SERVES 4 For the spice blend 1 tbsp fennel seeds 1 tbsp cumin seeds 1 tbsp coriander seeds 1 tbsp

black peppercorns 1 tbsp Kashmiri chilli powder For the chicken 50ml vegetable oil 1 tsp fennel seeds 5cm piece cinnamon bark 1 tbsp very roughly chopped dagarful or an extra 3cm piece cinnamon stick 150g shallots, diced Handful of curry leaves 700g skinless boneless chicken thighs, cut into 5cm pieces 20g/4 cloves garlic, finely crushed 20g/4cm ginger, finely grated 1 tsp sugar 1 tsp salt

100ml water Boiled basmati rice to serve RECIPE NOTE If using dagarful, sort through it and remove and discard any pieces of bark first. Method For the spice blend, put the spices in a spice grinder and process to a powder. For the chicken, heat the oil in a sturdy frying pan or karahi over a medium heat, add the fennel, cinnamon and dagarful and fry for 1 minute. Add the shallots and curry leaves and fry for 10 minutes until the shallots are softened and golden. Add the chicken and stir around for 1-2 minutes, then stir in the garlic, ginger, sugar, salt and all of the spice blend, and fry for 2 minutes. Add the water, and cook for about 1015 minutes, stirring often and adding more splashes of water if needed to stop it sticking to the pan, until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce thick and reduced and clinging to the chicken. Serve with boiled rice.