What is Daab Chicken Alternative?

Daab chicken can be a good alternative for the Daab Chingri or Prawn Stuffed in Coconut.

Daab Chicken Recipe | Chicken Stuffed in Coconut

5 from 1 vote

Daab chicken is a wonderful imitation of Daab prawns which is an authentic, delicious Bengali dish.

Here this recipe replaces prawns with small pieces of chicken. The creamy, tender, mildly sweet coconut lends a great texture and taste to the marinated chicken.

Small pieces of chicken well marinated with a host of heart-warming spices and coconut flesh steamed in a tender coconut make the dish an aromatic delicacy.

To prepare chicken stuffed in coconut, the coconut is usually opened at the top, and the water is drained out.

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Key Takeaways:

Daab Chicken is a variation of the authentic Bengali dish Daab Prawns, where prawns are replaced with small pieces of chicken.

The dish is made by marinating chicken with spices and stuffing it inside a green coconut, which lends a creamy and mildly sweet flavor.
The coconut is opened at the top, water is drained, and the flesh is scraped to create space for the chicken.
The coconut is sealed with wheat dough or aluminum foil and cooked by steaming it in a pan or pressure cooker.

Daab Chicken is served hot and can be enjoyed with plain boiled rice, roti, or paratha. It offers a creamy, coconut-infused taste with tender and juicy chicken.

The Ingredients:

Boneless Chicken: 500 gm (Cut into small pieces and properly washed)

1 green coconut
1 medium sized onion finely chopped
1 tomato properly sliced

Green chillies: 2 green-coloured chillies and 3 red chillies
2 tablespoons ginger-garlic paste
Vinegar

Turmeric powder: ½ tsp
Red chilli powder: ½ tsp
Coriander powder: ½ tsp

Cumin powder: ½ tsp
Colour red chilli powder (Kashmiri red chilli): ½ tsp
Garam masala: ½ tsp

Home-made roasted spice: ½ tsp
Tightly kneaded wheat dough
Aluminium foil

Mustard oil (you can use refined oil)
Salt to taste

How to Make Daab Chicken (Step by Step Images)?

1. Add chopped onion, sliced tomatoes, salt, spices, ginger-garlic paste, ½ tsp of vinegar and 3tbl tablespoons of mustard oil to boneless chicken cubes. Mix well. Set aside for 10 minutes.

2. Open the green coconut. Pour coconut water into a bowl. You don’t need to take out the flesh. Instead, take a spoon, scrape it inside and make a slightly smooth paste.

3. Stuff the marinated chicken inside the coconut.

4. Add 3 tablespoons of coconut water. Do the necessary adjustments to make sure that the coconut water goes inside.

5. Spread the aluminium foil over the open mouth of green coconut and then seal it with the wheat dough.

6. Pour sand in a pan. You can use salt instead of sand.

7. Put a stand on the sand.

8. Place the green coconut on the stand.

9. Cover it with a large-sized pan. Steam it for 30 minutes on high flame. Turn off the oven. Wait for a few minutes. Let it cool.

10. Remove the lid.

11. Take out the green coconut. Remove the dough and aluminium foil.

12. Take out the chicken stuffed inside green coconut and put it on a plate. Sprinkle the kernel over the dish. The mild bite and taste that it infuses into the dish make it super yummy.

Pro Tips for Cooking Daab Chicken

While you are cooking the Daab Chicken you must take care certain aspects like:

Selecting a coconut: You must select a coconut which has a kernel inside it. Otherwise it is of no use to the whole recipe.

Chicken pieces: You must take only the soft and juicy boneless pieces of the chicken.

Serving: While you will take the chicken out of the coconut finally after the it is done, then make sure you properly remove the sealing.

Pressure cooking: You can cook the dish in a pressure cooker or in an oven.

What to Serve with Daab Chicken?

Here are some traditional and complementary dishes that you can serve with Daab Chicken:

Steamed Basmati Rice: The fragrant long-grain basmati rice makes a perfect accompaniment to Daab Chicken. Its neutral flavor complements the rich and creamy chicken curry.

Roti or Naan: Indian breads like roti or naan are great options to mop up the flavorful curry. They provide a contrast in texture and add a wholesome element to the meal.

Vegetable Pulao: If you prefer a more elaborate rice dish, vegetable pulao can be a delightful choice. It combines aromatic rice cooked with vegetables, spices, and sometimes nuts for added texture and flavor.

Remember, these are just some suggestions, and you can choose the sides based on your personal preferences and the preferences of your guests. Enjoy your meal!

How Does Daab Chicken Recipe Taste?

Daab Chicken is a flavorful and aromatic dish that offers a unique taste profile. The combination of tender coconut and spices infuses the chicken with a rich and creamy flavor. Here’s a breakdown of the taste components:

Creamy: The use of tender coconut in the recipe lends a creamy texture and taste to the chicken curry. The coconut flesh and its natural juices create a luscious sauce that coats the chicken, adding a smooth and velvety element to the dish.

Coconut Flavor: The dish prominently features the distinct flavor of coconut. The tender coconut imparts a mildly sweet and nutty taste that blends well with the spices and chicken. It adds a tropical and exotic note to the overall taste experience.

Rich and Spicy: Daab Chicken is known for its rich and spicy flavors. The combination of aromatic spices like cumin, coriander, turmeric, ginger, and garlic creates a depth of flavor that is balanced by the natural sweetness of the coconut. The spices contribute warmth and complexity to the dish.

Overall, Daab Chicken offers a delicious blend of creamy, coconutty, spicy, and tangy flavors. The dish is known for its unique and satisfying taste, which is best enjoyed with complementary sides like rice or bread.

Daab Chicken Alternatives

If you’re looking for alternatives to Daab Chicken, here are a few Bengali chicken dishes that you might enjoy:

Butter Chicken (Murg Makhani): Butter Chicken is a popular North Indian dish that has gained popularity across the country, including in Bengal. It consists of succulent pieces of chicken cooked in a rich and creamy tomato-based gravy. It is typically served with naan bread or rice.

Chicken Bharta: Chicken Bharta is a flavorful Bengali dish made with shredded chicken cooked in a spicy onion and tomato gravy. It has a smoky and slightly charred flavor due to the process of bhuna (roasting) the chicken. It pairs well with roti or paratha.

Chicken Rezala: Chicken Rezala is a Mughlai dish that is popular in Bengal. It features chicken cooked in a creamy white gravy made with yogurt, cashews, and poppy seeds. It has a mild and aromatic flavor profile with hints of cardamom and saffron. It is often served with naan or biryani.

Kosha Mangsho: While not a chicken dish, Kosha Mangsho is a traditional Bengali mutton curry that can be adapted to chicken as well. It is a slow-cooked dish where the meat is marinated in spices and then cooked until tender in a thick and flavorful gravy. It pairs well with steamed rice or luchi (deep-fried puffed bread).

Chicken Korma: Chicken Korma is a rich and creamy Mughlai dish that features chicken cooked in a yogurt and nut-based gravy. It has a mild and delicate flavor profile with a hint of sweetness. It is often served with naan, rice, or pulao.

These are just a few alternatives to Daab Chicken that you can explore to experience different flavors and textures in Bengali chicken dishes.

Recipe Card:

Conclusion

Daab Chicken is a unique and delightful recipe which is a variation in traditional Bengali style Daab Prawn.

The tender prawns are replaced by boneless chicken nicely cooked with creamy coconut kernel and usual ingredients.

It pairs well with roti, paratha and even with rice. Try this at your home; it is undoubtedly one of the most delicious innovations straight out of Mita’s kitchens.