Chicken Choila

A spicy Newari grilled chicken dish from the Kathmandu Valley — smoky, tangy and served with chiura.

Ingredients

• 1600g boneless chicken thighs
• 22 tbsp mustard oil
• 31 tsp turmeric
• 41 tsp red chilli powder
• 51 tsp timur (Sichuan pepper)
• 61 tsp fenugreek seeds
• 73 garlic cloves, minced
• 81 tsp ginger, grated
• 92 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 10Salt
• 11Fresh coriander
• 12Chiura (beaten rice) to serve

Method

1. 1

   Marinate chicken with turmeric, salt and mustard oil 30 min.

2. 2

   Grill or pan-fry chicken until cooked and slightly charred. Rest 10 min.

3. 3

   Slice into strips.

4. 4

   Heat mustard oil until smoking. Add timur and fenugreek seeds. Cook 30 sec.

5. 5

   Add garlic and ginger. Fry 1 min.

6. 6

   Remove from heat, add chilli powder, lemon juice, salt.

7. 7

   Pour spiced oil over sliced chicken. Toss well.

8. 8

   Serve with chiura and fresh coriander.