Chettinad chicken curry

This is a kind of chicken fry with some thick gravy .It has an unbeatable flavour and taste.
The chettinadu chicken varies from other kind of chicken curries by its spicy taste and some of the masalas used fo grinding.
Here is the perfect chettinadu chicken.

Ingredients:

chicken - 2 lb(a whole chicken cut into big pieces)

To chop
Small onions - 20 (100 gm)
Tomato -2
green chilli - 4 split lengthwise
coriander leaves- 1 handful
curry leaf - 2 sprig
curd - 1/2 cup

To grind # 1
ginger - 2 inch
garlic- 1 full

To grind # 2
Poppy seeds- 1 tbsp
coriander seeds - 3 tbsp
Red chilli - 3
Black pepper - 2 tbsp
cumin seeds- 1 tbsp
fennel seeds- 1 tbsp
cinnamon - 1 inch
cardamom -5
cloves -4
grated coconut - 2 tbsp

To temper:
Fennel seeds / sombu - 1 tbsp
star aniseed - 1
cinnamon- 1 inch
curry leaves - 3 sprig
sesame oil - 1/2 cup

Powders required:
Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
Red Chilli powder- 2 tbsp


salt - 3 tsp (to taste)

To Garnish:
Whole lemon - 1 (sliced to decorate)


Method:
Remove the skin and Wash the chicken in running water and cut it in to big pieces.
Wash again with 1 tsp turmeric powder.
Drain water.
Add turmeric powder, red chilli powder, lemon juice, coriander powder, salt , curd and marignate for 1 hour in room temperature or overnight inside fridge.

grind the ginger garlic paste and keep aside.

Chop the items given.


In a deep pan, heat the oil and add the items given for temper.
When they stop spluttering, add the sliced onions and fry till they are light brown.
Add the ginger garlic paste and fry for another 2-3 minutes.
Now add the tomatoes, green chillies, mint leaves and cilantro. stir well to mix all the ingredients. Cook till oil separates.

If needed add some more sesame oil or ghee.

Add the chicken, cover and cook in very low flame for 5 minutes.

Dry roast (To grind # 2)the poppy, coriander, cumin and fennel seeds, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and coconut for 3-4 minutes. Remove from flame and allow to cool. Grind the mixture into a coarse paste.

Add it to chicken and cook till it is tender.

Garnish with minced coriander leaves and serve along with sliced lemon.

Serving suggestions:
This can be comfortably served for 8 people.
Time taken: 30 minutes for preparation and 1 hour for cooking.
Can be served with white bread,chapathi, naan, patotta, Biryani, coconut milk rice.

Chicken Gravy

You will need the following to prepare this chicken gravy:

Chicken (with bone) - 1/2 kg (1 lb)
salt - to taste / 2 tsp
water - 2 cups
oil - 2 tbsp
Fennel seed (sombu) - 1 tsp

To chop separately:
Red onion - 2
Roma tomato / vine tomato - 100 gms
curry leaves - 1 brig
cilantro - 1 handful
mint leaves - 1 handful

Masala 1:
shredded coconut - 2 tbsp
Shallot onion - 5
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp

Masala 2:
Ginger - 2 inch
garlic - 4 pearls

curry masala powder:
Fennel seeds - 1 tsp
cardamom - 2
cloves - 2
cinnamon - 1 inch
Black pepper - 1 tsp



Powders :
Red chilli powder - 1 tbsp
coriander powder - 2 tbsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp

Method:
Wash and clean the chicken pieces in running water.Apply some turmeric powder and keep aside.Dry grind the items given in curry masala powder.
Grind shredded coconut , cumin seeds, onion and keep aside.
Grind ginger garlic paste and keep aside.
Heat 2 tbsp of cooking oil in a deep pan and add 1 tsp fennel seeds (sombu).
After it turns red , add the chopped onion and fry till it becomes golden brown.
(If you are using yellow onion , then fry till it becomes tender ,as it can never get a good color.)
Add the ginger garlic paste and stir it well for 30 seconds.
Then add the chopped tomato, green chilli, cilantro , mint leaves, curry leaves and cook till they becomes mushy.
Now introduce the chicken pieces and stir it for 2 minutes along with the powders and dry masala.
Add some salt and a cup of water and close the lid for 5 minutes.
Then cook the chicken till it becomes tender (simply in a tightly closed vessel).
After it gets cooked , add the coconut masala and cook till the raw smell changes.
Check for salt and the tenderness of chicken and put off fire.
The gravy should not be too thick or too liquid .

Serving suggestions:
Serve hot as side dish with Naan , paratha ,chapathi ,steamed rice or white bread.
Serves 6 people.