Red-Braised Chicken

• 2 tablespoons butter or neutral oil, like corn or grapeseed
• 2 large onions, sliced
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon peeled and minced fresh ginger
• 3 small hot fresh chiles, like jalapenos, stemmed, seeded, and minced, or 3 small hot dried chiles, crumbled, or 2 teaspoons hot red pepper flakes, or to taste
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
• Pinch of ground cloves
• 2 cups chopped tomatoes (canned are fine; dont bother to drain)
• 1 chicken, 3 to 4 pounds, cut into serving pieces, or 2 1/2 to 3 pounds chicken parts, trimmed of excess fat, skinned if you like
• Chopped fresh cilantro leaves for garnish

1. Put the butter in a 12-inch skillet or flameproof casserole over medium-high heat.
2. Add the onions along with some salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until quite soft, 10 to 15 minutes.
3. Stir in the garlic, ginger, and chiles and cook, stirring, for about a minute.
4. Add the remaining spices and the tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is saucy, about 10 minutes.
5. Add the chicken, along with some more salt and pepper, and adjust the heat so the mixture simmers energetically but not violently.
6. Cook, uncovered, until the chicken is tender, 30 to 40 minutes.
7. Taste and adjust the seasoning, then serve (on white rice is best), garnished with the cilantro.
8. Potatoes are just a for instance; this dish is made with okra, peas, green beans, nuts, dried fruits, even green bananas: In step 2, when the chicken is about half cooked, stir in 4 large or 6 to 8 small to medium potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks.
9. You will need more salt and pepper.
10. In step 2, just before adding the chicken, stir in 1 1/2 cups coconut milk, homemade (page 584) or canned, or yogurt, preferably whole milk.

butter, onions, salt, garlic, fresh ginger, chiles, ground cinnamon, ground cardamom, ground cloves, tomatoes, chicken, fresh cilantro

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/red-braised-chicken-386380 (may not work)