Chicken Sajanaa Saaga
Besar in unique Odia homely style
Sajanaa Saaga
(Drumstick Tree leaves)
Chicken leg-n-thigh
pieces
Chicken Sajanaa Saaga
Besar in unique Odia homely style
Ingredients:
Chicken leg-n-thigh pieces – 4,
Sajanaa Saaga ( green, fully tender leaves of Drumstick tree
) – 2 to 2 ½ cup – fully cleaned of
stems and washed well
A paste of Sorisha, Kancha Lanka and a pinch of haldi (Mustard and green chilli - roughly 1-2 for 4-5
tbsp of mustard, with a pinch of turmeric) – 4 tbsp
Jeera ( Cumin) powder – 2 tsp
Ada-Rasun paste ( Ginger-Garlic paste – roughly in equal
proportion) – 1 ½ tbsp
Onion – 1 large, sliced ( about 1 cup)
Tomato – 1 medium - just quartered ( better to choose a non-tangy, red fleshy
one)
Mustard oil – 3 tbsp
and a few more drops
Salt to taste ( 1-2 tsp)
Haldi ( turmeric)- about 1/2
tsp
Lemon juice – a few drops
Water -1 cup
Procedure
Clean 4 chicken leg-n-thigh pieces and just give them a few
slits ( see pic). Heat mustard oil ( 1 tbsp) and sear the chicken legs till
lightly brown. Keep aside.
In a small bowl, mix together mustard paste ( 4 tbsp), cumin powder( 2
tsp), G-G paste ( 1 ½ tbsp), turmeric ( about 1/2 tsp) with 1 cup water.
In a separate pan, heat mustard oil ( 2 tbsp). Add sliced
onion ( 1 large) and saute till translucent. Pour in the mustard spice mix.
Bring to a boil. Add the seared chicken legs and salt to taste. Cook covered
till chicken for about 15 mins on low heat. Add the tomato quarters and cook
covered for another 5 minutes. Tomato is not supposed to get fully tender, let
them stand out a bit. By now, chicken should be almost tender. (If needed, do
add some more water while the curry is cooking to adjust consistency which
should be thick gravy covering the chicken pieces- not too dry, neither runny
type).
When the chicken is done after about 20 minutes, add the
leafy green ( tender drumstick leaves – 2 to 2 ½ cup). May add one or two slit green chillies.
Cook for 2-3 mins more. Finish with a few drops of lemon juice ( do taste
tanginess of curry from tomato before adding lemon juice) and a few drops of
mustard oil. Serve hot with rice/roti, whatever!
A simple, yummy, healthy dish with traditional ingredients
from Odia cuisine, combined in a unique manner, which is very nutritious and
rich in iron. Do check it out yourself!
