Dipna Anand, a renowned chef and TV regular celebrated for her vibrant cuisine, has teamed up with Surplus to Supper, a charity dedicated to reducing the gap between food waste and food poverty, to create a special edition of one of her famous recipes – this time using surplus ingredients.

Dipna Anand’s Makhani Chicken

Dipna Anand’s Makhani Chicken

The special edition of Dipna’s Makhani Chicken has been published as part of a collaboration with Attic Self Storage, to celebrate the launch of their new Sunbury store. This version of the recipe gives the reader increased license to use leftover vegetables & protein instead of other ingredients, so less food goes to waste.

Dipna says: “It was a pleasure to make a special version of my Makhani Chicken recipe at the Surplus to Supper Market on the Attic Self Storage stall.”

“In true surplus spirit, I encourage anyone making this recipe to use any leftover ingredients they have in the kitchen that may otherwise go to waste. The chicken can be substituted for vegetables such as mushrooms, sweet potato/potato or leftover veggies from a roast. Alternatively, you can also use paneer for a vegetarian take.”

“This recipe is perfect for freezing so don’t bin your leftovers, instead save them for a later date.”

Dipna Anand’s Makhani Chicken: Surplus to Supper Edition

Makhani Chicken (serves 2-3)

Chicken Marination:

  • 350g chicken thighs, skinless and boneless, diced into tikka sized pieces
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoons cumin powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ tablespoon ginger and garlic paste
  • ¾ teaspoon smoked paprika

Note: The chicken can be substituted for vegetables such as mushrooms, sweet potato/potato or leftover veggies from a roast. Alternatively, you can also use paneer for a vegetarian take.

Makhani Sauce:

  • 200g plum peeled tomatoes, puréed
  • 150ml double cream
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 50g onion, finely chopped
  • 30g butter
  • ½ tablespoons ginger and garlic paste
  • ½ teaspoons green chilli paste
  • ½ teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoons cumin seeds
  • ¾ teaspoons turmeric powder
  • ½ teaspoon red chilli powder
  • ¾ teaspoons coriander powder
  • ¾ teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 ½ teaspoons dried fenugreek leaves (kasturi methi)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh chopped coriander

To marinate chicken:

  1. Pre-heat oven to 175°C
  2. In a bowl pour the olive oil onto the chicken thigh pieces together with the salt, smoked paprika, ginger and garlic paste and cumin powder, coat the chicken well in the marinade
  3. Lay the chicken onto an oven tray and cook for 20-25 minutes until tender and cooked perfectly (do not overcook). Meanwhile start the makhani sauce

Makhani Sauce Method:

  1. Heat vegetable oil in a saucepan
  2. Add the cumin seeds and once the cumin starts to sizzle add the onions to the pan, cook for 5- 6 minutes on a medium to high heat until the onion are brown and caramelized
  3. Add in the ginger and garlic paste and green chilli paste followed by the puréed tomatoes and cook for a few seconds
  4. Add in the turmeric, red chilli powder, coriander powder and salt, mix well together and add the butter, cook for about 30 seconds and remove from the heat
  5. Purée the sauce using a hand blender until smooth and put back on to the heat
  6. Cook the masala sauce on a medium heat with the lid on for 5-6 minutes (keep mixing every minute or so)
  7. Once the oil and butter starts to seep out the edges and the sauce is sizzling (the water will have dried out) add the double cream to the sauce together with the fenugreek leaves (crushed), garam masala and fresh coriander, cook for a minute or so
  8. The chicken should now be perfectly cooked, remove from the oven, add to sauce with half of the chicken juices from the oven tray
  9. Mix well together and cook for a final 3-4 minutes
  10. Serve and relish

Surplus to Supper actively sources and redistributes surplus food that would otherwise go to waste, on a substantial scale, in London and North Surrey. The charity currently collects and donates on average 10 tons of food per week, transforming surplus food into meals redistributed to food banks, schools, care homes, shelters, refuges and more. Due to the rising cost of food and the resulting increase in food insecurity, the charity has been under increasing pressure to expand its reach.

Find out more click here: https://www.atticstorage.co.uk/blog/cooking-for-a-cause/

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