Chicken in a coriander sauce

Put the oil in a large, wide, non-stick pan and set over medium heat. When hot, add the bay leaves, cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, cloves and dried red chillies. Stir for a few seconds, or until the bay leaves begin to turn brown. Add the chicken and fry on all sides for 2-3 minutes, or until golden-brown all over.

Add the sultanas and fry for a few seconds. Add the yoghurt and season with the salt, freshly ground black pepper and the cayenne pepper. Cover the pan with a lid, turn the heat to low and gently cook for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, place the ginger into a food processor along with the water and blend until you have a smooth paste. Add the green chillies and coriander and continue to blend, scraping down the sides of the food processor with a rubber spatula if necessary.

Add the lightly drained spinach and blend very briefly. The spinach should have a coarse texture and should not be a fine puree. Empty the mixture into a bowl and mix in the mustard and a pinch of salt.

Add the sauce to the chicken and stir to mix. Bring to a simmer, cover again with telid and cook for ten more minutes, or until the chicken is tender. Turn the chicken pieces a few times during this period.

To serve, remove the bay leaves, cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, whole cloves, and dried chillies from the chicken before serving with basmati rice.