Khan, Khan, Khan, KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!! And Murghi Ka Salan (Soupy Chicken Salan)

Today's an amazing day!  Another KHAN in the Pakistani Sports Empire!  How fabulous is that?  Here's a quick description of each Khan in this Triple Alliance of Awesomeness:

Amir Khan, Anglo-Pakistani boxer, retained his WBA Light Welterweight title yesterday in a match which is certain to become a classic in the boxing world!  Thrilling!  Good on ya, Amir!  This is your day today!  We're all proud of you, and I believe that I must now become a boxing fan!  Hooray!


With his physique, he makes masala powder with his BARE HANDS!!!!

Imran Khan, Pakistani all-rounder cricketer, best in the world in the 80's and 90's right up to his retirement, and still considered THE authority on the sport!  And Handsome Fellow to boot!  Good on ya, Imran!


Jahangir Khan, Pakistani and World squash champion, from a Khan squash dynasty which dominated the sport for ages!  Good on ya, Jahanghir!

And now, since we're talking about Khans, we must also include the fictional character from the Star Trek series:  Captain Kirk's arch-enemy, the genetically gifted, ultra intelligent, strong super-man athlete gone bad, KHAN.  Originally Kirk's ally, Khan blamed Kirk for his beloved wife's death, and swore to get revenge!  The best enemy in the Star Trek series because you wanted him to win!

Better than Kirk...KHAN!!!

Right!  So for all of this Khan Sports domination, you really do need a meal fit for a King.  Therefore, I'm going to post a dish that I've already posted in Sport Pulse.  Murghi Ka Salan is a soupy version of a rich chicken salan which is ideal for athletes yet flavourful and more than satisfying for the gourmet.  So go get your Khan on and let's make some Murghi Ka Salan (Chicken Salan) Shorba soup style!

Ingredients

1 chicken, cut in about 12 pieces, no skin

1 onion, finely diced

7 cloves of garlic, crushed to a paste

4 cm piece of ginger, crushed to a paste

1 big tomato, finely diced, 2 big tomatoes can be used if you like a more tomato-ey flavour

¼ teaspoon turmeric

1 teaspoon lal mirch (red chili powder)

1 bay leaf

1 teaspoon cuminseeds

1 cinnamon stick

1 star anise

5 black peppercorns

5 green cardamom pods

5 cloves

2 black cardamom pods

1 big handful kasoori methi (fenugreek leaves)

Salt

Chopped green chilies

Chopped coriander

Water

Oil for cooking (two or three tablespoons)

In a big pot,heat the oil and  fry the onion until it’s golden and a bit crispy, over medium heat so nothing burns.

While the onion is frying, add the bay leaf, cinnamon stick, cuminseeds, star anise, peppercorns, green cardamom pods, cloves, and black cardamom pods.

When the onion is golden and crispy, add the ginger and garlic, fry for a minute or two,but don’t burn the garlic!

Add the lal mirch and turmeric

Add the tomatoes and use the “bhunna” method:  reduce the tomatoes until they stick to the bottom of the pan, add a bit of water to lift what’s stuck on the bottom, stir, and reduce the mixture again.  Repeat this procedure several times until the oil separates from the mixture or until the mixture resembles a very thick, almost uniform paste.

When the mixture looks like a paste with the oil “leaking” out, add 4 or 5 cups of water.

Add salt

Bring to a boil, and add the chicken.

Add the chopped green chilies and kasoori methi

Cook on high heat for a few minutes, then reduce to medium low, and allow to simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 30 minutes.  Let the liquid reduce a little bit to concentrate the flavours.

Taste the liquid and balance the salt if necessary.

If you find that the tomatoes you used didn’t  have a good flavour, simply add a pinch of amchoor (green mango powder) to the salan.  Do not add more than a pinch; a pinch will give the dish the tang of the best tomatoes, but more will make the dish sour.

At this point, add some chopped coriander, or you can use it as a garnish.

Serve on freshly cooked plain basmati rice.

Even if you're not a Khan by blood or marriage, it's still something to celebrate by having a great meal and enjoying some great sports.  Have a great one today, and...

Happy Cricket, Happy Eating, and Happy Khan!