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Kukura aru Omita

Light Assamese chicken curry with raw papaya — the papaya softens the meat and soaks up a ginger-garlic gravy.

Ingredients

• 750 g chicken, curry cut
• 300 g raw papaya (omita), peeled and cubed
• 2 onions, sliced
• 1 tbsp ginger paste
• 1 tbsp garlic paste
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 1 tsp chilli powder
• 4 green chillies, slit
• 3 tbsp mustard oil
• 2 tbsp coriander leaves
• salt to taste

Method

1. Heat mustard oil till it smokes, lower the flame and fry the onions till golden.
2. Add ginger and garlic paste, sauté 2 minutes.
3. Add the chicken, turmeric, cumin, chilli powder and salt. Cook on high 6–8 minutes till browned.
4. Add the papaya and green chillies, stir and cook covered 5 minutes.
5. Pour in 1½ cups hot water. Cover and simmer 20 minutes till the chicken and papaya are tender.
6. Finish with coriander and serve with rice.

Tip: Pick a firm, fully green papaya. A papaya that has begun to ripen turns sweet and mushy in the curry.