Chicken Cutlets

Little time consuming but worth doing as this is what I fill NA's lunch box with , lot more healthier than the frozen nuggets. 

A tasty snack too , may fill'em in a bugger bun or else enjoy with a Sarlas - Onion salad.

It should be brown on all sides and  that happens when its deep fried , I usually shallow fry it - fry till brown on both sides hence looks little less attractive than the regular cutlets.

Ingredients 

Stage 1 (To marinate and cook the chicken) 

Chicken (Boneless) - I used 2 chicken breast pieces

Black pepper corns - 2 tsp (as per your preference) 

Cinnamon stick - 1 small piece 

Cloves - 3 no's 

Cardamom - 3 to 5 no's 

Ginger - 1 inch size small piece 

Garlic - 4 to 6 no's 

Curry leaves - 1 to 2 springs (optional , I didn't use) 

Turmeric Powder - 1 tsp 

Vinegar - 3 Tb sp

Salt to taste

Oil- olive oil or coconut oil 1 Tb sp 

Stage - 2 

Potatoes - 2 medium sized boiled , skin removed and mashed.

Onion - 2 medium finely chopped 

Green chili's - 2 to 4 no's finely chopped ( as per your preference)

Ginger - 1 Tb Sp finely chopped 

Garlic - 1 Tb Sp finely chopped 

Garam Masala or any Meat masala Poweder or All spice powder  - 1/2 tsp (Optional) 

Chili Powder/Paprika powder - 1 tsp.

Oil - 3 Tb sp for sauteing 

Salt to taste.

Stage - 3  

 1 egg to coat the cutlets and some bread crumbs 

Oil for frying 

Method 

* Cut the chicken pieces in to big chunks and marinate with the ingredients in stage 1-  Ingredients under marinating) for some time (1/2 an hour) , cook the chicken pieces open till water in it dries off (almost takes 25 to 40 minutes) 

* Once cooled , shred the cooked chicken pieces along with the whole spices using a food processor/ chopper/ blender ,  keep aside. 

* In an other pan , add oil to saute onion , green chili's , ginger and garlic till golden brown, add red chili powder and then add in the shredded chicken pieces , stir and saute this for 5 to 7 minutes in medium heat (there shouldn't be any water left in the chicken, if any saute till its all dry)  then add the mashed potatoes and Garam Masala(If using) , salt (just for those extra potatoes and masala as the chicken is cooked with salt too) Stir to combine everything well and switch off the heat. 

* When the mixture cools down a bit and its bearable to work with your hands , shape'em to what ever shape you like , I made it circle for the ease of it (heart shape or oval looks good too) 

*  Dip these shaped cutlets to lightly beaten egg first then coat'em with bread crumbs.  

* Store these in an air tight containers , stays good till 1 week in refrigerator, or else freeze it to keep it for longer time period. 

* Could make 23 Cutlets with the amount of ingredients here, deep fry them or else shallow fry'em in a pan till both sides are brown.

Cheers 

TN