Murgir paturi (Chicken in a parcel) by Sromona Chakraborty

Does the word paturi conjure up the image of bhetki or ilish? Or if you are a vegetarian, chhana or mocha? If so, time to think out of the box. Here comes Murgir Paturi to wow you and win you accolades if you treat family and/or friends.

 

Blessed to belong to a family of legends, Sromona Chakraborty is a teacher by profession, singer by passion, cook by ardour, cat-mom by love – who lives in her cosy nest with spouse and son. We are thrilled to be able to share the gems from her recipe repertoire.

 

 

 

 

Ingredients:

  • Boneless chicken
  • Green chilli paste
  • Red chilli powder (I used Kashmiri chilli powder and Hot chilli powder)
  • garlic paste
  • mustard paste
  • Kashundi 3/4 tablespoon
  • curd and some white vinegar
  • Little bit of sugar
  • salt according to taste
  • Mustard oil
  • Banana leaf

 

Method:

  • Take a big mixing bowl and mix all the above spices thoroughly.
  • Now marinate the chicken in this spice mix.
  • Take the banana leaves and move them gently over the open flame to help it soften and take it off.
  • Put a little bit of mustard oil on the leaf and pour the marinated chicken on the leaf, put a few slit green chillies on top and drizzle very little mustard oil on top and then tie it with a thread.
  • Grease a pan with very little mustard oil and heat it.
  • Then put the banana leaf parcel on top and wait for the sizzling noise. Now put on a lid and lower the flame. I cooked till the leaf became charred and was not quite a pleasant sight anymore, but the smell was heavenly — that meant it was cooked.
  • I turned the flame off but kept the lid on till I served dinner (that helped retain the moisture)
  • Serve it steaming hot.