Chilli Chicken- The Cheat's Recipe

Are you the night bird like me reading or catching a movie that you had missed out on? Well this recipe is a sure shot winner when it comes to the midnight snacking binge. Since it is oven fried you need not be worried about the pesky calories yet enjoy the snack. This recipe also works for beginners as well as bachelors who wouldn't want to be bothered with all the work that comes along with traditional cooking. A few mixing and chopping here and a little baking there, and we are all set.

Oven-fried Chilli Chicken

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cooking Time: 25-30 mins

Total Time: 35 mins

Level of Difficulty: Easy

Serves: 2

Ingredients Required

Chicken- 500 grams, cut into medium pieces
Onions- 2 medium, diced
Green chillies- 2-4, slit into halves
Capsicum- 1 small, diced
Oil- 1 1/2 tablespoons

For the marinade

Tomato sauce- 2 tablespoon
Green chilli sauce- 3 tablespoon
Soy sauce- 1 tablespoon
Vinegar- 1/2 tablespoon
Ginger paste- 1 teaspoon
Paprika- 1 teaspoon
Oregano- 1 teaspoon
Black pepper powder- 1 teaspoon
Salt to taste

Method

1. Combine all ingredients of the marinade in a big bowl, and add the chicken pieces, onions, capsicum and green chillies to it.
2. Coat each piece well in the marinade. Cover with a cling film and leave the chicken to be marinated overnight or at least for 3-4 hours in the fridge. Bring out the chicken at least an hour before you start cooking.
3. Preheat the oven to 225C/435F.
4. Now place the chicken with the onions, capsicum and green chillies on the baking sheet, drizzle about 1 tablespoon of oil on the chicken pieces and cook for 15 minutes on one side. Then turn the chicken pieces, drizzle the remaining half tablespoon of oil, and cook for another 10-15 minutes until cooked through.
5. Serve hot.

Diet Rice Recipe

On a diet and don’t know how to control your craving for carbs? As has been said by dietitians in order to control your carb intake it is best to consume proteins, it would be better to turn towards lean meat or fish, as those take more time to breakdown when compared to carbs. This is very effective in making you feel fuller for a longer period of time and also prevents your spurts of binging. Also adding in a lot of veggies along with a little rice makes the meal wholesome minus the unwanted calories!

Chicken and Mushroom Rice with Veggies

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cooking Time: 8-10 mins

Total Time: 28-30 mins

Level of Difficulty: Easy

Serves: 2
Calories: 185

Ingredients Required

Rice- Uncooked, 1/4 cup

Chicken- 200 to 250 gm

Button mushrooms- Chopped, 1 cup

Onions- Finely chopped, 1 cup

Beans- Chopped, 1 cup

Carrot- Chopped, ½ cup

Cloves of garlic- Finely chopped, 6 to 7

Basil leaves- Dried, 1 tablespoon

Oregano- 1 tablespoon

Black pepper- 1 tablespoon

Butter- ¾ teaspoon

Salt- To taste

Method

1.      In a pot take about one and a half cup of water and set it on the stove to bring it to a boil. Wash the rice thoroughly to remove any dirt. When the water starts boiling, add the washed rice to it and stir once. Let it cook till it is done (just done so that each grain is separate from the other), stirring in between.

2.      Now in another vessel heat some water and add the chicken pieces and vegetables (carrot, beans and mushroom). Cook till they are done nice, for about 15 to 20 minutes. Strain the broth and keep the vegetables and chicken aside. Shred the chicken pieces into bite-size pieces using your hands. Do not throw away the broth.

3.      Now set a deep-bottomed pan on medium flame. Add the butter to it and heat it till it melts completely. Now add the chopped cloves to the pan and saute for 1 to 2 minutes before adding in the chopped onions. Fry the onions on low flame till it turns translucent. Now add to the pan salt, black pepper, basil and oregano along with the boiled vegetables and mix well. Cook for 2-3 minutes before adding in the shredded chicken. Mix well, cook for another 4 minutes and then mix in the cooked rice and about ½ cup of the broth. Cook this till the dish becomes dry and then remove from heat.

4.      Serve hot.

PS: This in itself is a complete meal and does not require any accompaniment. You can also use brown rice instead of the normal white rice. In that case you may increase the amount of uncooked rice to ½ cup.