A tinsel town and a tale of a lost foodie, this is just another defiant attempt of mine sharing you a uniquely presented Chicken Delicacy which I had last week in one of my favorite takeaway cum restaurant of Udaipur – Biryani House.

So all vegetarian readers of UT are requested to skip reading further if you don’t like to see or read an eating experience of a fascinated non-veggie.

Do you know why India has so many varied food recipes although all food is prepared by those same spices and herbs?

The answer is nowhere in any culinary book or in history of Indian Food but it is just a secret method of using the commonly used spices in diverse forms which decides the look, feel and taste of the food.

Similar is a chicken delicacy known as Akha Chicken, Akha means ‘whole’ and ‘full’. It depends upon the situation where and how you use this term. But here, Akha denotes both full and whole according to the preparation and presentation of this delicacy.

Akha Chicken will govern you till end and I can bet for this. This is the only food which has shocked, surprised, thrilled and delighted me all at one time amongst more than a dozen chicken recipes I had.

So what’s so uncommon in this Aakha Chicken?

The first look of Akha Chicken will surprise you for a moment; a shielded covering of whole wheat dough designed like crocodile scales will stun your eyeballs and puzzle you to say what to do next?

Don’t worry if you have ordered it in Biryani House’s Restaurant, the staff will help you to open the covering but if you take away to home then you have to open it with your hands, and that’s not so tough too.

After the first layer of whole wheat dough, here comes the second layer, it is of a banana leaf, and after uncovering it at last you will reach on the final stage when a tenderly looking chicken will be revealed from inside.

Here you go to experience the first bite of it and the thrill continues till the last.

How it tastes?

Simply awesome! Every layer of the akha chicken plays a crucial role to guard its tenderness and flavor. Banana leaf helps to maintain its taste and fragrance while it also enhances the flavor of chicken by its own natural impulse.

Layer of whole wheat dough is a unique way to give ‘Dum’ to chicken and keeps the savor and aroma both inert within its thick shield.

How it is prepared?

Unlike the traditional chicken tandoori, akha chicken goes to several rounds of marinades and gets baked in tandoor twice, the spice combination and quantity is just double the one they use in chicken tandoori.

How much it costs?

Rs.200/- for one Akha Chicken which is perfect for 2-3 persons.

Any criticism?

Not much except if you find the chicken size small and I seriously don’t suggest this dish to those who are afraid of spicy food.

After much insisting, Sohan Singh one of the proprietors of Biryani House has agreed to share the complete recipe of Akha Chicken.

Here it goes: Aakha Chicken/Murg Ingredients I Kg (2 Ib 6 oz) broiler For the 1 ^st marinade Salt to taste ¼ teaspoon lime juice 2 teaspoon ginger- garlic paste For the 2 ^nd marinade ½ teaspoon red chili (deggi mirchi) powder ½ teaspoon yellow chili powder ½ teaspoon cumin powder 1 ½ tablespoons oil ½ teaspoon chaat masala ½ teaspoon garam masala powder ¼ teaspoon pepper powder 50 gm (2 oz) yoghurt 2 teaspoons chana masala 500 gm whole-wheat flour 50 gm (2 oz) semolina 50 gm (2 oz) ghee or clarified butter 4 banana leaves Method For the 1^st marinade Clear Chicken, split and marinate in salt, lime juice, ginger- garlic paste. For the 2^nd marinade Combine red chili powder, yellow chili powder, cumin powder, oil chaat masala, garam masala, pepper powder, yoghurt and chana masala. Apply this paste on the chicken. Marinate at room temperature for 180 minutes. Char-grill the chicken till well cooked. Make firm dough with whole-wheat flour, semolina, ghee and salt. Wrap the chicken in banana leaf, cover with the dough and bake in a moderately hot oven for 40 minutes. Serve hot. Serves Preparation time 40 minutes. Mari nation time 180 minutes.

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