My mama's fried chicken

My kids still have a vivid memory of their visits to their grandma's house in India in their childhood where they enjoyed her mouth watering fried chicken which she loved to serve them. And now whenever they visit me they want to eat their Nani's (grandma) special chicken. Therefore I carry her tradition. It is a simple recipe, but I believe her magic potion was love which she poured into it that made the difference and kicked it up a notch. 

Here's the recipe!

Ingredients:

Chicken - 1 whole

Ginger garlic paste - 2 tbs

Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp

Red chilly powder(deghi/kashmiri mirch)- 2 tsp

Vegetable oil - 2 cups to fry

Lemon juice - from 1/2 a lemon or 1 lime.

Salt to taste.

Method:  

1. Remove the skin, cut the whole chicken into 12 pieces, clean wash and drain them.

2. Rub the chicken pieces with salt and lemon/lime juice and leave aside for 15 minutes.

3. Mix together freshly ground ginger garlic paste, turmeric & red chilly powder and rub the chicken with it. 

4. Steam it on medium heat for a few minutes till it turns opaque or is half cooked. It will be a bit soupy at the bottom. Do not throw away this soup. Remove from the stove. Leave aside to cool. 

5. Heat the vegetable oil in a frying pan or dutch oven and on medium high fry all the chicken pieces till golden brown and crisp. Do not over fry as they would become hard like charcoal.  Drain on paper towels.     

                                                                                                                                 

6. Now throw in all the fried chicken pieces in the sauce, spoon in a teaspoon or two of hot oil to the sauce then toss and turn over to coat them evenly. Enjoy with rice and salad.