Chicken Cafreal | Popular Goan dish you need to try now

While it’s origin is debatable and unknown the Cafreal has secured it’s place in heart of Goan cuisine. What gives this flavorful dish a unique taste is the sweetness of tamarind,spiciness of chilies and tanginess of vinegar.
Apart from that here are the other ingredients that go into the Cafreal paste:

  • Coriander
  • Onion
  • Green Chilies
  • Whole spices like peppercorn, cinnamon, cloves, and cumin seeds
  • Poppy seeds
  • Ginger + Garlic
  • Turmeric

Marinate your favorite meat with Cafreal paste and toss it in pan to cook.Serve it hot with with fries /poi (Goan bread). Here is a step by step guide :

  • To make the Cafreal paste grind together all the ingredients into a paste and set aside.If it’s too thick add bit of water.
  • Season your chicken with salt and pepper and marinate it with Cafreal past for at least about half an hour.

  • Heat few tablespoons of oil in pan and cook the marinated chicken for 5 -10 mins on each side.If you want to make gravy add little water/paste.Serve with fries or poi.

Chicken Cafreal | Popular Goan dish you need to try now

Recipe by AjinkyaCourse: MainDifficulty: Easy
Servings

2-3

servings
Prep time

10

minutes
Cooking time

30

minutes

Ingredients

  • Chicken 500 gm

  • Cafreal Paste
  • Fresh Coriander 200 gm

  • Cinnamon Stick 1/2 inch

  • Green Chilies 5-6

  • Cumin seeds 1/2 Tbsp

  • Cloves 3-4

  • Ginger 1/2 inch

  • Garlic 5-6 cloves

  • Turmeric 1 Tbsp

  • Vinegar 2 Tbsp

  • Poppy seeds 1 Tbsp

Directions

  • In a blender combine all the ingredients for the paste and blend it into a smooth paste.
  • If the paste is too thick add bit of water to makes it thinner.
  • Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
  • Add the Cafreal paste to chicken and marinate it for about 30 mins.
  • Heat 3 Tbsp oil in pan.
  • Add chicken and cook on medium flame about 5-10 mins on both the sides or until chicken and Cafreal paste is cooked.
  • Serve with fries or poi on the side.
  • Cheers!

Notes

  • Go light on coriander and tamarind if you want light flavor of Cafreal
  • Cafeal goes well with any type of meat : beef/pork/seafood . You can make the dish veg by replacing meat with Paneer/Tofu.
  • If you want to gravy based dish add bit of water to while cooking.

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