NEPAL TOMATO RECIPES

Steps:

• Season the tomatoes with salt and allow them to sit for a couple of minutes before using. Heat the vegetable oil in a saucepan over high heat. Add the tomatoes and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes or until the tomatoes start to soften. Stir through the garlic. Then add the chicken stock. Bring to a simmer. Then stir the soup to form a vortex in the centre. Pour the egg into the centre of the vortex and stir vigorously to form the lacy egg. Add the corn flour, soy sauce and pepper. Simmer for another minute to thicken. Add the spring onion and season with salt to taste.

Steps:

• For the mint sauce, place all the ingredients in the bowl of food processor and blend until smooth. Set aside until ready to serve. Use a mortar and pestle to pound the garlic, coriander roots, ginger and a pinch of salt to a paste. Transfer the paste to a large bowl and stir through the yoghurt, turmeric, curry powder and fish sauce. Add the chicken and turn to coat. Cover and place in the fridge for 2 hours or overnight to marinate. Heat the oil in a large, deep, heavy-based frying pan. Use your hands to remove most of the marinade from each chicken piece before placing the chicken into the hot oil. Cook for 3-4 minutes each side or until golden. Transfer the chicken to plate. Reserve about 3 tablespoons of the chicken fat from the bottom of the pan. Clean the pan. Add the chicken fat back into the clean pan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and a pinch of salt and cook for 2-3 minutes or until the onion is soft. Then add the tomato and cook for another 3 minutes or until the tomato is soft and pulpy. Add the rice and the fried shallots and stir to coat. Add the reserved marinade, stock, cardamom, cinnamon stick and bay leaves. Bring to a simmer stirring. Place the chicken pieces on top of the rice. Cover and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 25 minutes or until the rice is tender and liquid evaporated. Move the chicken to one side of the pan. Pluck out and discard any of the whole spices and bay leaves you can find. Use a fork to fluff up the rice. To serve, place the rice and chicken on a plate. Sprinkle with coriander and extra fried shallots. Serve with the mint sauce and the sweet chilli sauce on the side.