Chicken and apricot curry with potato straws (sali murghi)

This Parsee dish uses jaggery, soft apricots and vinegar for a really successful balance of sweet and sour. The crisp fried potatoes add crunch.

Ingredients

For the sali (matchstick potatoes)

• 250g/9oz chip potatoes such as Maris Piper or Sebago, peeled, cut into matchsticks or coarsely grated, soaked in cold water for 15 minutes
• vegetable oil, for deep frying
• 1–2 tsp salt

For the curry

• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 6 black peppercorns
• 5 cloves
• 2 green cardamom pods, lightly bruised with a rolling pin
• 2 dried Kashmiri chillies
• 4cm/1½in piece cinnamon stick
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 100g/3½z tomatoes, finely chopped
• 1 tsp salt
• 4cm/1½in fresh root ginger, finely grated
• 3 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1½ tsp Kashmiri chilli powder
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp garam masala
• ½ tsp ground turmeric
• 1kg/2lb 4oz chicken, jointed into 8 pieces, or 1kg/2lb 4oz chicken pieces, skinned
• 2 tsp jaggery or soft brown sugar
• 150g/5½oz ‘ready-to-eat’ soft dried apricots
• 3 tbsp white wine vinegar
• handful coriander, chopped

Preparation method

1. Drain the potatoes and dry on kitchen paper. Heat the vegetable oil in a deep pan over a medium heat until hot (or heat a deep-fat fryer to 180C/350F). CAUTION: hot oil can be dangerous. Do not leave unattended. Deep-fry the potatoes in batches until crisp and golden-brown. Remove from the oil using a slotted spoon and drain on a plate lined with kitchen paper. Season with salt.
2. For the curry, heat the oil in a heavy-based pan or karahi over a medium heat. Add the whole spices and fry for a minute until fragrant, then add the onion and fry for 10 minutes, or until softened and golden-brown.
3. Stir in the tomatoes and salt and simmer for 2–3 minutes, then add the ginger, garlic, chilli powder, cumin, coriander, garam masala and turmeric and cook for a minute.
4. Add the chicken pieces to the pan and cook, stirring, for 2–3 minutes, or until well coated with the spice mixture, then add the jaggery, apricots, vinegar and enough water just to cover. Bring to the boil, lower the heat, cover the pan with a lid and simmer for 30–40 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and tender, and the sauce is reduced to a rich, thick consistency.
5. Serve with the potato sticks heaped on top, and scatter with coriander.