Serves 4

Methi chicken with lentils and coriander recipe

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Ready in 1 hour 20 minutes

5 small onions, 3 cut into fine rings and 2 finely chopped
4 tbsp sunflower oil
1 long red chilli, deseeded and chopped
4 garlic cloves, chopped
4cm fresh ginger, peeled and finely sliced
1/2 tsp turmeric
8 skinless chicken thigh fillets, each cut into 4
1/2 tsp each fenugreek and cumin seeds
150g red split lentils, soaked for 20 minutes
250g soya yogurt
Few fresh coriander leaves and roasted cashew nuts, to serve

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1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan160°C/gas 4. Fry the onion rings in 1 tablespoon of oil until golden, and set aside.
2. Put the 2 chopped onions, chilli, garlic and ginger in a blender with 3 tablespoons of water and purée. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a frying pan and fry the purée over a medium heat for about 10 minutes, stirring to stop it sticking. Stir in the turmeric.
3. Season the chicken and brown it in the rest of the oil in a flameproof casserole.
4. Dry-fry the fenugreek and cumin seeds in a small frying pan until they give off an aroma, about 45 seconds. Roughly crush them in a pestle and mortar and mix into the onion purée, then add to the chicken. Deglaze the frying pan with 500ml of water. Add this water to the chicken along with the lentils and stir well. Cover and transfer to the oven for 30 minutes. Check and, if it has become dry, add a little boiling water. Cook for a further 10 minutes, then turn the oven off.
5. Whisk the soya yogurt and mix into the chicken. Return the casserole to the oven and leave for 5 minutes. Serve in bowls, scattered with coriander leaves, onion rings and cashew nuts.

Nutritional info

Per serving: 411kcals, 18.1g fat (2.7g saturated), 34.7g protein, 29g carbs, 4.8g sugar, 0.7g salt

Chef's tip

The lentils cook to almost a purée, then are enriched with soya yogurt. Serve with poppadums and raita. Tip: Alpro soya dairy-free alternative to yogurt, formally known as Yofu, should be whisked for a few seconds with a balloon whisk before use, so you have a silky-textured product. This is especially important before adding the yogurt to hot dishes such as this one, as the heat can set the grainy texture if it has not been whisked beforehand. It will also heat to just below boiling point, but if boiled for more than a few seconds the grainy texture will return.

Methi chicken with lentils and coriander recipe

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