Zanzibar chicken

Ingredients

2 tbsp groundnut oil
1 large chicken, jointed into 8 pieces, skin on
2 onions, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, crushed
2 green chillies, chopped
3 green or red tomatoes, finely chopped
½ tsp ground turmeric
½ tsp cumin seeds
½ tsp coriander seeds
4 green cardamom pods
2 limes, juice only
275ml/½ pint chicken stock
2 x 400ml/14fl oz cans coconut milk
1 bunch basil
cooked basmati rice, to serve

Method

1. Heat a deep-sided frying pan until hot and add the oil and then the chicken.
2. Fry on each side for about one minute, until the meat is browned all over. Remove the meat from the pan and set aside on a plate.
3. Add the onions, garlic, one of the chillies and the green (or red) tomatoes and cook for about five minutes.
4. Meanwhile, place the turmeric, cumin seeds, coriander seeds and cardamom pods into a pestle and mortar and grind until fine.
5. Add the ground spices to the onion and tomato mixture. Add the lime juice.
6. Add the chicken stock and coconut milk to the pan and bring to the boil.
7. Return the chicken to the pan and simmer for 20 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through.
8. Place the remaining chilli and the basil into the pestle and mortar and grind to a paste.
9. Add the chilli and basil paste to the chicken at the last minute and season to taste.
10. Serve hot with basmati rice.