Mock Chicken Curry

Mock Chicken Curry
[Serves 4]

Ingredients:
4 pieces mock chicken breast (PC Blue Menu Vegetarian Chicken Breast)

6 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 tsp cumin seeds
2 medium sized onions – finely diced
1 green chilli, deseeded
2 inches ginger, finely diced
6 cloves garlic, finely diced
2 cinnamon sticks
4 medium tomatoes, diced

3 Tbsp coriander powder
1 Tbsp cumin powder
½ tsp cayenne powder
1 tsp turmeric powder
2 tsp salt

Preparation:
1) Place four pieces of mock chicken breast on a large plate and microwave on high for 3 minutes.
2) Remove chicken from plate and cut into 1-inch squares.  Set aside.

Next, apply the “Bhuna” technique to create the curry base. 

Bhuna is the technique of cooking, which simply means to fry the flavour base or masala really well till it starts to caramelize and give out oil along the sides. This method of cooking ensures a robust burst of flavour in the dish and the end result is always a warm, comforting bite.

3) Heat the oil in a pan on high heat. Once hot add cumin seeds and let them sizzle.
4) Add chopped onions and green chilli and cinnamon.  Stir regularly over medium-high heat until the onions turn soft and golden brown.
5) Add the ginger and garlic, and cook for one minute for their raw smell to go away.

6) Add chopped tomatoes and mix well.
7) Cook until the mixture gets soft but not mushy.
8) Add the spice powders and salt.
9) Mix well and sauté for a minute. Oil will start to ooze out from the sides.

10) Add 1 cup of water, remove the cinnamon, and blend the mixture until smooth (hand blender).  This step makes the dish especially kid-friendly.  Return the cinnamon once blended.
11) Add the mock chicken pieces and cook on medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes.  

Serve immediately with rice, OR for even better flavour, serve 1 to 2 days after making the curry so that the flavour has time to permeate into the mock chicken pieces.