How to use left over Chicken? (Easy Dal Chicken) [1/2 Hour]

Very easy and economic way to use left over chicken curry or pieces, increasing the quantity of curry to feed larger crowds .

Dr Mehjooba. R . Mazumdar

Jun 08, 2024

People all over the world have been known to be confused over questions like

What to do with those last pieces of chicken left over after the big feast is done?

Or how to use up the chicken carcass after all the nice boneless meat has been taken off?

Or how to feed a large crowd when you have just one chicken?

Or what to do when you have left over curry from dinner last night?

Well this recipe is sure to help us out solve that dilemma

Well people from the entire south east asia and especially the Indian subcontinent have always known to be "jugadus"

People here rarely let food go the waste ! People here know the importance of a single grain of food all thanks to the majority of people living in poverty. This has made people come up with ingenious ways of using up every part of the animal that they consume, they let nothing go to waste and make sure to get the maximum out of a chicken for sure.

A combination of chicken and pulses is eaten in a lot of different ways, a combination of meat and chickpeas is famous in the Middle East especially Turkey.

The very adaptation of the combination of chicken with pulses In the Indian subcontinent is known famously as Dhal Gosht or Dhal chicken or Dalcha. It is usually made in weddings where a large crowd is to be fed and is mostly a combination of channa dhal (split chickpeas) with chicken or mutton. It is very very economical and extremely delicious.

Also the extra pieces of chicken like the wings or the neck and livers are used in making this dish.

Well my adaptation to this is rather cheeky, I have come up with the best way of converting the left over chicken curry from the previous meal into a completely new meal via means of this curry.

I find it brilliant!! Let me know if you do too.

It is rather very very easy and is ready very fast and with the least amount of cutting and chopping to do.

So lets get started

Division Time
PREP TIME 10 mins
COOKING TIME 10 mins
Serves 4-8

Ingredients
Ingredient Quantity
Chicken curry or waste pieces → Any quantity that is left over
Onion → 1 medium/ chopped
Tomatoes → 1 medium/ chopped
Spring onions → 1 cup chopped
Coriander leaves. → 1 cup chopped
Whole red chilli → 2 - 4
Cardamom pods → 4 - 5
Black cardamom → 1 large
Cumin seeds → 1/2 teaspoon
Cloves → 2-4
Kashmiri Red Chilli powder → 1 teaspoon
Turmeric powder → 1/2 teaspoon
Coriander powder → 1 1/2 teaspoon
Cumin powder → 1/2 teaspoon
Channa dal → 1 cup approx. 250gms
Water → 200ml
Salt → To taste
Oil → 1 tablespoon
Tomato ketchup → 1 tablespoon

Method

Step 1 Getting the ingredients of Dal Chicken in order:

I have always seen that before cooking, getting the items in order plays a vital role in the outcome of the dish.

Firstly, you do not miss out on ingredients.

Secondly, I am clumsy so whenever I try to fiddle around trying to get the ingredients in the course of making the dish. I always burn something!! Relatable?

Anyways steps

- Wash and soak the dal, overnight preferably, but around 2-4 hrs of soaking is also acceptable.

- Chop the tomatoes, spring onions , onions and coriander leaves and assort the spices.

Get the curry out of the fridge if you are using left over curry, or else cut and wash the pieces of raw chicken you wish to cook with.

Step 2 Starting the Dal Chicken curry:

- Take a pressure cooker and heat oil around 1 tablespoon. Any oil will do.(tastes best with ghee )

- Add cumin seeds, cardamom pods, black cardamom(bruise before adding), coriander seeds, cloves and red chilli , let the ingredients sauté.

Step 3 Frying the main ingredients of Dal Chicken:

- Add the onions and tomatoes. Let it soften for around 2 minutes

- Next add all the spices, red chilli powder ,turmeric powder, coriander powder, cumin powder and salt, sauté for a minute.

Step 4 Adding the Channa dal:

Once it softens a bit and the spices are incorporated into the tomatoes and onions add the channa dal. Mix well

Step 5 Adding the Chicken:

- Add the tomato ketchup (any tomato ketchup will do); you can skip too if you wish.

- Add the chicken curry or the chicken pieces : if you add the curry you do not need to fry for 2 minutes, if you add raw chicken please do fry for 2 minutes.