Chili Chicken

This is our favorite recipe, to be made anytime. If I ask my son, what shall I make for dinner or lunch, he would say "chili chicken" or "grilled salmon". I make this recipe, so many times.... usually, in a rush at last minute, so never had time to properly photograph it. I had photographed this, long time back and I did not like the pictures, so I want to do it again sometime, but as I said, I always make it in a hurry.... so if I make it in leisure, will try to take better photographs for this recipe. 

Ingredients:

• about 400 gms chicken fillets( or breasts)
  
• 1 red  and 1 green capsicum
• 1 red onion
• 7 garlic flakes
• 1 inch piece of ginger
• 3 green chilies
• 1 red chili
• 2 tbsps dark soy sauce
• 2 -3 tsp vinegar
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tbsp oil
• 1/2 tsp of ajinomoto( msg-- optional)
• a bunch of spring onions chopped for garnish

Recipe:

• Wash and clean the chicken. Pat it dry with kitchen paper. Chop into 1/2 inch pieces.
• Grate 4 garlic cloves and ginger, chop 2 chilies and keep them in a bowl.

• Add 1 tbsp soy sauce and 1 tsp vinegar and mix well.

• Add chicken pieces to this marinade. Add about 1/2 a tsp of salt and 1 tsp of freshly pounded black pepper.
• Keep it aside covered with cling wrap in a refrigerator for about 1 hour ...to even 24 hours(1 day)

• Mince the remaining 3 pieces of garlic, 1 green and red chili, onions and capsicums.

• Heat a tbsp of oil in a pan. 

• Add garlic, chilies and stir-fry on high for 30 secs.

• Add onion, stir-fry again for a minute.

• Add the capsicum, stir-fry for 2 minutes.

• Add another tbsp of soy sauce and 1 to 2 tsp of vinegar.

• Add marinated chicken. Lower the heat to medium and stir-fry .....for 3-5 minutes till the chicken is cooked. 

• Serve hot, garnished with spring onions as an accompaniment with rice or just as is ....if it's a snack or an appetizer.

Quantity:

• 3-5 servings with rice/other curry or 2-3 servings as an appetizer

Notes:

• The chicken requires only 4-5 minutes to cook, if they are in small bite size pieces.
• If u get chicken shreds,(like I have got, in the picture) that means, it's slightly over cooked. You need to get a  nice even brownish coating. A tip, I recently learnt about cooking chicken from my friend Lakshmi. However, this chicken is delicious, even if it is slightly overcooked.
• You can make it a day ahead... or marinate longer to get maximum flavor.
• Msg can be added after sauteing the onions, before adding capsicum. It gives good flavor to the chicken. 
• You can also add a chicken stock cube in the end and some water and corn flour to make a gravy.
• The number of chilis and flavorings, I use..will make it a mildly spicy chicken. Do increase the number of chilies for a fiery taste..... :) Adjust the quantity of soy sauce, vinegar and salt and pepper accordingly.
• For vegetarian version of this recipe -- Try out the chili paneer recipe here....:)

•  You can make similar recipe with boiled eggs.