Name: Chettinad chicken curry
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: En
Ingredients: Chicken :1kg/2.2lb; Shallots/Pearl onions :1cup; Kashmiri Chilli Powder :1tbs; Tomatoes :2nos; Turmeric powder :1/2tsp; Bay leaves :1no; Curry leaves :15nos; Coconut milk :1cup; Salt to taste; Oil :1tbsp; Cumin seeds :3/4tsp; Fennel seeds :3/4tsp; Coriander seeds :11/2tbsps; Dried red chillies :7-8nos; Pepper corns :1tsp; Cardamoms :3pods; Cloves : 2nos; Cinnamon :1" stick; Curry leaves :1sprig; Oil :1/2tsp; Green chillis :3-4nos; Garlic :5-8flakes; Ginger :2" piece; Poppy seeds :1tsp

Ingredients

For grinding :

Preparation

Preparation20 min

Cook time45 min

Wash and cut chicken into medium sized pieces.

Soak poppy seeds in warm water for 10 minutes.

Make a paste of the ginger, garlic, green chillies and poppy seeds. Keep aside.
Heat a frying pan to medium-high, add 1 tsp oil.

When hot, add the cumin seeds, coriander seeds, fennel seeds, black peppercorns, cinnamon stick, cardamom, cloves dried red chillis,curry leaves, stirring constantly until lightly roasted.

Cool and grind to a powder.
Heat oil in a large saucepan over a medium-high heat.

When hot, add the bay leave.shallots/small onions and curry leaves and saute till transparent.
Add the kashmiri chilli powder and turmeric powder and just stir for few seconds.

Add the grounded ginger,garlic,green chillie and poppy paste.

Continue to stir and fry for about 4 minutes, drizzling little water to prevent sticking.
Add chicken and cook on high heat,stir until they are well coated with the masala for about 4-5 minutes.

Reduce to medium heat, add salt,tomatoes and combine well.
Cook the chicken for 4-5 minutes, uncovered, Now add the coconut milk and 1/2cup of water allow to boil.

Turn the heat to medium low, cover and simmer until the chicken is almost cooked, about 20-25 minutes.

Open lid and combine well.
Finally add the ground masala powder and cook for 3 minutes. Turn off heat.

Garnish with curry leaves.

Yummy chettinad chicken curry is ready.

Serve hot with white steamed rice, biryani, chapatis or dosas.