shortly and add the tomatoes and yoghurt.
Turn down the heat and simmer for a few minutes.
Add cream and finish off with a bit more simmering.

___

Now you are really looking like you know what you are doing.
Three pans on the go!

Now warm some oil in a little pot and fry up the garlic, cumin  seeds and the optional chili. When the garlic starts to brown up a bit chuck the whole lot in the mushy dhal. Be ready with the cover, the thing will start to sizzle and you need to put the cover to steam the whole flavor goodness in.

Then mix it up and its ready. Yum!

Check that the rice is ready and marvel at the wonderful glistening coconutty goodness in front of your eyes.

Call Mr.Blab to make the papadums or in extreme situations make them yourself.

I so wish I could eat this whole dinner again and again and again.