Chicken in Banana Leaf

Here is a recipe which is very close to my heart. For this one I should thank my sis-in-law...... that's her original recipe. She cooks it on charcoal, but since its next to impossible (didn't want people to call the fire brigade with the amount of smoke it emanates here) I have used the grill. But the flavor is the same.

And now the best part. Its totally Oil Free!!!!!

Ingredients:

500 gms                Chicken

1                             Lime

2 nos                      Green Chillies

10 to 12                 Sprigs of Coriander with stems

1 inch piece          Ginger

10 to 12 cloves     Garlic

8 to 10                   Pepper corns

3 to 4                     Star Anise

4 to 5                     Cloves

1 tsp                       Red chilli powder

1/2 tsp                    Haldi

1 tsp                       Namak Shamak

Method:

Grind the green chillies, coriander, ginger, garlic, star anise, cloves, pepper corn roughly. Don't make a paste.

Now marinate the chicken in the lemon juice, chilli powder, haldi, salt and the ground masala. Allow to marinate for at least 1 hour.

Take a banana leaf (take a big one). Put the chicken on one part, now make a parcel. You can tie it with a string.

Heat the grill and put the banana leaf parcel on it. Cook on one side. You can put a tava or any kind of weight on the banana leaf (this is if you want the chicken to cook fast). Make sure the flame is low. Next cook the chicken on the other side by simply turning sides.

This might take about half and hour or so to cook depending upon the size of the chicken pieces.

Serve with white onion slices.