This chicken curry is another Malayalee favourite. It goes with almost everything from rice ,chappathi or even puttu.. Taste of this dish really comes from the clay pot and the wood fire in which it’s prepared. Here I’m preparing it in non-stick pan to save oil and in gas (no wood fire at home 🙁 ).

Preparation time : 15 mts

Cooking time : 20 mts

Serves : 4

Ingredients:

  • Chicken – 500g
  • Onion – 3 small (sliced)
  • Small shallots (kunjulli) – 1 cup (skinned and keep it whole)
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  • Garlic – 5 (chopped. Here I’ve used small Indian garlic. You need 15 of those)
  • Ginger – 1′ (chopped)
  • Tomato (cut into cubes) – 1 (medium) or you can use 1/2 cup jarred tomato puree.
  • Fresh coconut pieces – 1/2 cup
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  • Curry leaves – 2 stem
  • Water – 1/2 cup
  • Oil – 2 table spoon (preferably coconut oil)

Spices for the curry:

  • Red chilli powder /paprika – 1 tsp (if you’re using chilli powder, try using the mild ones like the kashmiri chilli powder)
  • Coriander powder – 2 tsp
  • Turmeric powder – 1/8 tsp
  • Dry roast 3 cardamom, 2 cloves, 1′ cinnamon, 1 star anise, 1 tsp of fennel seeds. Grind it to fine powder. (or else you can use your garam masala)
  • Black pepper – 1/2 tsp

Method:

  1. Keep a heavy thick bottom pan on fire. if you’ve iron skillet it’s the best.
  2. When the pan is heated add oil and allow it to get hot.
  3. Add in the coconut pieces and cook till its side starts to brown.
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  5. You can add onion, garlic and ginger along with the curry leaves and saute till theses are soft.
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  7. Add in the powdered spices and mix in the chopped tomatoes also.
  8. Saute for one minute and add the washed and cleaned chicken pieces.
  9. When everything is mixed well pour in the water and give one more mix.
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  11. When the liquid starts to boil, reduce the flame to low and cover the pan tightly with a lid without leaving any gap for the steam to escape.
  12. Cook for 20 mts without opening the lid. If you want you can transfer it to the oven and cook for 1/2 an hour @ 180 C.
  13. After 20 mts you can switch off the gas and try not to open the lid for another 10 more mts.
  14. After opening slowly mix once again and it’s ready to serve..