Gray's 5 spice mix powder

 Ingredients

• coriander seeds - 4 tbs 
• mustard seeds 2 tbs 
• fennel seeds - 5 tbs 
• cumin seeds - 4 tbs 
• 1 large cinnamon stick ( broken) 

Method

• heat a medium size saucepan 
• when the pan is hot add all the above ingredients and roast for 4-5 mins shaking them occasionally
• make sure they are well roasted and  not burnt 

Using small blender grind it to a fine powder 

store in an air tight container 

can be used for meat dishes, biriyani  mix and the spice rice mix

Spicy Rice with Spiced Chicken

Ingredients - Spicy Rice

Spice mix for the rice

• 5 large red onions (Spanish onions or Bombay onions )
• 2 whole cloves of garlic 
• 10 medium sized green chilies 
• 5 large red tomatoes 
• chili powder
• turmeric powder 
• curry powder 
• Gray's 5 spice mix powder (see Blog under gray's spice mix)
• salt 

Fragrant rice 

• 2 cups white basmati rice
• 3 cardamom pods crushed 
• 1 whole cinnamon stick 
• 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder 

Method 

Spice mix 

•  finely dice the onions, garlic, chilies and tomatoes 
• saute them in oil (any oil) 
• while the mixture is translucent and soft  add the turmeric powder (2 tsp) Chili powder (4 heaped tbs or according to preference to level of spiciness) 4 tbs of curry powder (make sure to adjust it equal to amount of chili powder used) and 2 1/2 tsp of Gray's five spice mix 
• cook until the rawness of the various powders go away and gives a good spicy fragrance  make sure the onions and garlic don't burn, so keep stirring occasionally. 
• add salt to taste and take of heat 

Fragrant rice

• easier method is to cook the rice in a rice cooker, make sure the water for the rice stays at half way mark from the tip of the middle finger to the first cross line 
• add turmeric powder crushed cardamom pods and crushed cinnamon stick 
• the rice cooker will do the timing for you 
• if your cooking in a pan, use a heavy base pan and use the same method 
• cook on medium heat for 35-40 mins 

After the rice is cooked add 4 tbs of butter and fluff the rice, don't stir or mash, the rice needs to be separate. 

Add the spice mix of onions garlic tomatoes and chilies 

add bit by bit and fluffing each time this will ensure the mix being evenly distributed and also that rice doesn't get soggy 

finally add some coriander leaves and squeeze of 1 lemon (or to taste) fluff again transfer to a large dish (make sure to cover with a slight opening to the lid  so the rice is hot  but doesn't go soggy 

set aside 

Ingredients - Spiced Chicken 

• 2 kg of chicken (you could go for single type of meat like legs or thighs but I would recommend using the whole chicken)
• chili powder - 4 heaped tbs
• turmeric powder - 2 tsp
• curry powder - 4 tsp 
• gray's 5 spice powder - 3 tsp 
• dark soy sauce (enough to marinate the meat 
• oil (seasme or coconut ) to marinate 
• 3 single garlic cloves (finely chopped 
• 4 medium green chilies finely chopped 

Method 

• cut the chicken into manageable portions or you could ask your butcher to do it for you  
• add all the chili powder, turmeric powder, curry powder, salt soy sauce and oil and mix and massage the meat well and allow it to marinate for at least 3 hours ( you could do this first before beginning the spicy rice prep) 
• heat a heavy based pan, when it is smoking hot add the chicken pcs and allow each pc to brown and then turn the heat to medium and allow the chicken to cook for 15 mins 
• next turn the heat to low and allow the chicken to cook slowly for another 25 mins and the meat is almost falling of the bone 
• don't use any extra oil as the oil in the marinate will cook the chicken
• in a separate pan fry the garlic and the chilies and add to the chicken

Finally serve in a bowl with spicy rice and the spiced chicken on top add coriander leaves