Sticky Chicken 65

I came across a Chicken 65 Recipe online sometime last week. It brought back great memories from my college days. About that time it was just starting to surface on restaurant menu’s and parties and getting to be a popular appetizer. But it is always the first time when you like something that is the impression you remember. I have tried it a couple of times after I came to the US but there was always something amiss. It either was dry, lacked seasoning or sweetness. When I started to search for the recipe I was surprised to find that it was a popular street food in south Indian. My understanding for the longest time was an Indo-Chinese recipe. A cross between tandoori and chicken manchurian.

The fried red chicken pieces is very distinctive of chicken 65. I do not recall ever making this recipe. Mind you, I started my cooking adventures at an early age of 9.  My first recipe being mixed vegetable soup and then experimenting with beef, prawns/shrimp and chicken and other types of soups. For a couple of years my Christmas gifts were cook books. Stuffed tomatoes, meat pies made with Maggie noodle as a base, Indo-Chinese recipes and desserts followed. I was fortunate to have a very supporting family who enjoyed my home cooked foods, specially my dad and brother.

For any recipe that I cannot remember too well I tend to go by my memory of taste, texture and smell. Trying to search for the recipe for Chicken65 I could not find anyone that struck a chord. Going with my gut and the number of recipes I saw online this is my version knowing that I may be called out on the ingredients. The wise-nut that I am, I decide to appropriately name it as Sticky Chicken 65. These deep-fried puppies get tossed in a light sweet and sour gravy. They are served dry or wet but I like them wet. I have also replaced the artificial red food color with natural vegetable color (paprika and turmeric). My recipe also has no eggs and white flour. To soften and keep the meat moist the meat was marinated in plain yogurt.

Serving Size: 4-6

Ingredients:

Marinade

1 lbs of boneless chicken meat diced in 1″ cubes

1/4 tsp pepper powder

1/8 tsp turmeric powder

1/2 tsp of cumin powder

1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste

2 tbsp plain yogurt

1 tbsp of paprika

Salt to taste

Batter:

4 tbsp of cornflour

1 sprig of curry leaves

Sticky Sauce

1/3 cup of diced bell-pepper

1 tbsp of ginger-garlic paste

3-4 tbsp of ketchup

1/4 tsp of cornflour

1/3 cup water

salt to taste

Directions:

Wash the chicken, cut in 1 inch cubes. Apply ginger-garlic paste,pepper,turmeric, paprika, yogurt and salt. Marinate overnight if possible or 1-2 hours least.

Mix the cornflour to coat the pieces of meat. Heat oil in a pan and deep fry the piece for 4-5 minutes till done. Drain on paper towel. Once done quickly fry the curry leaves and toss them with the deep-fried chicken pieces.

You can serve it dry or for a sticky coating follow the below steps.

Next heat another pan, saute the bell-pepper about a minute.

Next add the ginger-garlic paste and saute for 30 seconds.

Then add the ketchup, cornflour, water and saute till the gravy thickens.

Finally toss in the fried chicken pieces and enjoy it hot.