Assamese country style sesame chicken Til diya murgir mankho

There are days when my taste buds ask for something rustic, rugged, totally country style, something that brings that nostalgic flavor, more precisely, brings me to our home kitchen in Assam, my grandma's kitchen, my mama's kitchen. Yup, sesame chicken is in my mind. My Assamese taste buds are so amicable with till or sesame seeds; name a festival or staple cooking time, and it is a desirable ingredient. I love that in today's new age, healthy cooking promotes and incorporates seed-eating, especially sesame, for numerous health benefits, which I was fortunate enough to grow up eating. Once you taste this exotic dish with its rustic and nutty flavor, you will definitely try it again. Today I am sharing my recipe.. Have you tried Assamese Chicken Curry.

Ingredients

1. 2 lb chicken cut into medium-sized pieces with bone
2. 5 tablespoons of till or sesame
3. 3 tablespoons mustard oil or olive oil, you can use any other cooking oil too but I love to use thick oil as it enhances the rustic flavor 
4. 1 medium onion, finely chopped
5. 4 pieces of garlic cloves 
6. 10 peppercorns, you can reduce or increase according to your taste 
7. 1 tablespoon garam masala
8. 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
9. Salt for taste 
10. 1 dry red chili and a few green chilies for garnishing 
First, roast the sesame seeds on a low to medium flame for about 6 minutes, then grind them to a powder consistency. 
Now, put a pan on the stove and once it is hot, add 2 tablespoons of oil. Fry the chilies and set them aside. In the remaining oil, add onion and pound garlic cloves, fry it for 2/3 minutes. Now add the chicken, salt, and turmeric, and fry it on a medium flame until the water has dried up. Now add the ground sesame and stir well. Cover it, then let it cook. Cook it for at least 10/15 minutes and stir it in between. Now switch off the gas and add the black peppercorn for the final flavor and stir well, garnish with chilies.  Now serve it with steamed either brown rice or parboiled rice, as it accentuates the rustic or country flavor. You can always serve with white rice or bread of your choice.